The Australian Army has successfully conducted its first live-fire exercise of the AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzer, a next-generation artillery system based on South Korea’s K9 Thunder platform but customized for Australian battlefield needs. According to a release from the Australian Department of Defense on December 3, “This was the first time the new AS9 […]The Australian government is reviewing a Ukrainian request to transfer retired Tiger attack helicopters as it prepares a new round of defense aid to support Kyiv’s ongoing war with Russia. According to a report from ABC News Australia, the potential transfer of European-built Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters comes as Canberra finalizes an additional military support […]The Australian Bitcoin Industry Body has filed a formal complaint with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over what it calls “factually inaccurate and misleading” coverage of Bitcoin, escalating tensions between the country’s growing crypto sector and traditional media.
The complaint targets an ABC article that portrayed Bitcoin primarily as a vehicle for money laundering while ignoring documented use cases in energy stabilization, humanitarian remittances, and sovereign reserves.
The move comes as Australia’s crypto adoption rate outpaced even the US, reaching 31% in 2025, up from 28% in 2024, placing the nation among the world’s most crypto-engaged populations according to a16z’s State of Crypto 2025 report.
ABIB said it receives frequent contact from frustrated members regarding recurring misrepresentation of Bitcoin in Australian media, particularly from publicly funded institutions required by statute to provide accurate journalism.
ABIB’s submission identifies specific sentences that it alleges breach the broadcaster’s editorial policies and code of conduct.
The complaint centers on one-sided framing that conflates Bitcoin with criminal activity while omitting publicly available information about legitimate applications.
The ABC article, written by chief business correspondent Ian Verrender, characterized Bitcoin as having “no useful purpose” and described money laundering as its “last useful business.”
The piece focused on Bitcoin’s price volatility, dropping from $126,000 to below $90,000, while emphasizing the cryptocurrency’s alleged failures.
ABIB countered that the coverage reduced Bitcoin to outdated tropes focused on price swings and U.S. politics, calling on ABC to issue corrections and engage subject-matter expertise in future reporting.
The Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB) has lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (@abcnews) regarding its recent article on Bitcoin.
— Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (@AusBTCIndBody) December 2, 2025
The piece contained multiple factual errors, misleading claims, and one-sided framing that breach the ABC’s…
The dispute arises amid significant regulatory evolution in Australia’s digital asset sector.
In November, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino introduced the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, establishing the country’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for companies holding crypto on behalf of customers.
The ministers said they “take Australia’s crypto industry seriously,” adding that blockchain and digital assets present “big opportunities for our economy, our financial sector, and our businesses.”
The government’s reforms could unlock $24 billion in annual productivity gains while strengthening safeguards for Australians entrusting their digital assets to private platforms.
— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) November 27, 2025
Under the bill, crypto exchanges and custody providers must obtain an Australian Financial Services License, bringing them under ASIC supervision.
The framework introduces two new license categories. A digital asset platform and tokenized custody platform, with licensed firms required to comply with ASIC standards for transactions, settlement processes, and asset custody.
ASIC has also clarified digital asset regulation while supporting industry development.
In October, the regulator declared stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenized securities, and digital asset wallets to be financial products under existing law, requiring service providers to obtain licenses while granting an eight-month transition period through June 30, 2026.
ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland said, “Distributed ledger technology and tokenization are reshaping global finance,” and that the guidance provides regulatory clarity, enabling firms to innovate confidently.
In fact, ASIC Chair Joe Longo warned that Australia risks falling behind as blockchain-driven tokenization reshapes global markets, cautioning that unless Australia adapts, it could become a “land of missed opportunity.“
He noted that J.P. Morgan told him their money market funds will be entirely tokenized within two years.
— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) November 7, 2025
Australia’s institutional crypto engagement has accelerated significantly, with self-managed superannuation funds accounting for a quarter of the pension system and crypto exposure jumping sevenfold since 2021 to A$1.7 billion.
The growing adoption has attracted major players, with Coinbase preparing to launch a dedicated SMSF service with over 500 investors on its waiting list, targeting the country’s pension pool, while OKX launched a similar product in June that exceeded expectations.
The regulatory framework includes an 18-month grace period before licensing rules take effect.
Small operators handling less than A$10 million in annual transaction volume will be exempt.
For those who might go against the rule, earlier legislation has proposed penalties of up to 10% of annual turnover for platforms breaching rules, with firms facing fines of A$16.5 million, three times the benefit gained, or 10% of annual turnover for misleading conduct.
The post Crypto Industry Files Complaint Against Australia’s ABC Over Bitcoin Article appeared first on Cryptonews.
Asbestos is a nasty old mineral. It’s known for releasing fine, microscopic fibers that can lodge in the body’s tissues and cause deadly disease over a period of decades. Originally prized for its fire resistance and insulating properties, it was widely used in all sorts of building materials. Years after the dangers became clear, many countries eventually banned its use, with strict rules around disposal to protect the public from the risk it poses to health.
Australia is one of the stricter countries when it comes to asbestos, taking great pains to limit its use and its entry into the country. This made it all the more surprising when it became apparent that schools across the nation had been contaminated with loose asbestos material. The culprit was something altogether unexpected, too—in the form of tiny little tubes of colored sand. Authorities have rushed to shut down schools as the media asked the obvious question—how could this be allowed to happen?
Australia takes asbestos very seriously. Typically, asbestos disposal is supposed to occur according to very specific rules. Most state laws generally require that the material must be collected by qualified individuals except in minor cases, and that it must be bagged in multiple layers of plastic prior to disposal to avoid release of dangerous fibers into the environment. The use, sale, and import of asbestos has been outright banned since 2003, and border officials enforce strict checks on any imports deemed a high risk to potentially contain the material.
Thus, by and large, you would expect that any item you bought in an Australian retailer would be free of asbestos. That seemed to be true, until a recent chance discovery. A laboratory running tests on some new equipment happened to accidentally find asbestos contamination in a sample of colored sand—a product typically marketed for artistic use by children. The manager of the lab happened to mention the finding in a podcast, with the matter eventually reaching New Zealand authorities who then raised the alarm with their Australian counterparts. This led to a investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which instituted a national safety recall in short order.
The response from there was swift. At least 450 schools instituted temporary shutdowns due to the presence or suspected presence of the offending material. Some began cleanup efforts in earnest, hiring professional asbestos removalists to deal with the colored sand. In many cases, the sand wasn’t just in sealed packaging—it had been used in countless student artworks or spilled in carpeted classrooms. Meanwhile, parents feared the worst after finding the offending products in their own homes. Cleanup efforts in many schools are ongoing, due in part to the massive spike in demand for the limited asbestos removal services available across the country. Authorities in various states have issued guidelines on how to handle cleanup and proper disposal of any such material found in the workplace.
At this stage, it’s unclear how asbestos came to contaminate colored sand products sold across the country, though links have been found to a quarry in China. It’s believed that the products in question have been imported into Australia since 2020, but have never faced any testing regarding asbestos content. Different batches have tested positive for both tremolite and chrysotile asbestos, both of which present health risks to the public. However, authorities have thus far stated the health risks of the colored sand are low. “The danger from asbestos comes when there are very, very fine fibres that are released and inhaled by humans,” stated ACCC deputy chair, Catriona Lowe. “We understand from expert advice that the risk of that in relation to these products is low because the asbestos is in effect naturally occurring and hasn’t been ground down as such to release those fibres.”
Investigations are ongoing as to how asbestos-containing material was distributed across the country for years, and often used by children who might inhale or ingest the material during use. The health concerns are obvious, even if the stated risks are low. The obvious reaction is to state that the material should have been tested when first imported, but such a policy would have a lot of caveats. It’s simply not possible to test every item that enters the country for every possible contaminant. At the same time, one could argue that a mined sand product is more likely to contain asbestos than a box of Hot Wheels cars or a crate of Belgian chocolates. A measured guess would say this event will be ruled out as a freak occurrence, with authorities perhaps stepping up random spot checks on these products to try and limit the damage if similar contamination occurs again in future.
Featured image and other sand product images from the Australian government’s recall page.
Michael Clapsis has been sentenced to 7 years and 4 months in prison for stealing sensitive information.
The post Australian Man Sentenced to Prison for Wi-Fi Attacks at Airports and on Flights appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The impending ban is facing a constitutional challenge from two 15-year-olds, who are backed by the advocacy group, the Digital Freedom Project.
The post Australian Teens Seek Injunction to Block Nationwide Social Media Cut-Off appeared first on TechRepublic.
The impending ban is facing a constitutional challenge from two 15-year-olds, who are backed by the advocacy group, the Digital Freedom Project.
The post Australian Teens Seek Injunction to Block Nationwide Social Media Cut-Off appeared first on TechRepublic.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Named platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and the streaming services Kick and Twitch.
The post Australia Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s appeared first on TechRepublic.
Named platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and the streaming services Kick and Twitch.
The post Australia Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s appeared first on TechRepublic.
We’re taught how to call emergency numbers from a young age; whether it be 911 in the US, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia. The concept is simple—if you need aid from police, fire, or ambulance, you pick up a phone and dial and help will be sent in short order.
It’s a service many of us have come to rely on; indeed, it’s function can swing the very balance between life or death. Sadly, in Australia, that has come to pass, with a person dying when their Samsung phone failed to reach the Triple Zero (000) emergency line. It has laid bare an obscure technical issue that potentially leaves thousands of lives at risk.
Australia’s Triple Zero emergency service becoming a hot-button issue. September 2025 saw widespread failures of emergency calls on the Optus network, an incident that was tied to at least three deaths of those unable to reach help. A series of further isolated cases have drawn more attention to edge case failures that have prevented people from reaching emergency services.
A bigger potential issue with the Triple Zero service has since bubbled up with the increased scrutiny on the system’s operation. Namely, the fact that a huge swathe of older Samsung smartphones cannot be trusted to successfully call 000 in an emergency. The potential issue has been on the radar of telcos and authorities since at least 2024. Since then, on November 13 2025, an individual in Sydney passed away after their phone failed to dial the emergency line. Their phone was using a Lebara SIM card, as managed by TPG and using the Vodafone network, when the incident occurred. Subsequent investigation determined that the problem was due to issues already identified with a wide range of Samsung phones.
The issue surrounds the matter of Australia’s shutdown of 3G phone service, which took place from 2023 to 2024. If you had a 3G phone, it would no longer be able to make any calls after the networks were shut down. Common sense would suggest that phones with 4G and 5G connectivity would be fine going forward. However, there was a caveat. There were a number of phones sold that offered 4G or 5G data connections, but could not actually make phone calls on these networks. This was due to manufacturers failing to implement Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) functionality required to carry voice calls over 4G LTE networks. Alternatively, in some cases, the 4G or 5G handset could make VoLTE calls, but would fail to make emergency calls in certain situations.
It all comes down to the way voice calls work on 4G and 5G. Unlike earlier 2G and 3G cellular networks, 4G and 5G networks are data only. Phone calls are handled through VoLTE, which uses voice-over-IP technology, or using Voice over NR (VoNR) in a purely 5G environment. Either way, the system is a data-based, packet-switched method of connecting a phone call, unlike the circuit-switched methods used for 2G and 3G calling.
The problem with this is that while 2G and 3G emergency calls worked whenever you had a tower nearby, VoLTE calling is more complex and less robust. VoLTE standards don’t guarantee that a given handset will be interoperable with all LTE networks, particularly when roaming. A given handset might only like IPv4, for example, which may be fine in its home region on its regular carrier. However, when roaming, or when doing an emergency call, that handset might find itself only in range of a different network’s towers, which only like IPv6, and thus VoLTE calling will fail. There are any number of other configuration mismatches that can occur between a handset and a network that can also cause VoLTE calling to fail.
Usually, when you’re in range of your phone’s home network with a modern 4G or 5G handset, you won’t have any problems. Your phone will use its VoLTE settings profile to connect and the emergency call will go through. After all, older models with no VoLTE support have by and large been banned from networks already. However, the situation gets more complex if your home network isn’t available. In those cases, it will look to “camp on” to another provider’s network for connectivity. In this case, if the phone’s VoLTE settings aren’t compatible with the rival network, the call may fail to connect, and you might find yourself unable to reach emergency services.
Specifically, in the Australian case, this appears to affect a range of older Samsung phones. Testing by telecommunications company Telstra found that some of these phones were unable to make Triple Zero emergency calls when only the Vodafone network was available. These phones will happily work when a Telstra or Optus network is available, but fallback to the Vodafone network has been found to fail. Research from other sources has also identified that certain phones can reach Triple Zero when using Telstra or Optus SIM cards, but may fail when equipped with a Vodafone SIM.
For its part, Samsung has provided a list of models affected by the issue. Some older phones, mostly from 2016 and 2017, will need to be replaced, as they will not be updated to reliably make emergency calls over 4G networks. Meanwhile, newer phones, like the Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, will be given software updates to enable reliable emergency calling. Telecom operators have been contacting users of affected phones, indicating they will need to replace or upgrade as necessary. Devices that are deemed to be unable to safely make emergency calls will be banned from Australian mobile networks 28 days after initial notification to customers.
This issue is not limited to just Australia. Indeed, European authorities have been aware of issues with VoLTE emergency calling since at least 2022. Many phones sold in European markets are only capable of making emergency calls on 2G and 3G networks, and could fail to reach emergency services if only 4G connections are available. This issue was particularly noted to be a risk when roaming internationally, where a handset sold in one country may prove inoperable with VoLTE calling on a foreign network.
Some blame has been laid on the loose standardization of the VoLTE standard. Unlike 2G and 3G standards, global interoperability is pretty much non-existent when it comes to phone calls. This wasn’t seen as a big issue early on, as when 4G devices first hit the market, 2G and 3G phone networks were readily available to carry any voice calls that couldn’t be handled by VoLTE. However, with 2G and 3G networks shutting down, the lack of VoLTE standardization and interoperability between carriers has been laid bare.
While Australia is currently tangling with this issue, expect it to crop up in other parts of the world before long. Europe is currently working towards 2G and 3G shutdowns, as our other jurisdictions, and issues around roaming functionality still loom large for those taking handsets overseas. Ultimately, end users will be asking a very simple question. If 2G and 3G technologies could handle emergency calls on virtually any compatible network around the world, how did it go so wrong when 4G and 5G rolled around? Old networks existed as a crutch that avoided the issue for a time, but they were never going to last forever. It surely didn’t have to be this way.
Australia is facing a sophisticated wave of cryptocurrency scams involving fake law enforcement operations.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that scammers are impersonating officers and referencing fake cybercrime reports to trick individuals into transferring digital funds.
The fraud is marked by its strategic abuse of a legitimate online government portal, ReportCyber, which is supposed to help citizens report cybercrime.
The scammers exploit this official system to lodge false reports about targeted individuals.
Once the fabricated report is in place, they contact the victims directly, posing as police and referencing the bogus case to gain credibility.
They often guide victims to real government websites to review the reports, which makes the entire setup appear authentic.
This method takes advantage of the public’s trust in state infrastructure. Scammers are no longer relying solely on unsolicited messages or fraudulent links.
They are using actual government services to build elaborate layers of deception.
The goal is to make their claims seem verifiable, luring unsuspecting users into a false sense of security before attempting to extract their digital assets.
In a recent incident reported by the AFP, a scammer lodged a fake complaint on ReportCyber against a target. Shortly afterwards, the victim was contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer.
The caller explained that the victim was connected to a criminal case involving cryptocurrency. The victim was told to expect a second call from a representative of a crypto company who would confirm the story.
The second individual, also a fraudster, attempted to persuade the target to move their assets from one crypto wallet to another. The wallet address provided belonged to the scammers.
Fortunately, the target detected inconsistencies in the communication and terminated the call before completing the transfer.
AFP officials revealed that the tactics used in these scams closely mirror genuine law enforcement procedures.
Criminals involved in these scams fabricate stories about arrests, link victims to ongoing investigations, and imitate the language and steps used in real investigations.
This level of detail makes it difficult for victims to differentiate between legitimate contact and a scam.
The scams are structured in a way that allows attackers to escalate their approach using multiple actors.
First, a police impersonator initiates the contact.
Then a second person claims to represent a cryptocurrency firm. Both characters support the same fabricated narrative and provide false verification documents to solidify their credibility.
The AFP urged Australians to exercise caution. If anyone is contacted about a ReportCyber submission they did not make or authorise, they should disconnect the call and notify authorities directly.
Real officers will never ask for access to your crypto wallet, bank accounts, or sensitive financial information such as seed phrases.
The post Australia hit by new crypto scam tactic: criminals file fake reports to mimic police appeared first on CoinJournal.
Australia mirrored the US’s recent sanctions against bankers, financial institutions, and others allegedly involved in laundering funds for North Korea.
The post Australia Sanctions Hackers Supporting North Korea’s Weapons Program appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Bitcoin Magazine
BlackRock Expands Global Bitcoin Strategy with Australian ETF Launch
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is reportedly planning to launch the iShares Bitcoin ETF (ASX: IBIT) on the Australian Securities Exchange, extending its global Bitcoin investment strategy to the Asia-Pacific region.
Expected to debut in mid-November 2025, IBIT will give Australian investors regulated exposure to Bitcoin through a traditional stock exchange structure, removing the need for offshore accounts or direct crypto custody.
The ETF will carry a management fee of 0.39% and will wrap the U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT), which has become one of the most successful ETF launches in history since its January 2024 debut.
The Australian listing places the country alongside major jurisdictions such as the United States, Germany, and Switzerland where Bitcoin ETFs are already active.
The move also reflects growing institutional demand for Bitcoin across the Asia-Pacific region as more investors seek regulated access to the asset.
The announcement follows the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s updated guidance reclassifying most digital assets as financial products, requiring service providers to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence by June 2026.
While Bitcoin itself is not a financial product, funds and platforms offering Bitcoin exposure will operate under this regulatory framework, providing additional investor protection and market transparency.
In other words, a Bitcoin ETP or ETF lets investors gain exposure to Bitcoin without actually buying or storing the cryptocurrency themselves.
Instead, the fund holds Bitcoin (or Bitcoin-related contracts) while investors simply buy shares on a stock exchange, with the share price moving alongside Bitcoin’s market value. It’s a convenient and easy way to get invested in Bitcoin.
The announcement comes as Bitcoin trades down from record highs around $104,000, supported by rising inflows into global ETFs and accelerating institutional adoption.
Earlier last month, BlackRock officially listed its iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) on the London Stock Exchange following the FCA’s decision to relax rules on crypto investment products.
The physically backed fund allowed retail investors to gain Bitcoin exposure without directly holding the asset, with custody managed by Coinbase.
Just like with this launch in Australia, the launch was viewed as timely amid rising UK crypto adoption, offering a regulated and accessible entry point for investors.
Last June, Monochrome Asset Management announced their Bitcoin ETF (IBTC) in Australia. The ETF traded under the ticker IBTC and carried a management fee of 0.98%.
This post BlackRock Expands Global Bitcoin Strategy with Australian ETF Launch first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.
Did you know that there are approximately 12.52 million credit card users in Australia, along with 43.77 million actively issued debit cards? These figures reflect Australia’s heavy reliance on digital payments and card-based transactions for everyday purchases and online commerce. However, with this widespread adoption comes an equally significant risk which is the growing threat of data breaches and payment fraud.
(Source – credit card debt statistics 2025 and Australian debit card statistics )
As digital transactions continue to grow, so do the challenges of protecting sensitive customer data. This is where PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance becomes essential for Australian businesses.
In today’s article, we are going to learn how PCI DSS compliance protects businesses from data breaches. So, if you are wondering why you should invest in PCI DSS compliance in Australia and how it can safeguard your organization, keep reading to find out.
PCI DSS is a global data security framework that protects businesses handling cardholder data (CHD) from data breaches, fraud, and identity theft. It was first introduced in December 2004, by the founding members of American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, and Visa International.
PCI DSS applies to any and every organization, regardless of size, that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits payment card data. Its framework consists of 12 core PCI DSS requirements grouped into six control objectives, which include:
The latest version PCI DSS v.4.0, was released on March 31, 2022, introducing enhanced security measures to address evolving cyber threats. These updates include increased flexibility for businesses and stronger authentication requirements, ensuring better protection in today’s dynamic digital landscape.
You may also check our latest YouTube video on PCI DSS 4.0 requirements which explains the changes from version 3.2.1 to 4.0.
As Australia’s digital landscape continues to expand, the frequency and severity of data breaches are becoming increasingly concerning. In fact, the landscape of data security in Australia is becoming alarmingly dangerous, with a significant rise in data breaches posing a growing threat to businesses and individuals alike.
In the first quarter of 2024 alone, there were around 1.8 million accounts were leaked witnessing a 388% increase in compromised user accounts. This marks the severity of the data breaches exploited due to the soaring technology, and compliance negligence.
The financial implications of these breaches are profound. According to IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average cost of a data breach in Australia is estimated at AUD $4.26 million, which is said to have increased by 27% since 2020. These breaches not only affect an organization’s financial stability but also damage its reputation and erode customer trust. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, businesses must prioritize strong cybersecurity measures to mitigate these risks.
This is where the PCI DSS comes into play. While PCI DSS is not mandated by the Australian government, it is considered an important industry standard enforced by payment card brands. Achieving PCI DSS compliance ensures strong protection of sensitive payment data, reducing the risk of breaches and associated penalties. Moreover, compliance demonstrates your commitment to cybersecurity, boosting customer confidence in your business.
PCI DSS provides a comprehensive framework that helps businesses defend against data breaches and payment fraud by implementing security measures specifically designed for handling payment card data. Here’s how PCI DSS compliance safeguards Australian businesses:
One of the key requirements of PCI DSS is the encryption of cardholder data both in transit and at rest. This ensures that even if cybercriminals manage to intercept the data, they will not be able to decrypt it and misuse it. By implementing robust encryption, businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of their payment card data being exposed during a breach.
PCI DSS mandates businesses to establish and maintain a secure network with firewalls and other security configurations to protect against unauthorized access. By isolating payment card systems from the rest of the corporate network, businesses can minimize vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of data breaches.
PCI DSS requires ongoing vulnerability scans and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential security flaws before they can be exploited. This proactive approach ensures that systems are continuously evaluated for weaknesses and can quickly adapt to emerging cyber threats.
PCI DSS enforces stringent access control measures, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive payment card data. Through multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls, businesses can limit exposure to potential breaches by restricting access based on job responsibilities.
Constant monitoring and logging of payment systems are essential for detecting suspicious activities and mitigating data breaches. PCI DSS requires businesses to log all access and activities involving payment card data, which can be used to identify anomalies and investigate potential breaches swiftly.
Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. PCI DSS emphasizes the importance of regular security training to ensure staff members understand the latest threats and best practices for safeguarding payment data. This harbours a culture of security within the organization and helps prevent human errors that could lead to breaches.
The rising threat of data breaches in Australia underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity practices. For businesses handling payment card data, PCI DSS compliance is a vital step toward safeguarding sensitive information, building customer trust, and mitigating financial and reputational risks. By adopting this globally recognized framework, organizations can strengthen their security posture and stay resilient against evolving cyber threats.
The post How PCI DSS Compliance Protects Australian Businesses from Data Breaches? appeared first on Information Security Consulting Company - VISTA InfoSec.
One of the world’s most wanted pedophiles, who abused dozens of children between the ages of two and 16, has been captured and jailed for close to 50 years after Australian authorities tracked him down to a COVID-19 quarantine facility in Malaysia.
For at least 14 years, Alladin Lanim was found to have sexually abused dozens of children in a sleepy, seaside town called Lundu in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The 40-year-old man posted his heinous activities on the dark web and boasted on message boards about recording his acts, according to a detailed report published by the Sydney Morning Herald. Using an anonymous online profile, he was also said to have been sharing child abuse material online since 2007, and had been linked to more than 1,000 images and videos depicting sexual abuse of minors.
“He was so prolific with so many victims, that’s why he became a high priority,” Daniel Burnicle, a detective sergeant from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), told the Australian newspaper from Kuala Lumpur.
“He was so prolific with so many victims.”
Analysis conducted by Australian victim identification specialists initially identified a total of 34 victims who had been abused by Alladin, but authorities warned that the actual number may be higher.
Officials on the case, trawling through records and hundreds of images, made a breakthrough last year and came across a possible image of Alladin. He was finally apprehended and jailed last month following a painstaking two-year international investigation by Australian and Malaysian authorities. “It’s just a slow, methodical burn,” Burnicle said.
“They’re going through images trying to work out where that location may be so they can follow up. It’s all very difficult with the dark web to track people.”
Alladin was apprehended at a COVID-19 isolation facility on July 5 while serving out a mandatory quarantine after returning to Sarawak, and charged with 18 counts of molesting five boys on a plantation and inducing them to watch pornographic videos by offering to let them play a mobile game on his phone. Malaysian police also say that they are pursuing one more case of child abuse involving Alladin.
He pleaded guilty in court in the state capital Kuching, and was jailed for 48 years and six months and sentenced to 15 strokes of the cane.
In a statement provided to VICE World News on Monday, AFP commander Warwick Macfarlane said the cross-border investigation that led to Alladin’s arrest was an indication that the pandemic had not obstructed transnational policing efforts, and that authorities around the world were still working tirelessly to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
Alladin’s arrest is the latest in a string of recent child exploitation busts by Australian authorities, following the AFP’s involvement in cracking open a global pedophile ring last year. A spokesperson told VICE World News last September that the amount of child abuse material being shared on the dark web appeared to be increasing, and that some sites hosting online child sex abuse material had crashed due to the overwhelming amount of internet traffic.
In Malaysia, reports of Alladin’s arrest shook the country – prompting outrage online about how a serial pedophile was able to operate in the country, undetected, for so long. Others referenced the case of another convicted pedophile, British man Richard Huckle – who had sexually abused scores of children in various communities in Kuala Lumpur, where he lived – and decried the laid-back reaction of authorities.
“Local authorities need to step up their game,” one Malaysian tweeted. Another wrote: “We have high profile pedophiles arrested by foreign police at least twice now. If this were left to us, these pedos would be scot free and happily ravaging new victims.”
Responding to news of Alladin’s capture by Australian police, Malaysian women’s minister Fatimah Abdullah said her ministry would better protect children against pedophiles and would continue educating not just children but also their parents.
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