Australian Signals Directorate

Cyber riddle me this: I mimic a trusted sender, hoping you’ll take the bait. What am I? Try to solve the riddle and share your answer in the comments!

Meet one of our earliest declassified legends in signals intelligence - Jack Newman. His work helped lay the foundations for the Australian Signals Directorate we know today. In 1917, during the First World War, Jack served with the British Navy on HMS Canada and HMS Columbine. After the end of the war, he was posted to London for several years, where he learned science and cutting-edge technologies, such as radio, radar and codes. Upon his return to Australia, Jack petitioned the Australian government to establish a national cryptanalysis capability. This was initially knocked back until it gained international support from nations such as the UK. Thanks to Jack and the encouragement of Australia’s overseas partners, the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) was formed in 1941. In 1942, Jack became the Commanding Officer of Australian staff within Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL) – one of ASD’s parent organisations. FRUMEL’s primary mission was to collect, analyse, translate and report on Japanese Imperial Navy communications in the South-West Pacific. Jack was known for his superior intellect and expertise in signals intelligence in Australia at the time and his hard work paved the way for the modern intelligence gathering landscape we operate in today. Find out more about our history and the people who shaped it 👉 https://lnkd.in/gYYnsKzz

It’s almost time to take a well-deserved break after a long and eventful year. Before you do, secure your accounts and devices for travel to reduce your chance of a compromise. ✈ Safeguard your data by backing it up. ✈ Use multi-factor authentication to secure your accounts where possible. ✈ Secure your devices with a PIN, passphrase or biometrics (like facial recognition). ✈ Update your devices and check automatic updates are on. ✈ Check antivirus software is installed and working. ✈ Leave behind any devices you won’t need. Visit our website for a full list of security tips 👉 https://lnkd.in/gzjsGBvW

When you procure a digital product, the risks associated with a manufacturer’s supply chain are inherited by your organisation. Throughout the lifecycle of a product, accountability resides with the procuring organisation. It’s important to ensure the supply chain of the preferred manufacturer aligns with your expectations for security and availability, and that any risks do not exceed acceptable tolerances. Always find out if the manufacturer has a supply chain risk management plan in place before entering into a contractual arrangement. Learn more about managing supply chain risks 👉 https://lnkd.in/guuM-6Df

What do the words COMINT, ELINT, FISINT and SIGINT all have in common? Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQ_YZFiz

The latest quarterly update for our Information Security Manual (ISM) is now available. The ISM is a cyber security framework that assists security professionals within organisations to protect their systems and data from cyber threats. If you are a Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Information Officer, cyber security professional, or information technology manager, this guide is for you. Read the latest update here 👉 https://lnkd.in/grAX2rE5

! ALERT ! A critical vulnerability has been identified in Apache Struts2 impacting versions below 6.4.0 (CVE-2024-53677). Multiple enterprise Java applications use this framework and are likely at risk. Affected organisations and users are encouraged to apply available patches and workarounds as soon as possible, monitor for patches in any Java applications in use and assess their environment for compromise. Read the alert at https://lnkd.in/gaNWZZsz

With the festive season upon us, we thought we'd gift you a treat 🎁! Time to get your family and friends together for a festive puzzle. There are three words wrapped up in the numbers below. Can you find them? Tag someone who might be able to solve this.

🎵 It's beginning to look a lot like a data breach 🎵 When sensitive or personal information is accessed, disclosed or exposed to unauthorised people, this is known as a data breach. To reduce the impact this can have on you, limit how much personal information you share with organisations. Only tell them what that they need to provide you services, rather than everything they ask for. For more advice 👉 https://lnkd.in/gg7W5hCK #12DaysOfCyber

The Big Day In has ended for another year! As a titanium sponsor, we've loved supporting The Big Day In events all over Australia, connecting with thousands of students and sharing the thrill of IT and cyber security. From Sydney to Darwin, Wollongong to Townsville, Adelaide to Canberra, and everywhere in between - we've seen curiosity, innovation, and passion for technology take centre stage. A massive shout out to the amazing organisers, speakers, dedicated volunteers, and enthusiastic attendees for making these events unforgettable. Stay tuned for more exciting events in 2025 as we continue to empower the future of tech together #TheBigDayIn #careersinstem