In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft detail multiple Australian hacks, theft of frequent flyer points, LockBit striking back, and the launch of the Australian Cyber Network. Croft gets things started with a rundown of Australia’s first standalone cyber security legislation before outlining a recent insider threat incident that saw the passports of Qantas customers potentially exposed in a scheme to steal frequent flyer points. Hollingworth then follows up with the LockBit claiming a new Australian victim and the rise of a new ransomware gang, Sarcoma – which has already listed three Aussie companies and one Kiwi firm. Finally, the pair discuss the Australian Cyber Network’s launch and the importance of growing our cyber security workforce, before finishing up discussing a new Russian attempt to ban gaming chat platform Discord. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, we are joined by Yehuda Lahav of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to discuss the growing synergies identified in Australia’s Defence Strategic Review.  We discuss the company’s ambitions and opportunities for the Australian enterprise, particularly given the nation’s increased focus on integrated air and missile defence capabilities.  We also highlight the way IAI is operating in Australia and the company’s emphasis on supporting the development of Australia’s Sovereign Defence Industrial Capability Priorities and the broad ambition of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.  Finally, we discuss what sets Israeli defence innovation and industrial capacity apart from its Western counterparts and the methodology, processes and capacity that provide Israel with a qualitative edge over potential adversaries.   Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft detail multiple recent law enforcement operations that have made a considerable dent in criminal and cyber criminal activity around the world. Croft opens the podcast with the most recent developments in law enforcement’s efforts to tackle the LockBit ransomware gang, with four arrests made and sanctions placed against one of the gang’s major affiliates. Hollingworth then details the incredible story of the Australian Federal Police’s Operation Kraken, an investigation into the Ghost criminal messaging network, which it turns out was – allegedly – run by an Aussie! He’s now been arrested, and a lot of other criminals besides. The pair wrap up with news of charges being laid by the US Department of Justice against Iranian hackers, and they offer some simple but important advice as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and how state actors disrupt their non-state adversaries. The podcast begins with an analysis into the fragility of supply chains, examining the pager attack, and how adversaries can conduct espionage through acquisition. They then discuss strategies at disrupting non-state adversaries, including whether a decapitation strategy would work for Hezbollah in spite of its failure to disrupt irregular forces elsewhere. The podcast also examines the division that this represents in Australia, with announcements that the Australian Federal Police will go after those waving Hezbollah flags. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Scott Hargreaves, executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), to discuss two recently released reports commissioned by the IPA.  The pair begin the conversation by discussing the IPA’s recent independent poll into Defending Australia’s Way of Life, which focused on the sentiments of the Australian public from the ages of 18 to 65-plus and their attitudes toward serving the nation.    They also unpack some of the key findings across each of the demographics polled and discuss some of the reasons they believe young Australians are losing faith in and their willingness to defend the country.    Finally, the pair discuss the IPA’s multi-part series, The Defence of Australia: A Blueprint for the Next Government, developed in conjunction with the expert team from Strategic Analysis Australia and some of the key findings in the report thus far.

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Daniel Croft unpack new “safe habour” protections unveiled by the federal government, before looking into some recent hacks and controversy surrounding artificial intelligence. The pair begin the podcast examining the new “safe harbour” protections unveiled by Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke, and how it will help information gathering for law enforcement agencies. They then examine the recent Total Tools breach, before diving into the risk of credential stuffing. Croft and Garman wrap up the podcast discussing poor AI implementation in business following the Melbourne mayor’s AI-generated imagery fiasco. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman invite Major General (Ret’d) Gus McLachlan back for a follow-up podcast, unpacking irregular warfare, information operations and military modernisation.  They begin the podcast discussing Russia’s “little green men” during the invasion of 2014, and how Russian units were able to take over swathes of Eastern Ukraine.  MAJGEN (Ret’d) McLachlan then unpacks his priorities in uniform in modernising the Australian Defence Force. The podcast then examines how two Russian nations were charged with laundering money to spread disinformation ahead of the US presidential election.  Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, recorded live from Land Forces 2024, host Steve Kuper is joined by the chief executive of Land for Babcock International, Tom Newman, to discuss the evolution of land warfare. The pair discuss: The pair discuss the latest announcements and key focus points for Babcock at the 2024 Land Forces exhibition and Chief of Army Symposium and the key narratives shaping the conversation. They also discuss the UK’s current Strategic Defence Review process implemented by the newly elected Labour government and what that means for the British Army in the context of broader geopolitical and strategic challenges in the European theatre.  Finally, they discuss the rapid proliferation of advanced technologies on battlefields in Ukraine and the Middle East and the role of innovation in shaping defence capabilities and delivering them at scale and quickly to our warfighters. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Downer Professional Services’ Rachel Hatton, General Manager - Mission Engineering, and Connie Heaney, General Manager - Advisory & Technical Services, join Liam Garman to discuss what Defence’s Digital Engineering Strategy means for Australia, offer insights on digital and mission engineering approaches, and provide real world examples. The podcast begins by illuminating how the DE Strategy relates to the National Defence Strategy, and how it directly addresses the challenges that traditional capability life cycle processes have keeping up with technological advancements. Hatton and Heaney then unpack the strategy’s five strategic goals and talk about its potential to revolutionise the Australian workforce and innovation within the capability development system. They wrap up the podcast discussing what this means for industry, from transitioning to a digital environment, more pilot projects to test DE tools, and greater collaboration across Defence, industry and academia. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Joe Hockey, former Australian ambassador to the United States, joins hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper to discuss the continued importance of the Australia–US relationship. The trio begin by discussing the fallout of the latest presidential debate between contenders, former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, touching on the implications for the bilateral relationship. They also discuss the role of grey zone warfare and information warfare efforts in the upcoming election and how they may shape the outcome. Finally, they discuss the importance of the partnership in helping Australia reindustrialise and build a truly sovereign defence industrial base, with a pathway forward to establishing an integrated Australian prime. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team