Time to rethink cyber defences - expert

  • 11/09/2015
The claims follow a warning from Internal Affairs about an email attack targeting executives known as 'whaling' (file)
The claims follow a warning from Internal Affairs about an email attack targeting executives known as 'whaling' (file)

A US cyber security expert says New Zealand is as much at risk as the rest of the world when it comes to targeted online attacks.

Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Jan Hamby recently spoke to Kiwi business leaders about the threats. She's spent more than 30 years in the Navy's cyber security division.

Her claims follow a warning from Internal Affairs about an email attack targeting executives known as 'whaling'.

RADM Hamby says unfortunately, cyber attacks like this are inevitable.

"The mentality that we had in the past that you could put up a perimeter defence and keep attackers out really doesn't apply today. There are too many smart people out there trying to figure out how to get into the networks, so you need to adapt a little bit of a different strategy." She says security measures and firewalls need to be constantly evolving.

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