Australia and New Zealand have recently experienced significant cyber outages that have impacted various sectors, including businesses, government services, and airports. The disruptions have affected a wide range of institutions and services, leading to operational challenges and delays.
Impacts in Australia
Downdetector, a platform that monitors cyber outages, reported disruptions in Australian banking and telecoms sectors. Major institutions such as ANZ, Westpac, Visa, and Optus were among those affected. The National Cyber Security Coordinator of Australia acknowledged the widespread technical outage but stated that there was no indication of a cyber security incident.
Several airlines operating in Australia, including Sydney Airport and Brisbane Airport, also faced challenges due to global technical issues. While flight operations continued, some delays were anticipated throughout the evening.
Leading supermarket chains like Woolworths and Coles, as well as Commonwealth Bank, reported disruptions to their operations. Additionally, New South Wales Police and national broadcaster ABC encountered network problems, along with other media outlets.
Developments in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Downdetector highlighted issues in the banking sector, with ASB being one of the affected institutions. Christchurch Airport also experienced IT difficulties across multiple systems, potentially impacting flight schedules.
The cyber outages in Australia and New Zealand have underscored the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to technical disruptions. Authorities and organizations are working to address the issues and restore normal operations as swiftly as possible.
