Australia central bank targetted by cyber attacks

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was responding to a report in the Australian Financial Review newspaper that claimed the central bank had been repeatedly and successfully hacked and information stolen.

"As reported in today's media, the Bank has on occasion been the target of cyber attacks," the RBA said in a statement.

"The Bank has comprehensive security arrangements in place which have isolated these attacks and ensured that viruses have not been spread across the Bank's network or systems," the central bank said.

"At no point have these attacks caused the Bank's data or information to be lost or its systems to be corrupted."

Hacking attacks on governments and corporations have become routine, with suspicion falling on China as the source of much of the activity. Beijing has repeatedly denied accusations it is behind the attacks, saying it too is a victim of hacking, particularly from the United States.

The RBA said it routinely consulted with the Defence Signals Directorate, Australia's intelligence agency, to ensure the security of its systems.

Reports released under the Freedom of Information Act showed Australia's central bank was the subject of a malicious email attack on Nov. 16 and 17, 2011, using a virus that was undetectable by the bank's anti-virus software.

An email titled "Strategic Planning FY2012" was

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