<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The technology of remote workers is being targeted by Chinese hackers to try and infiltrate corporate systems, Australia's cyber espionage agency has warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The findings are part of a rise in state-sponsored hacks targeting businesses and individuals amid global tensions, outlined in the Australian Signals Directorate's latest Cyber Threat Report.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Concerningly, hackers are turning to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/artificial-intelligence" rel="" target="" title="artificial intelligence"><span>artificial intelligence</span></a><span> in their cyberattacks on major companies, which include banks, telcos, power and water suppliers.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-data-breach-salesforce/cc149e0a-3ba5-4235-8c22-1c855e2ade01" rel="" target="_blank" title="Qantas to face scrutiny after personal data of 5.7 million customers released, minister says"><strong><span>Qantas to face scrutiny after personal data of 5.7 million customers released, minister says</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For small and medium companies, the average cost of cybercrime over the past financial year rose by 55 per cent to $97,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But for big firms, the average cost is up by 220 per cent, or about $203,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ASD also warns hackers are hijacking employees' home technology and exploiting them without the owners' knowledge, through hidden networks known as a botnet.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/work-from-home-aussies-targeted-by-cyber-hackers/b325ffdb-f03a-49b5-bb1d-e03561c1cb80" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"State-sponsored cyber actors have also compromised home devices connected to the internet, such as home routers, to create botnets that support further targeting around the globe."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Home internet routers, firewalls and VPNs were among the "edge devices" targeted by hackers linked with China, the ASD said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Once network defences were overcome, the criminals were able to access other connected hardware, such as computers and phones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By successfully exploiting such technologies, malicious cyber actors can gain an initial foothold on a network for follow-on activity."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ASD report was published today after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-data-breach-salesforce/cc149e0a-3ba5-4235-8c22-1c855e2ade01" rel="" target="" title="the personal information of 5.7 million Qantas customers was released onto the dark web by hackers"><span>the personal information of 5.7 million Qantas customers was released onto the dark web by hackers</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Qantas was one of 40 companies caught up in the hack, alongside the likes of Disney and IKEA, when the hacker group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters stole almost 1 billion records of customer data from cloud technology company Salesforce in July.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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