Cyber attacks have become increasingly prominent in the last few years, but according to a world-leading cyber-security expert, there’s a new threat on the horizon.

Former UK cyber-security chief Ciaran Martin warns the threat of cyber thieves stealing customer information – such as when the data of Optus, Medibank and Qantas was stolen – isn’t actually where Australia is most at risk.

He said what intelligence agencies are seeing now are “cyberthugs”, who aim to cause serious disruption or even force the shutdown of key public services or important companies.

But that’s not all.

“It’s not just criminals that can do it, but possibly governments too,” said Martin.

Some of this has already been detected by an alliance between Australia, the UK and America called Five Eyes.

Martin said China, which he describes as the greatest cyber thief in history, has been secretly hacking and leaving behind “digital booby traps” within Western governments and infrastructure networks.

“If we really fell out with them, these cyber attacks… dozens of them, possibly hundreds at once, could be part of that tension.”

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