The number of reported cyber attacks on New Zealand computer networks is increasing 60 percent each year.
Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), Ian Fletcher said both the number of cyber security incidents and the cost of dealing with them was rising.
The GCSB is responsible for keeping sensitive government data secure and also provides protection to selected private companies through a cybersecurity programme.
Mr Fletcher said the type of attack varied from defacing websites, to so-called advanced persistent attacks, where hackers try to gain long-term access to corporate and government networks to steal information.
”The internet changes a lot of things but it doesn't change human nature, what it does is have the effect of industrialising human nature,” Mr Fletcher said.
There will be more on this story in Radio New Zealand’s Insight on Sunday.