Cyber attacks are on the rise in New Zealand, with intelligence agencies warning that large companies and individuals can be targetted.
The electronic spy agency the GCSB said it detected 900 different types of attack every month, with a large increase in what was known as cyber-ransoming.
Photo: 123RF
An expert in terrorism and countering extremism said cyber warfare provides plenty of opportunities for groups like Islamic State (IS) to cause damage to other countries, and raise money for their cause.
Representatives of New Zealand's intelligence agencies and the military, and academics from the Asia Pacific region attended the National Security conference hosted by Massey University - the first of its kind.
Cyber security was as much a focus as the physical threat of a terrorist attack on New Zealand soil.
The minister responsible for New Zealand's spy agencies, Chris Finlayson, said cyber attacks were a growing, and very real threat.
The minister with responsibilities for the GCSB and SIS, Chris Finlayson. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
"Every country is vulnerable because physical borders are one thing, but cyber borders are another and these sorts of things are happening on a regular basis.
"We're all told as private citizens 'cover your number when you go to the ATM' and things like that, but these sorts of things are becoming more and more common," Mr Finlayson said.
A new type of cyber attack - cyber ransoming, was also discussed at the conference.
That is when a hacker locks down someone's online files, and demands a payment, or ransom, to get access back.
GCSB director Andrew Hampton said this sort of activity was on the rise.
"Our focus is on those nationally-significant organisations but there are also ransom-ware attacks against home computers, against small businesses," he said.
Professor Greg Barton, a leading Australian expert on terrorism and countering violent extremism, said cyber attacks provided terrorist organisations like ISIS new options for disruption and destruction.
"When it comes to Islamic State they haven't, so far as we are aware, gone all out for attacks but it's possible this is part of a fall-back plan that if they lose territory on the ground in the Middle East, then one of the lines that they can fight on is deliberate, destructive attacks.
"They certainly have the technological capacity," he said
Professor Greg Barton speaking at the conference. Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
Dr Barton said cyber crime could also be used to finance groups like IS.
He said a Australian report discovered about $53 million in suspicious transactions, and a large part could have gone to terrorism financing.
IS was well known for its use of the internet not only for propaganda but for targeted recruitment, Dr Barton said.
Antony Smith from New Zealand's National Assessments Bureau said that was still a very active area.
"Their ability to reach out globally. We're into a different age when we compare this to Al-Qaeda ten years ago.
"It forms a sort of virtual community for people. We see the lone actor attacks - the number of these is much greater than we ever seen before."
Countries like China, Russia and North Korea were often blamed for cyber attacks, But Mr Finlayson was reluctant to name names.
"There are a number of active players. I don't want to go around sort of accusing individual countries," he said.