Cyber Attack Derails Online Australian Census

August 10, 2016

Australia launched its first online census this week, but after multiple denial-of-service attacks, it was quickly forced to shut down, NPR reports.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said it closed down the online census form out of precaution after a fourth attack hit on Tuesday. Government officials told reporters that no data was lost. ABS is working with the Australian Signals Directorate, the country’s intelligence agency, to track the source of the attack and get the system back online safely.

According to ABS, more than 2 million electronic forms were submitted safely before the disruption, but the online survey was expected to be Australians' main method of accessing the census, saving the government an estimated 100 million Australian dollars ($77 million U.S.) on paper forms and filing.

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