A Parliamentary inquiry suggests a federal office of online security should be established in order to combat the massive amounts of malicious software being directed at users.
The inquiry also recommends establishing a 24-hour cybercrime hotline and an online code of practice for websites to use.
The Hackers, Fraudsters and Botnets report recommends a similar measure put to president Barack Obama in 2008 which would establish a US office for cyberspace.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority told the inquiry that over 10,000 computers per day are infected with software used to create botnets.
”The trouble with botnets is previously if your computer was infected it would be obvious, but botnets can be in control externally and you may be completely unaware,” committee chairwoman, Belinda Neal told The Age.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
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