"We know it is a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting," Morrison said, adressing the nation on Friday morning local time.

Morrison did not point the finger at any particular country that might have been behind the cyber attack, which he said was designed to bring the operation of the government as a whole to a halt, as well as to cripple the work of health, education and other essential services providers.

 "Australia doesn’t engage lightly in public attributions and when and if we choose to do so is always done in the context of what we believe to be in our strategic national interests," he told reporters. “What I can confirm is there are not a large number of state-based actors that can engage in this type of activity and it is clear, based on the advice that we have received, that this has been done by a State-based actor, with very significant capabilities.”

Morrison refused to speculate about possible motivation of the hackers.

Defense Minister Linda Reynolds has meanwhile called on all Australian businesses to update their protective software and secure their internet access amid the alleged cyberattack.

While Morrison refused to assign any blame just yet, the Australian media have been rife with speculations that China might be where the attack had originated.

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