Adam Boileau: How geopolitical fragmentation is aiding the rise of cybercrime & why NZ needs a Minister of Cyber Security

<p>Geopolitical tensions are playing a significant role in the growth of cybercrime and New Zealand should consider following Australia's lead and having a Minister of Cyber Security.</p><p>That's the view of Adam Boileau, Executive Director of security, testing and assurance at cyber security provider CyberCX.</p><p>Speaking in a new episode of interest.co.nz's <a href="https://www.interest.co.nz/of-interest-podcasts" target="_blank"><strong>Of Interest podcast</strong></a><strong>,</strong> Boileau says it's clear cybercrime is getting worse. Criminal gangs can make good money out of computer crime, and when the likes of Russia won't extradite criminals, doing so has become a viable occupation, Boileau says.</p><p>"The world around us has shaped how computer security has become relevant to individual people and to businesses, to enterprises, to government," says Boileau.</p><p>In the podcast Boileau explains why he's closely watching Australia, where Minister for Cyber Security Clare O'Neil pledges to "punch back at the hackers," <a href="https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/standing-operation-against-cyber-criminal-syndicates.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>taking the attack</strong></a> to cyber-criminals. He describes the Aussie approach as "a pragmatic answer to a very real problem"</p><p>New Zealand, Boileau adds, should also have a Cyber Security Minister.</p><p>"Computers are so important to everything now. ..This is no longer a thing [just] for nerds."</p><blockquote><p>I have a message for all cybercriminals: Australia is fighting back.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Insiders?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Insiders</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEyk6rzgGj">pic.twitter.com/jEyk6rzgGj</a></p><p>— Clare O'Neil MP (@ClareONeilMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClareONeilMP/status/1591591081526775809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote>