Truck driver arrested and charged over hacking of NBN provider

The national broadband network (NBN) was not affected by the alleged hacking of a service provider, a spokesman for NBN Co Limited says,

"NBN Co has evaluated its systems and controls and can confirm the national broadband network was not affected by this incident," the spokesman for the company responsible for rolling out the network said in a statement.

"The company said to have been involved is not yet offering services over the NBN.

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"NBN Co works closely with appropriate law enforcement and government agencies to ensure the security and protection of the national broadband network. We welcome the AFP's ongoing efforts in fighting cybercrime."

A 25-year-old Cowra man has been charged with one count of unauthorised modification of data to cause impairment and 48 counts of unauthorised access to, or modification of, restricted data.

In June, Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigators found a compromise to Platform Networks, a wholesale internet provider in Sydney that is one of the contracted providers of the NBN release. NBN Co says it is not yet providing it services to the NBN.

While Platform Networks had strong cyber security measures in place, even the best security systems are only as strong as the weakest link - it only takes one user with a weak password to put an entire network at risk," AFP national manager for High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan said in the statement.

The AFP has been investigating the Cowra man for six months.

"The AFP will allege this man was motivated by ego in his illegal hacking, proving his skills after complaining he could not get work in the IT sector. He is known to use the online nickname Evil."

He has been charged with one count of unauthorised modification of data to cause impairment, and 48 counts of unauthorised access to, or modification of restricted data.

He is due to appear in Orange Local Court on Wednesday.

The first charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail while the second count carries a maximum sentence of two years.