No Australian organization confirmed affected by global cyber attack: PM

A worldwide cyber attack, which has crippled hospitals across Britain and hit international shipping company FedEx, has not affected any Australian organizations, but authorities would continue to "monitor the situation", the Australian government said on Saturday.

The ransomware attack in which hackers shut down computer systems and only reinstate them after victims have paid a fee, has forced hospitals across Britain to cancel surgeries and close emergency rooms, in what had been described as the "biggest ransomware outbreak in history" by cyber security company F-Secure.

Speaking through a spokesperson on Saturday, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there had been "no confirmed reports" of any such attacks occurring against Australian companies or government organizations.

"The Prime Minister's cyber security special adviser Alastair MacGibbon is working with the Australian Cyber Security Centre and health agencies to determine any impact to Australia," the spokesman said on Saturday.

The prime minister also moved to reassure Australians that they were not at risk, explaining that Australia's cyber security agencies were among the best in the world.

"The government takes cyber security very seriously.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and stand ready to deal with any cyber security threat to Australia's critical infrastructure."

The attacks have been wide-ranging, with a reported 57,000 infections affecting about 100 countries worldwide, including the United States, Britain, Spain, Russia and Portugal.

The attackers reportedly encrypted data onto vulnerable computers and have demanded payment through digital currency bitcoin in order to restore regular functions. Endit