China is being blamed for a massive cyber attack into the Bureau of Meteorology's systems.

The recent hack is considered a major one because the Bureau of Meteorology owns one of the biggest supercomputers in Australia. The bureau's systems are connected to the Department of Defence at Russell Offices in Canberra, according to an ABC report cited by Sky News.

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Aside from China, another country being suspected of being behind the massive hack is Russia. Non-state criminal entities may also be responsible for the attack, the report details.

The Bureau of Meteorology provides Australian agencies with important information. Its weather data is also used as reference for military and commercial flights, 9 News reports.

Dr. Tobias Feakin, director of the International Cyber Policy Centre, speculated that the bureau's supercomputer may have been hacked to gain access to other government branches. Hackers usually look for entry points to reach a more sensitive target, he explained.

Another possible reason for the hack could be an attempt to gather climate data ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris. Dr. Feakin said Australia's scientific data may be useful tool for negotiations.

In light of the cyberattack, the bureau said it does not release comments on security issues. However, it confirmed that its systems are still functioning fully, the report adds.

"The bureau's systems are fully operational and the bureau continues to provide reliable, on-going access to high-quality weather, climate, water and oceans information to its stakeholders," Sky News quotes the Bureau of Meteorology's statement.

Last month, U.S. cyber crime expert Chris Pogue warned Australia of the threat that cyber hacking poses to the government. He said all systems could fall victim to such attacks including weapons systems and those responsible for security clearance information.

This is not the first time that China has been blamed for cyber attacks on Australia. In November, Chinese spies were accused of attempting to hack confidential data on the country's future submarines. Two years ago, reports surfaced about alleged attempts to obtain an ASIO establishment's blueprints.

TagsRussia, Australia, Australia Bureau of Meteorology Hacked, China Cyberattack Australia Bureau of Meteorology