Australia calls out China for cyber espionage

Alastair MacGibbon says China could be using sophisticated malware to infiltrate critical systems. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A cyber expert has warned China could be using sophisticated cyber malware to infiltrate critical systems in Australia and shut them down in the event of a war.

Australia joined Five Eyes partners in outing China as being behind a cluster of cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure in the United States.