Australia has joined Britain and the US in blaming Russia for orchestrating mass cyber attacks that have affected millions of devices around the world.
Security experts are urging the public to be vigilant and say up to 400 businesses have been affected in Australia alone.
It comes as the west braces for possible Russian retaliation for military action in the Middle East and the poisoning of the ex-Russian spy and his daughter in Britain.
Speaking after her meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel overnight Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Russia may also be behind cyber attacks here in New Zealand.
"We have in the past attributed some of the cyber-attacks we've seen … in December. We attributed directly to Russia," Ms Ardern said.
"So that is not new.
"I've seen some recent statements right out of the US and the UK and I'm awaiting advice from the GCSB on that.
"But as I say we have attributed cyber attacks to Russia in the past and its highly likely with the number of issues that we've seen in New Zealand could be attributed in that way in the future."
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