Federal MPs bombarded with prank text messages have been assured their mobile phones are not being hacked.
Cabinet ministers George Brandis and Greg Hunt are amongst coalition figures targeted after word spread on Twitter that the iPhones of MPs could be reached directly through iMessage.
Net activists sent messages protesting the government's planned data retention measures and climate change policies.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull helpfully gave an impromptu cyber security lesson for his less-tech savvy colleagues at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.
Spam messages did not mean the phones of MPs had been compromised.
"That may get you a lot of messages you weren't welcoming or didn't anticipate but it doesn't involve hacking," he told reporters.
But everyone should be alert to security and follow basic rules, he warned.
Not opening unknown attachments was a big no-no.
Mr Turnbull also explained why text messaging was an insecure form of communicating because messages were not encrypted in transit and not encrypted on the telco's server.
Instead he sung the praises of "over the top" messaging apps like Whatsapp, Wickr and Threema.
On Monday there were reports Mr Turnbull had been using Wickr to communicate with colleagues over leadership issues.
"Everyone should be calm and zen," he said, dismissing the speculation.
The former journalist also played down concerns data retention laws will harm investigative reporting and discourage whistleblowers.
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