Last year, Australians reported more than 67,500 cases of cybercrime which cost the nation $33bn. We don’t hesitate to get insurance on physical assets, however we should also consider how we protect ourselves online. Below are some tips to keep in mind and stay vigilant to protect your private data from cybercriminals.

As our firm grows, we have been prone to attempts at phishing scams and fraudulent activity which we have intercepted before it has impacted any clients or our systems. Please ensure you contact our office by phone if you are unsure of any emails, signature requests, bank account details requests or suspicious activity before clicking on any links or providing information.

Cybercrime is on the rise
There were more than 67,500 reports of cybercrime in 2020-21, which equates to 1 every 8 minutes. The 2022 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report say that:

• Almost half of Australians surveyed have experienced cybercrime
• Around a third of Australians surveyed experienced a phishing scam (30%), and nearly one in five experienced a social media hack or email hack (18% for both)
• More than half of Australians would not know what to do if their identity was stolen

Top reported cybercrimes
Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated in targeting individuals to steal their identity and sensitive information such as passwords. Some of the top reported cybercrime types are fraud, online shopping scams and online banking scams. Queensland reported the highest cybercrime incidents (30%), followed by Victoria (29%).

COVID-19 has opened doors for cybercriminals
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has claimed that the surge of people working from home due to COVID-19 created a golden opportunity for criminals to target businesses, resulting in a 300 per cent increase in calls to the centre’s 1300 CYBER1 number last year.

Tips to stay vigilant against cybercrime
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) recommend a few tips to protect yourself from cybercriminals and attacks online:

• Have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your devices to protect yourself from identity theft or fraud
• Read the email address carefully before clicking on any links, pop ups or signature requests as scammers set up similar looking email addresses which can be missed and easily lead you to providing information to the wrong party.
• Call the company or person you are dealing with to check if an email or details provided were from the person /business you were dealing with.
• Beware of files or programs from third party sources. Illegal downloads from untrusted sources can sometimes be used by hackers to infect your devices with malware
• Review the permissions for each app – such as location, contact lists, access to calls, texts or camera.
• Report any fraudulent behaviour and find out further information about protecting yourselves at https://www.cyber.gov.au/

To help protect your wealth and assets, be conscious of who you provide any of your personal and financial details to.

The information in this website and the links has been prepared for general information purposes only by our research partners and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not intended to provide commercial, financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should, before you make any decision regarding any information, strategies, or products mentioned on this website, consult a professional financial advisor to consider whether it is suitable and appropriate for you and your personal needs and circumstances.