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Australians have been urged to follow individual security precautions as part of this year’s Cyber Security Awareness Month theme, “Do your Part. #BeCyberSmart”.
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Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie has encouraged Australians to take precautions against common cyber security threats as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month 2021, with this year’s theme “Do your Part. #BeCyberSmart”.
Assistant Minister Hastie urged all Australians to follow the advice of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) by taking personal precautions to mitigate the threat of succumbing to cyber crime.
He warned all Australians that that cyber criminals are inventing more sophisticated means of taking advantage of people from all walks of life.
“The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s latest Annual Cyber Threat Report shows that malicious cyber actors and criminals are becoming increasingly innovative and active in targeting Australians online,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.
“Cyber criminals are constantly on the hunt for poorly-secured devices and accounts to exploit, including for major attacks such as identify theft, ransomware, and business email compromise.”
Amid an increasingly volatile cyber security threat environment, he recommended that Australians pass reports of crimes to the ACSC to better inform Australia’s cyber threat environment.
“It’s critical that Australian families and business report any instances of cyber crime via ReportCyber – reporting not only helps the victim, it also helps to develop the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s knowledge of the threat picture, which helps keep everyone more secure,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.
Assistant Minister Hastie continued, explaining several steps that people can take to keep themselves safe.
“The good news is that Australians can stop many potential online attacks and keep hackers at bay by taking a few simple steps,” he said.
“The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s new Personal Cyber Security Series will help Australians understand the basics of cyber security and the steps they can take today to protect themselves online.
“The critical first steps are turning on automatic software updates, activating multi-factor authentication, regularly backing up devices, using passphrases, securing mobile devices, and watching out for cyber scams.
“A guide for seniors is also available to provide additional support to older Australians looking for easy ways to stay secure online.
“Unfortunately, no one is safe from cyber criminals – the Australian Cyber Security Centre continues to receive reports of senior Australians losing thousands of dollars through convincing and multi-layered scams where cyber criminals pose as trusted business representatives, intimate partners, or technical support.”
[Related: Hastie unveils annual cyber threat report]
