Australia, like most countries, faces a variety of cyber threats and attacks. These attacks can target individuals, businesses, and even government entities, and can have serious consequences such as theft of personal or confidential information, financial loss, and damage to reputation.
Some common types of cyber-attacks include:
- Phishing attacks: These attacks typically involve fraudulent emails, texts, or phone calls that attempt to trick individuals into giving away sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or credit card numbers.
- Malware attacks: Malware, or malicious software, can infect a computer or network and cause damage, steal information, or allow hackers to gain access to systems.
- Ransomware attacks: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key.
- Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: These attacks overload a system with traffic or requests, causing it to become unavailable to legitimate users.
According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), in the 2020-2021 financial year, it responded to over 67,500 cyber security incidents affecting Australian businesses and individuals. This translates to an average of around 185 incidents per day. It’s worth noting that this figure only includes incidents that were reported to the ACSC and may not represent the full extent of cyber threats facing Australia.
To protect yourself against these types of attacks, there are a few things you can do:
- Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts, and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Be cautious when opening emails, especially if they contain links or attachments. Verify the sender and be wary of any requests for personal information or urgent action.
- Keep your software and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches.
- Use antivirus and anti-malware software on your devices.
- Backup your important data regularly and store it securely.
- Be careful when using public Wi-Fi, and avoid logging into sensitive accounts or entering personal information while connected to an unsecured network.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing the internet from public Wi-Fi or when working remotely.
- Stay informed about the latest cyber threats and security best practices.
By taking these steps, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to a cyber-attack. It’s important to remember that cyber security is an ongoing process, and staying vigilant is key to protecting yourself and your information online.
More!!
Check out Monday’s episode of Four Corners – Hackers Inc: Chasing the cybercrime syndicates attacking Australia – ABC News
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