Cyber Safety

If you have a mobile phone or an email account (like practically everybody!) chances are you would have received a text, email or phone call that turns out to be from someone trying to trick you into disclosing your personal and/or financial information.

These fake messages will use corporate logos or official looking websites. They can even appear in a text message thread that you have initiated with a legitimate company! Things have gotten so bad that almost every website providing any sort of retail, delivery or banking service that you visit will have a banner heading or a pop-up screen warning you of the increase in scams and to be vigilant.

So what can you do to reduce the chances of becoming a victim to scammers and hackers?

Here are a few tips:

• Install anti-virus protection on your computer from a reputable provider.
  
• Limit what you access on free public wi-fi and be careful how you connect to it. Never do banking, shopping or send confidential emails over these networks. Be aware that cybercriminals can set up rogue wi-fi hotspots that look legitimate.
  
• If an email or text message looks suspicious and is unsolicited, delete it.
  
• Do not click on any links in a suspicious email or open any attached files. Be aware that even if the sender is known to you, their account may have been hacked so always exercise caution. This is probably the single most important thing to remember.
  
• Check for incorrect spelling in the website or email address, the name of the company or in the message itself. In the movie Billion Dollar Heist, a true story, the hackers would have got away with far more, except that they misspelt the word “foundation” as “fandation” triggering a block on a transaction of $20m.
  
• When transferring money to a business’ bank account, take the time to telephone the business on its listed phone number and check that the bank details you are using are correct.
  
• Similarly, if you get an apparent request from a friend or family member asking you to urgently transfer funds, do not take action until you have called them to find out if the request is genuine.
  
• Don’t react to any unsolicited message urging you to “act now” otherwise you will miss out on some alleged benefit.
  
• Only “unsubscribe” from websites/newsletters you know to be from a genuine source. Otherwise simply delete them. The “unsubscribe” button can be used to validate your email address, resulting in even more unwanted spam.
  
• When you do need help, use only reputable computer technicians and companies and, where possible, deal with them in person. Take your computer in, rather than give remote access.
  
• Educate yourself on cyber safety. A good place to start is the Australian Government’s helpful websites found at www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself or www.scamwatch.gov.au