The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has endorsed the 2018 Stay Smart Online Week which runs until next Sunday, 14 October.
The theme of the week is ‘Together we can reverse the threat of cybercrime’ with the aim of the week to help the community and business fight back.
In a statement, the OAIC said the Norton Cyber Security Insights Report Global Results for 2017 had estimated that more than six million adults in Australia were affected by cybercrime last year.
“Cyber incidents involving malicious or criminal attack are also a leading cause of notifications to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme,” the statement said.
The OAIC recommended a number of steps for the public to take in order to protect personal information.
“Passwords are your first line of defence,” it said.
“Use a different and strong password on all of your accounts, and add an extra layer of security with two-factor authentication.”
It said phishing used fake messages that tried to trick people into giving out their personal or financial details.
“If you receive a suspicious message, do not click on any links or open any attachments,” it advised.
The OAIC said updating software was one of the easiest ways to protect data online.
“Install software updates as soon as they become available,” it said.
“Better yet, set your system to auto-update.”
The Office also warned to be wary when using public Wi-Fi.
“Without the right protection, cybercriminals could see your information, so don’t do online banking or online shopping or send sensitive information.”
More information about Stay Smart Online Week can be accessed at the Stay Smart Online website at this PS News link.
