By Fiona Erquiaga, Smooth Sailing Finance Consulting
OCTOBER is Cyber Security Awareness Month and is a reminder of the importance of protecting our digital lives in an increasingly connected world.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated and frequent, safeguarding personal and business data is more critical than ever.
In Australia, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) plays a key role in promoting cybersecurity, offering guidance to help Australians stay secure online.
The ACSC’s four simple steps to stay secure online:
1
Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA provides an extra layer of security for your accounts. Instead of relying solely on passwords, MFA requires a second form of verification, like a text message or authentication app.
This helps ensure that, even if your password is compromised, attackers cannot easily gain access to your accounts. MFA is especially important for sensitive accounts like email, banking and social media.
2
Regularly Update Your Devices
Outdated software and devices are often vulnerable to cyber-attacks because they contain unpatched security flaws.
Regularly updating your operating systems, apps, and software ensures that you have the latest security protections in place. Most updates include important security patches that close vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.
3
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
A strong password is one of the most basic, yet effective, ways to protect your accounts. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
Simple passwords are easy for cyber criminals to guess or crack, making it critical to adopt unique, hard-to-guess passwords for every account.
4
Recognise and report phishing
Phishing scams are one of the most common and dangerous forms of cyberattack.
These attacks often come in the form of emails, text messages, or phone calls that trick you into providing personal information or clicking malicious links.
Be cautious of unexpected or suspicious communications, especially those that ask for sensitive information or urge immediate action.
If you receive a phishing attempt, report it to the ACSC’s ReportCyber service. Recognising and reporting phishing helps protect you and others from these attacks.
Cyber Security Awareness Month is the perfect time to review and improve your online safety practices. Remember these golden rules:
- “Check before you click” (Check links before you click on them. Just hover your mouse over the link to check you know the website).
- “Look before you login” (Look at the website address before entering your password. Again, it’s just a quick check that you know the website).
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