With cyber threats on the rise, our families, friends, and relatives are increasingly vulnerable. Almost everyone has a personal connection to someone affected by a cyber threat or scam.
In 2023, there were 302,000 scams reported by Australians, marking a worrying increase of 26% in the past year, and resulting in a total of $480.7 million in financial losses.
It’s incredibly concerning when someone you know is impacted.
There is a simple way to help protect your loved ones: talk to them about cybersecurity. Make sure they have the basics in place and are aware of cyber threats.
This is especially important for your more vulnerable family, friends and relatives, as well as those who may not be as technically savvy as you are. By doing this, you’ll help mitigate the risk of them being impacted.
The eSafety Commission and the Australian Cyber Security Centre offer excellent how-to guides and videos on what to watch out for and how to stay cybersafe. They also provide key tips that can be used to help protect your loved ones:
Update devices
Make sure automatic updates are enabled on all their devices to give peace of mind that the most up-to-date security patches have been applied. Learn about updating your devices here.
Turn on multifactor authentication
Explain that multifactor authentication involves applying more than one security check. In addition to providing a password or passphrase, they may also need to provide a one-time code sent to their mobile. Learn about turning on multifactor authentication here.
Backup your devices
Ensure backups are enabled on their devices to ensure their important data and information will never get lost. Learn about performing regular backups here.
Set secure passphrases
Passwords can be challenging to remember, so teach them about passphrases and using a series of three or four memorable words. Most importantly, ensure they are not using the same passwords or passphrases repeatedly, especially for critical websites such as online banking, myGov, medical sites and social media. Learn about setting secure passphrases here.
Watch out for scams
Scams are designed to trick people, often using a sense of urgency and appearing to come from someone with authority. Make sure your loved ones understand that a legitimate request is never urgent or threatening, and encourage them to reach out for help if they are unsure. Most importantly, ensure they know never to share personal information, such as passwords and bank details.
Learn how to recognise and report scams here.
Nightingale Cybersecurity 