How to avoid scams and cybersecurity breaches? – By Nipuna Fonseka
Source : Dæhæna – Monthly e-Newsletter November 2022 – Queensland Sri Lankans
In the recent past, the media airwaves have been awash with news of data breaches suffered by large local corporations, affecting and highlighting the privacy of personal data of many unsuspecting Australians. Indeed, cybersecurity is the hot topic on everyone’s mind as every man, and his grand mother, tries to figure out how to navigate the information overload that accompanies any major news cycle these days. I have received many questions which ultimately breakdown to this. How can I avoid scams & breaches? …The short answer is that you can’t.
Now before panic sets in or you give up all together, there are certainly ways to combat and mitigate future breaches. However, as it stands, within our current digital environment, an individual cannot confidently say, “Yes! I can avoid this”. This is akin to asking, how can I avoid climate change? It is already happening and as is the case with the actions to manage our environment, there is an onus on our leaders, government, private enterprise, media &
our regulatory institutions to create a better environment where our actions mean more.
This is a prevalent issue affecting you and your loved ones on a daily basis, on a deep level. For example, most people are now aware of 4 major breaches in the last month or so – Optus, Medibank, Woolworth MyDeals and Energy Australia. But did you know that in just the last 2 months, the following companies suffered similar data breaches, that we know of – Microsoft, Australian Federal Police, Vinomofo, Uber, Fremantle Football Club, TicTok, LastPass, DoorDash, Facebook and WA Health.
There is some silver lining for the data we have already lost. Not all your data is really of any use due to fragmentation or has longterm relevance (i.e., credit cards expire). Crucially, key items such as your passport or bank card can be cancelled or renewed. Here are 10 tips to stay cyber safe:
1. Do not open suspect emails / text messages. Delete them & block the number.
2. Use a throw-away email with minimal details for non-critical accounts (Try https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to check for breaches).
3. Keep a variety of passwords & pins and update them. Try for at least 8 characters with a combination of numbers, uppercase & symbols.
4. Invest in a good anti-virus software and firewall at home.
5. Use a VPN, especially when using a public computer
6. Do not post your identification details in public forums like social media.
7. Use password managers (Chrome, Apple Keychain etc.) which actively check for compromised password and notify you.
8. Beware of investing in smart home devices without fully understanding how they work.
9. Do not reveal information if you don’t know a person well. Always ask for identification and if unsure, give yourself time to check validity before engaging further.
10. Regularly check your bank statements and contact your bank & seller, if any suspicious activity.
Australia haemorrhaged $33 billion in FY20/21 from reported losses due to cyber crime and its getting worse. So put in the effort to make sure you don’t join this statistic in future.
Nipuna Fonseka
Nipuna is the owner of Fonseka Innovations, an industry leading tech business based in Brisbane.
