Australian data breaches exposes small businesses

Posted on 16 November 20223 January 2023 by Leah Porter

A new wave of data breaches targeting Australians has exposed the personal information of home users and small businesses. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has received reports of email campaigns impersonating well-known service providers and using malicious attachments or links to infect devices with malware. These types of attacks are not new, but they have been on the rise in recent months.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, confidential, or protected data is accessed and/or disclosed without authorization. Data breaches can occur when hackers gain access to systems or networks, or when employees inadvertently expose data through carelessness or malicious intent. Once a data breach has occurred, the perpetrator may sell or distribute the stolen data on the underground market.

Data breaches can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations. For individuals, a data breach can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and damage to reputation. For organizations, a data breach can result in fines, legal action, and damage to reputation. In some cases, data breaches can even lead to bankruptcy.

Who is at risk of a Data Breach?

The latest hack occurred recently at health insurer, Medibank. Up to 200GB of data was stolen. In response to not receiving their ransom, the attackers released the information on the dark web.

The overwhelming concern that massive organizations such as Optus or Medibank could be breached, and have that data leaked is evident. So, what does that mean for small to medium-sized businesses?

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these types of attacks because they often lack the resources to invest in robust cyber security measures. There is often a lack of awareness on the part of these companies about how much information regarding their clients and employees has been compromised, which leads to loss of income and a loss of trust from their clients.

Large corporations with enough resources may be able to withstand such an event but it takes time before you can see any improvement in your business or income because there’s no quick fix for this type of situation.

Home users are also at risk, as many do not take the necessary steps to protect their personal information online. Taking steps to protect yourself from cyber-attacks is essential.

How to Protect Yourself from Data Breaches

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from data breaches. First, you should never provide your personal information—such as your Tax File Number (TFN) or credit card number—to anyone unless you know and trust them.

Second, you should only do business with companies that have strong security measures in place to protect your personal information.

Third, you should regularly monitor your credit activity for signs of fraud or identity theft.

Finally, you should always report any suspicious activity to your financial institution, ScamWatch and if necessary, the police.

Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself:

Use strong passwords and don’t reuse them across different accounts.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.
Keep your software up to date.
Be careful about what information you share on social media.
Be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails, even if they appear to be from a trusted source.
Use a reputable security suite to protect your devices.
Back up your data regularly in case you need to restore it after a breach.
Being aware of cyber-attacks and taking steps to mitigate them are important. This includes unexpected charges on your credit card or unusual activity on your bank account statements.
If you think you may have been the victim of a data breach, report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

By being aware of the risks and taking measures to protect your personal information, you can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or another type of cybercrime.

If you are concerned you have had your data breached, contact us for a full assessment of your devices, system and network.

Hackers

Posted on 9 November 2022 by Leah Porter

Hackers. It’s a word that strikes fear into the hearts of computer users everywhere. But what, exactly, is a hacker? How can you protect your computer from them? And what should you do if your computer is hacked? Read on to find out. . . .

When most people think of hacking, they think of large-scale cyber attacks by well-funded criminals or nation-states. However, hacking can also refer to more basic and common activities like breaking into a computer system or stealing someone’s password. Regardless of the scale, all types of hacking pose a risk to users and their data.

We spoke with best-selling Author and ethical hacker, Craig Ford regarding the ‘hacker stereotype’, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Who are Hackers?

On who hackers actually are, Craig gave some interesting perspectives.

“What do you all think a hacker looks like? Many of you will think that they are hooded figures, hiding in dark rooms with gloves on. Hunched over their keyboard with some kind of matrix-looking code running on the screen.

“That is not reality. I am a hacker, yes that is right. I am what they call in the cyber security industry a pentester, I take engagements from clients that have me try to break their systems, and find the holes but unlike a malicious actor (the bad guys and girls) I will help my clients figure out how to fix the issues and make them stronger for it.

“Hackers are not these hooded figures, they could be your neighbours or your family members. They could be like me and are more likely to be seen in a suit than a hoodie. Don’t believe all the hype and drama around hackers. The people who will break into your systems and wreak havoc are criminals. They are the same as someone who will physically steal your car or take your TV. They just do the crime through digital means.”

How likely is it I can be hacked?

When posed the idea that hackers are only after large-scale businesses such as Optus and Medicare, Craig warns that anyone can be hacked..

“This is something that a lot of small businesses and home users say. I have a bit of a shock for you, malicious actors or cyber criminals don’t care who you are, what you do or even really what information you have, it doesn’t matter to them at all. If you have weaknesses in your protection and you make it easy for them to infect your machine with ransomware or steal your data. They will take the opportunity. Period.

“Do yourself a favour, do the basics at least. Install a good antivirus solution, set up MFA (Multifactor authentication), and don’t use the same passwords for all of your accounts. That will make it too easy for them. Simple easy things can help you and your business stay safer in this connected world.”

What can I do to protect myself from being hacked?

Craig’s passion for Cybersecurity is outlined in his best-selling first book, A Hacker, I am. He advises that doing some of the simplest tasks can help to keep you safer on the internet.

“By doing regular updates on your computers and applications it will help protect you from millions of known CVE’s (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which is essentially a list of exploits cyber criminals/malicious actors will use to attack your systems or infect you with a virus.

“Most organisations that fall victim to a cyber incident do so because of patching not being installed that could have protected them. Some of these patches or updates have been available for months or more and have just been left uninstalled.”

In addition to Craig’s sound advice, we advise you to also create strong passwords (including capital letters, numbers, and symbols) and never use the same password for more than one account. You should also be cautious about opening emails from unknown senders, clicking on links in suspicious emails, or downloading attachments.

If you believe you have been hacked, please call us right away. We can help you clean up your computer and restore your files. Together we can keep our data safe and secure.

Craig Ford has also begun a series called, Foresight. This series is a cyber/fantasy series based on his extensive knowledge in the Cyber field.

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