Cyber Security Awareness Month 2022

The year has gone fast and with it being October not only is it spooky season but also Cyber Security Awareness Month. The overarching theme for 2022 is ‘Have you been hacked?’ as outlined by the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

In 2022 alone, multiple Australians were hacked and their personal information was stolen. The hackers then used this information to commit identity theft and other crimes. The victims were left feeling violated and helpless. They had to deal with the fallout of the hacking, which included cancelling credit cards, changing passwords, and dealing with fraudulent charges. One example of this was ealier this year when a group of Chinese hackers attacked in retaliation for Australia‘s decision to ban Huawei from its 5G network. The hackers gained access to Australian government and corporate networks, and leaked sensitive information. This caused major disruption to the Australian economy and diplomatic relations with China. Other previous examples include:

In June 2017, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology was the victim of a cyber attack which saw sensitive weather data and systems compromised.
In September 2016, the Australian Taxation Office was the target of a sophisticated cyber attack which saw the personal data of nearly 600,000 Australians compromised.
In November 2015, the University of New South Wales was the target of a cyber attack which saw the personal data of over 200,000 students and staff compromised.
In October 2015, the Australian Federal Police were the target of a cyber attack which saw the personal data of over 9,000 employees compromised.
In September 2014, the Australian Defence Force was the target of a cyber attack which saw the personal data of over 35,000 employees compromised.

Now that we understand the severity of hacking lets take a look at the ACSC’s month plan for Cyber Awareness.

Week 1: Have you been hacked?

In this section of the website drop down you are given a brief explanation along with four items. A tool, quiz and two posters to help you determine if have been hacked.

For a basic rundown If you think you may have been hacked, look for signs that your computer or account has been compromised, such as:

Unusual activity on your computer or account
Suspicious emails or messages from people you don‘t know
Changes to your account settings that you didn‘t make
Unexplained charges on your credit card or other accounts

If you see any of these signs, it‘s important to take action right away to secure your account and prevent further damage.

Week 2: Is your email secure?

In this section of the website drop down you are given a brief explanation along with three items. How to check your account settings for Outlook, How to check your account settings for Gmail and a what to do if someone has hacked your email guide.

For a basic rundown if you believe your business has been targeted by email fraud or compromise, you should take the following steps:

Notify your IT staff or security team immediately.
Change all passwords for email accounts and any other accounts that may have been compromised.
Run a virus scan on all computers and devices used to access email accounts.
Review all recent emails for any suspicious activity.
Notify your customers, partners, and others who may have been affected by the fraud or compromise.
Cooperate with law enforcement authorities if necessary.

Similarly if you (as a personal account holder) have been the target of email fraud or compromise, you should immediately report the incident to the authorities. You should also change your password and take steps to secure your account including enabling two-factor authentication, s canning your computer for malware and viruses and contacting your email provider / bank / other to advise them of the hack.

Week 3: How do you act now to stay secure?

In this section of the website drop down you are given a brief explanation along with fourteen resources. Two quizzes:

One poster:

A4 poster – Top Tips for Cyber Security

11 Resources, five of which inform about resources available to help keep your email secure:

And six of which show you how to secure your accounts and devices:

In a few words to summarize all the above it can be said that are many ways to keep a person and business safe online from hackers. Some of the most important things to do are to keep all software up to date, use strong passwords, and avoid clicking on links from unknown sources.

Week 4: It’s time to take action!

Now is the perfect time to protect yourself online. In this section of the website drop down you are given a six quizzes to test your knowledge and five additional resources.

- Seniors Guide
- Kid’s Guide & colouring-in sheet
- Personal Cyber Security Guides (First Steps, Next Steps and Advanced Steps)
- Small Business Cyber Security Guide
- Cyber Careers
- A4 poster – Top Tips for Cyber Security

All of these resources, quizzes, tips and tricks together help to inform businesses and general users about the risks involved of engaging online. We learn not only how to spot hackers but also how to know if we have been hacked and what steps to take to both avoid the occurrence and overcome it.

We Fix IT also heavily recommends using multi-factor authentication on accounts as well as installing antivirus software and getting your laptop / PC regularly checked out to ensure it is secure. Some services/products we can supply and heavily suggest include: