Sometimes, it's easy to overlook the fact we live in a global society. We are more connected now than ever before, thanks mainly to the internet, which has made is easier and more expedient to do business. However, occasionally we forget the dangers that lurk beyond our computer screens.
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On Tuesday night, Australians received a timely reminder to take cyber security seriously. Global ransomware virus Petya began to spread and Tasmania was not immune.
Cadbury, in the state’s south, fell victim just after 9.30pm on Tuesday with the ransomware reportedly locking the computer’s files. The attackers then called for a $300 ransom to be paid through Bitcoin before it could be unlocked. This malicious virus shut down the factory and the production lines fell to a standstill until it was fixed – but even more alarming is that the virus shut down the US-based multi-national confectionery company.
If giant conglomerates and international companies can fall victim to cyber attacks, despite spending millions of dollars protecting their digital assets, then the average home computer user has little hope of protecting themselves unless they follow some pretty basic rules of cyber security.
Ransomware is one of the most frequent and damaging types of malware that can target both individuals and organisations alike – it can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars for both the recovery of files and loss of downtime. On Wednesday, the federal government urged Australians to download the latest software updates to protect against the ransomware. It also urged people to backup files, have firewalls and use anti-virus software. Crimes of this nature can include fraud and identity theft, spam, information warfare and phishing scams.
Just recently The Examiner reported that $260,000 had been lost so far this year to online scams, with more than 11,000 reports made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch.
Then there are the more obvious emails that ask people to send money to an overseas account with the promise of greater fortunes in return. These have been circulating for years and it's still somewhat of a shock that people fall victim despite all the warnings. It is hard to remember a time without the internet, before we had internet banking and smart phones. The harsh reality is, there is a risk every time we go online to make a purchase, log on to our bank's website or open an email.
