North and North West Tasmanians and businesses are urged to protect themselves against cybercrime as the risk of becoming a victim increases during the pandemic, with Australians now reporting more than one cybercrime every ten minutes.
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The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has launched a new cyber security campaign to inform individuals and businesses how best to protect themselves from increasing online threats, a move welcomed by Tasmanian cyber security expert Joel Scanlan.
In particular, the threat of ransomware attacks are on the rise, which is where malicious software can infect devices, locking or encrypting a device and its files to make them unusable. Cybercriminals then hold individuals to ransom, demanding payment for the return of access.
These attacks are preying on the human element, so people clicking on malicious emails or installing things they shouldn't ... It is an easy way of making money.
- Dr Joel Scanlan
Dr Scanlan said ransomware attacks were a low-level form of cyber-attack that relied on the mistakes of individuals or individual employees, which could then in turn affect business.
He said these types of cybercrimes are on the rise due to the low financial cost and relative ease of orchestrating such attacks and the increased security risk of working from home without workplace firewalls, but could also be related to the tensions existing between Australia and China which may have lead pro-nationalist Chinese to target Australian business.
"These sorts of attacks are preying on the human element, so people clicking on malicious emails or installing things they shouldn't ... It is an easy way of making money. Cyber criminals are trying to steal credit card numbers, email addresses, user names and passwords so they can steal identity in some way, to then log into Netbanks or get access to some financial advantage," Dr Scanlan said.
"From an attacking perspective it is not particularly complicated, and is the low-hanging fruit. Sending out a billion emails costs very little, and of that .1 per cent who get affected, you still have a lot of people from who you can steal their identity or gain access to credit."
Dr Scanlan said big lists of stolen emails and information are sold on the dark web, and then used in data breaches. Businesses were likely the main targets, as opposed to individuals, targeted through low-level staff who may install malicious software through company email addresses and IT.
He said any awareness about cybercrime was a good thing.
"With large-scale government funding like this we are trying to raise awareness through everyone, to protect consumers but also protect regular Joe employees who have regular levels of access within their workplace."
Known Breaches and Other News
Australian Cyber Security Centre head Abigail Bradshaw said the new campaign will see practical cyber security advice provided to all Australians, beginning with ransomware.
"Ransomware is a type of malware that locks up your files until a ransom is paid. Criminals can steal a copy of files to coerce you to pay the ransom by threatening to publicly leak or sell your data," Ms Bradshaw said.
"New technologies in our pockets, homes and offices are bringing huge benefits, but as soon as these devices connect to the internet they become vulnerable to compromise."
To protect from cybercrime ACSS recommends:
- always updating system and applications when prompted
- turn on automatic updates
- have a two or multi-factor authentication for all applications
- regular back-up of all digital content
- turn on ransomware protection
- prepare a cyber-protection emergency plan, and
- sign up to ACSC's new cyber threat alert service.
