Cyber Security

When it comes to your online safety, always follow these hints and tips:

• Never share your PIN, security codes or passwords with anyone.
• Never write your password down and leave it where someone else might find it, such as your computer or on the fridge.
• Never click on any links in unsolicited emails or text messages. Known as phishing, clicking on these links can give scammers access to your electronic device, allowing them to steal personal information such as your passwords, bank details and credit card numbers. These links often look legitimate, but take you to a fraudulent website.
• At any time, be aware that the accounts of your friends or other contacts could be compromised and controlled by a third party. Before clicking on any link, no matter who it’s from, always move your mouse over the link to see where the link will take you to. If anything looks suspicious, confirm with the sender by contacting them through a different channel of communication.
• Never reply to an email or text message that asks for your personal information. Verify any request with the sender by contacting them directly through a different communication channel.

• Never give anyone access to your computer remotely, especially if you have been contacted out of the blue by someone you don’t know.
• Ensure your electronic devices are secured using biometric features such as Two-Factor Authentication (thumbprint or facial recognition), and always make sure your anti-virus software is up to date.
• Never use an obvious password, such as your birthday or your pet or child’s name, as a scammer can easily work these out by searching your social media accounts. Consider using a password generator to create unique, complex passwords for your devices and accounts. Change your passwords regularly and don’t reuse the same password on more than one account or device.
• Never store your passwords on a browser. Use a password manager to store them securely instead.
• Avoid connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. If you must use public Wi-Fi, never conduct any banking or login to websites that require your personal details.
• Never use a USB drive unless you know where it came from.
• Don’t answer calls from any phone numbers that you don’t recognise.
• Be wary of any business that requests an unusual payment method, such as direct fund transfer, money order, pre-loaded card, wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Confirm the request with the sender by contacting them directly through a different communication channel.
• Be wary of any new friend requests or potential romantic partners who ask for money or gifts soon after meeting them.
• Avoid any offer that pressures you into making a decision.
• If you’ve received an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is — this could include things like high-end fashion or popular electronic devices at bargain-basement prices, or a once-in-a-lifetime return on investment.
• If we send you an SMS or email, it will clearly identify us and provide a contact number. If you ever doubt about any message you receive from us, always go directly to our website by typing rspcapetinsurance.com.au into a new browser window rather than clicking on any links in an email or SMS. It’s always better to safe, rather than sorry.

While not a scam, a data breach can do just as much damage and requires the same strong action if your personal information is compromised.

Data breaches occur when information being held by a bank, medical facility, educational institution, government department or commercial business has their online security breached, exposing confidential records and databases to scammers and other criminals.

Hearing that your personal information has been involved in a data breach can be highly-stressful, but you can minimise any damage by taking the following steps:

1. Confirm – When hearing about a breach, either directly or on the news, contact the affected party directly to make sure you aren’t being targeted by a scam. An easy way to learn if your phone number or email address has been affected is to use a tool like Have I Been Pwned?

2. Scan – Once you’ve confirmed that your information has been exposed, scan for malware on your phone, computer and other devices to make sure they aren’t infected with a virus.

3. Assess – Next, determine what sensitive information has been exposed. Depending on the type of breach, this can be confirmed by contacting the breached party for more information or reading related news stories. For example, if the breach occurred at your bank, it would be safe to assume that your financial information (account details, identifying information, etc) is at risk, and you should take steps to secure it.

4. Reset – You will also need to change the passwords for all of your online accounts, even those that weren’t involved in the breach. If any account uses your email address, name or other sensitive information to identify you, you should change the password.

5. Observe – After your passwords have been changed and you’ve performed a virus scan on all devices, keep monitoring your accounts at least every few days for suspicious activity.