Are you Cyber-Safe at Home?
With increasing numbers of Australians working from home to combat the spread and impact of COVID-19, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has issued a new advisory containing tips to reduce the risk of Australians falling victim to cybercriminals at home.
ACSC Head, Ms Abigail Bradshaw CSC, said the dramatic increase in people working from home – many of them for the first time, and the increasing use of online systems to manage social distancing, creates opportunities for cyber criminals.
“The social distancing measures that help protect the community against COVID-19 can also make them more vulnerable to malicious cyber criminals,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“The unauthorised compromise of information can have a devastating impact on a person’s emotional, financial and working life.”
“The ACSC has published new, easy-to-follow advice on how people working from home can better protect themselves from cyber-attacks and disruptions.“
The ACSC’s new guidance outlines nine important but simple cybersecurity practices for people who are working from home to limit risks:
- Beware of scams;
- Use strong unique passphrases;
- Implement multi-factor authentication;
- Update your software and operating systems;
- Use a virtual private network (VPN);
- Use trusted Wi-Fi;
- Secure your devices when not in use;
- Avoid portable storage devices;
- Use trusted sources of information;
The advice is part of the ACSC’s campaign to raise awareness of cyber threats and how to mitigate them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information see www.cyber.gov.au
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