In the lead up to the festive season, Australians are being urged to stay cyber safe, following a year of unprecedented cyber activity and millions of dollars in loss. The last few months alone have seen two significant cyber-attacks, resulting in the largest compromise of personal information to date. If you’re wondering how to protect your personal data from cyber-criminals and avoid online fraud, here are 3 ways to stay cyber safe this festive season.

1. Adopt a safety-first mindset

At this time of year, the number of emails offering deals and promotions increases significantly, providing opportunities for cyber criminals who capitalize on the spike in email traffic by targeting unsuspecting online shoppers with convincing lures to extract their personal information.

Personal information is a valuable asset to cyber-criminals as it can be used to commit fraud in your name. Email is one of the most popular methods that cyber-criminals use to extract personal information or credit card details that can be used in illegal identity schemes or financial fraud.

As Australians search the internet, check their emails for the latest shopping bargains, and click on links to online shopping websites, it's vital they adopt a safety-first mindset by treating online information as if it were an important physical document, and taking steps to protect its security.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails, only shop on verified websites, and do your due diligence when shopping online and giving out personal and financial information.

2. Maintain good online hygiene

When it comes to online security, there are 3 key areas that need to be protected:

• Your email inbox
• Your public access
• Your devices

For each of these, here are some rules around keeping your personal information safe:

• Create strong passwords for each account and device and update these regularly.
• Be mindful of the information you store in your emails paying particular attention to important documents such as your driver’s license, bank statements, and passport.
• Create long and strong passwords for your internet router and Wi-Fi connection and avoid using the default password that your internet provider set up as these are often easy to guess.
• Check your router settings regularly paying particular attention to which devices are connected.
• Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for extra security, which hides your IP address and online identity.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi and exercise caution when using public USB charging stations.
• Get help setting up your internet by someone who understands online security.
• Install paid antivirus software on all connected devices.

3. Behave online as you would in real life

Before you click on a link or submit any personal information online, ask yourself how you would behave with your personal details or credit card information in the real physical world. In other words, does your real-life behaviour accurately reflect your online behaviour. Often, just asking yourself this question can cause you to stop and think twice about keeping your information secure.

For more information about cyber-attacks or to report a cyber-attack, refer to the cyber.gov.au website. Download this useful guide about how to avoid phishing emails.

While all care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, no warranty is given as to the accuracy of the information and no responsibility is taken by Finservice Pty Ltd (Mortgage Express) for any errors or omissions. This publication does not constitute personalised financial advice. It may not be relevant to individual circumstances. Nothing in this publication is, or should be taken as, an offer, invitation, or recommendation to buy, sell, or retain any investment in or make any deposit with any person. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt within this publication. A Disclosure Statement is available on request and free of charge.

Finservice Pty Ltd (Mortgage Express) is authorised as a corporate credit representative (Corporate Credit Representative Number 397386) to engage in credit activities on behalf of BLSSA Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence number 391237) ACN 123 600 000 | Full member of MFAA | Member of Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) | Member of Choice Aggregation Services.