This page contains Information on common cyber threats and how to be secure online. To find out more, go to the Australian Government's Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) website.
Types of common threats
Understanding common cyber threats will help you take steps to protect your online accounts and devices.
Phishing
Phishing is a tactic used by cybercriminals to trick a person into providing sensitive or personal information, such as passwords. It could also be to give money or unknowingly downloading malicious software.
Phishing can occur through email, social media, text messages and over the phone.
Phishing is often referred to as scam messages. Read more about how to recognise and reports scams on the ASD website.
If you have been targeted by a phishing scam, the ASD website has information about the steps you should take. Take the ASD quiz to see if you can spot phishing.
Malware
Malware is malicious software that cybercriminals use to harm your computer or network and can enable theft of data.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that locks your computer files so you can't access them. A ransom is demanded to restore access or prevent the files being published.
Account compromise is when criminals get unauthorised access to your email, banking, or other accounts and identity theft are other cyber threats to be aware of.
Cybersecurity protections
There are cyber security protections you can apply to your online accounts and devices to protect against cybercrime.
The top actions you can take are:
- use strong, long and unique passwords or passphrases on all your accounts
- apply multi-factor authentication to your online accounts
- set your devices to automatic software updates to fix weaknesses or bugs
- back-up your data so you can restore important documents and photos.
Personal cybersecurity
The ASD website publishes a range of personal cybersecurity guides and step-by-step guides to apply cybersecurity protections:
- Personal cybersecurity: First steps
- Personal cybersecurity: Next steps
- Personal cybersecurity: Advanced
- Protecting your family
- How to use the internet securely: A guide for seniors
- Security tips for travelling
- Protect yourself – Multi factor authentication
- Protect yourself – updates
- How to secure your devices
- How to back up your files and devices
- Connecting to public Wi-Fi and hotspots
- Secure online shopping
Information provided on this site will refer to advice published by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and their Australian Cyber Security Centre service as the lead Australian Government authority for technical advice, guidance and support.
You can visit the ASD’s website at cyber.gov.au and read more about their services.
