How safe is my personal data and what can I do to protect myself against online scams and hacks?
These are questions facing Australians in the wake of the massive , which saw the private information of millions of customers compromised by hackers.
From internet banking to your , Medicare and tax file numbers, much of our most sensitive and valuable data lives online, leaving it vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated hacks and scams.
Despite this, there are some simple steps phone and internet users can take to better protect their data and guard against scams and digital ID theft.
Here’s what you need to know.
Common scams to watch out for: From phishing to remote access
The has been “an enormous wake-up call” not just for consumers, but for “any organisation in Australia that holds private consumer data”, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Deputy Chair Delia Rickard told SBS News.
The ACCC runs the Scamwatch website, which provides information to consumers and small businesses on how to recognise, avoid and report scams.
The Optus breach has provided even more fodder for scammers to target victims.
“Scammers will use the data breach and target people in any way that they can. This means you will likely notice an increased number of phishing emails, phone calls, and SMS or social media messages,” Scamwatch warns.
For those feeling “vulnerable as a result of the Optus breach”, there are a number of steps that can be taken to help better…
