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The Top 10 ways of Protecting Individuals and Small Businesses from Scams and Identity theft in 2023

  1. Be vigilant and aware of email and SMS Scams
  2. Update your devices regularly to protect information
  3. Protect your accounts with multi-factor authentication
  4. Back up data regularly to the cloud or an external hard drive
  5. Use Anti-Virus products that actively scan or “wash” incoming emails
  6. Use individual passwords for critical online sites such as Banking, Government, Taxation
  7. Use Internet Browsers that help protect users from Scam Websites
  8. Be extra vigilant when opening emails and SMS links on a Smart Phone
  9. Only answer telephone calls from known numbers
  10. Create an Email Safe Senders list of known and trusted recipients

Tip #1 – Be vigilant and aware of email and SMS Scams

Do not trust anyone/anything that comes as an email, SMS (Text Message) or Telephone call …would be a good place to start. If you are contacted by any means and it is something you were not expected, be that good news or bad news… be suspicious. The number of data breaches in 2022 was at an all time high

Data Breaches Australia 2022

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/threats

Tip #2 – Update your devices regularly to protect information

Computers (Windows and Macs), Tablets (iPad and Samsung), Smart Phones (iPhone and Android), TV’s and even Modems and Printers, all use software (Operating Systems and Programs) or Firmware (the internal code that make periperals work). That code is constantly being targeted by bad-actors (scammers) in order to control, compromise and this gain access to individuals confidential information. In order to fix any discovered vulnerabilities, Vendors are constantly updating their Software and Firmware by issuing regular updates. Do not be afraid to update and do it often.

Automatic Windows Update Essentials

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/scams

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/update-devices

Tip #3 – Protect your accounts with multi-factor authentication

Multi-Factor-Authentication (MFA or 2FA) uses your Smart Phone to send you codes in order to authenticate who you are. Once scammers hack a database or service and discover email addresses and passwords, they then use these credentials to try and hack into Bank Accounts, attempting to impersonate you. MFA prevents this by only allowing access to sensitive information once the “Second” authentication has been entered which is usually a code sent to a Phone App or by SMS.

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/mfa

Tip #4 – Back up data regularly to the cloud or an external hard drive

If a phone, device or computer gets hacked or compromised, a simple means of removing the virus or hack is to reset the device to factory-settings by wiping the device and reinstalling it anew. Unless your personal information (Documents, Photos etc) has been backed up, your data may well be lost forever.

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/backups

Tip #5 – Use Anti-Virus products that actively scan or “wash” incoming emails

There are two ways of dealing with scam/fraud emails. Stop them arriving in your email box, or eliminate them once they arrive. Some Anti Virus products attempt to detect and eliminate spam and scam emails on arrival but the better option is to stop them reaching your inbox by employing Microsoft Hosted Exchange and Exchange Online Protection or Defender.

Do individuals and small businesses need Anti-Virus protection?
Does Anti-Virus Software Protect You in 2023?

Tip #6 – Use individual passwords for critical online sites such as Banking, Government, Taxation

Once scammers hack a database or service and discover email addresses and passwords, they then use these credentials to try and hack into Bank Accounts, Email Accounts etc. in an attempting to impersonate you. That is why you should always use unique and complex passwords, especially for sensitive sites such as Financial institutions, Government and Taxation sites etc. Using a 3rd party password manager can help but not in Internet Browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn/passphrases

Tip #7 – Use Internet Browsers that help protect users from Scam Websites

Google Chrome will often detect suspect scam sites days or weeks before Microsoft Edge or FireFox. Google Chrome is also less likely to allow spammers to advertise on the site, whereas Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Bing search results are often riddled with bogus advertisers

Tip #8 – Be extra vigilant when opening emails and SMS links on a Smart Phone

The browsers on smart-phones (iPhone and Android) do not detect bogus and fraudulent sites as well as the computer equivelent. Hence it is important not to trust emails and SMS messages with links to websites that you receive via your Smart-Phone as emails or SMS messages.

Tip #9 – Only answer telephone calls from known numbers

If you receive a phone call from an unknown or blocked phone number, simply ignore it and let it go to voicemail. If the caller is genuine they will leave a message. Scammers tend not to waste time leaving messages.

Tip #10 – Create an Email Safe Senders list of known and trusted recipients

Take the time to make a list of “Trusted” or “Safe” email addresses. You can then set your computer email program to only aalow messages from those trusted senders to go to your inBox. All other emails will then go to Junk or Spam. You can review these emails weekly or monthly to see if any new genuine emails went in there. If there are some, simply update the safe sender list with the new address.

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