Have you changed your passwords lately?

Have you changed your passwords lately?

May 1 is World Password Day and serves as a timely reminder to reset your passwords regularly to help keep yourself safe online. Cybercrime can be hard to identify and difficult to stop once it is underway. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we protect ourselves. 

Here’s a handy list of what you can do to help protect yourself from cybercrime and what to do if you suspect you may have been compromised.

What you can do to protect yourself

• Purchase and install high-quality software on your computer to detect and prevent viruses, spyware and malware. When you purchase security software, you will receive updates, including patches for your security system. It is extremely important you update when prompted and do not ignore, as the ‘patch’ includes any latest threats to your operating system.
• Never click on links in emails or text messages. 
• Do not open attachments unless you are sure of the source. 
• Take precautions when accessing free wi-fi, such as using a virtual private network (VPN). 
• Where possible, use biometrics like fingerprint or face recognition to restrict access to your mobile phone.
• Do not give out personal information unless you are sure it is secure. This includes social media.
• Limit social media connections to people you know in real life.
• Review your financial statements often and ensure all the transactions are yours.
• Never share usernames or passwords – and never record them anywhere.
• Ensure your passwords are not easy to guess and use a combination of letters and numbers. 
• Use different passwords for different systems and applications. 

If you have been compromised, here’s what to do: 

• Contact your bank or financial services provider immediately to understand what steps can be taken and what protection they may offer. Consider reducing payment limits as an example. Or consider asking for your account to be blocked. Have measures added to your accounts. Your bank can have your account stopped, reset your passwords and security questions and set alerts on transactions to protect you from loss. 
• Change the passcodes for your devices.
• Change the passwords for your accounts.
• Consider replacing your credit cards.
• Have your personal devices cleaned by a professional if you suspect malicious software has been installed.
• Report the compromise to law enforcement.
• Check your credit report and subscribe to credit alerts that let you monitor changes to your credit file.
• Contact ID Care, Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. ID Care is a free service that helps victims of ID fraud.

Remember to always be vigilant, and together we can work to help keep your hard-earned investments safe.