Australians are being encouraged to improve their online security and make Australia a harder target through better cyber security practices with the launch of the next phase of the Act Now, Stay Secure cyber security education campaign.
With the tagline ‘What are you risking online?’ the campaign empowers all Australians to build their knowledge and skills to better protect themselves online.
The campaign is a key element of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.
On average, one cybercrime is reported every 6 minutes, with ransomware alone causing up to $3 billion in damages to the Australian economy every year.
As the volume and sophistication of cyber-attacks continues to increase, there is an urgent need for Australians to be savvy about their cyber security.
While government and business have a significant role to play in defending our country from this threat, each and every person also has a role to play in our mission to create a safer and more secure online environment for all Australians.
It’s important to emphasise that basic actions can have the most effective outcomes. The three simple actions Australians can take are:
- Create strong, unique passphrases (as opposed to passwords) that are over 14 characters long and use 4 or more random words.
- Set up multifactor authentication to add an extra layer of security to online accounts (this adds an extra level of security as users will verify their identity in two or more different ways, such as being sent a text with a code, using an online authenticator, or having an email sent to a different address).
- Install software updates regularly to keep internet-connected devices secure
The Act Now, Stay Secure campaign is part of the Government’s broader vision to make Australia a more cyber secure nation and a world leader in cyber security by 2030.
The 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy will make every Australian citizen, business, government agency and organisation a harder target, and will enable us to bounce back faster from cyber attacks.
As part of our Strategy, the Government will extend the reach and accessibility of cyber awareness programs that help Australians understand critical cyber security threats, and empower vulnerable communities to grow their cyber literacy.
This phase of the Act Now, Stay Secure campaign will run through to 30 June 2024.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil:
“Our cyber challenges are really significant, but I want Australians to understand they have power here. The vast majority of cyber attacks can be prevented by taking some quick and simple steps.
“We’re taking huge strides towards our goal of being one of the most cyber secure nations on earth by 2030, but individual actions will always form the foundation of that security.
“Talk to your family, talk to your community, we can all help each other to be more secure.”
