News

Cyber Security: Hot Topic

Today, we’d like to take a look at the news of the State Government’s recent cyber breach, and the latest software threat to all of us.

Last week the Government of South Australia announced a Frontier Software data breach affecting the personal data of at least 38,000 employees, and possibly up to 80,000, across most State Government agencies. Critical information including full name, address, tax file number, superannuation details and more, was compromised, though the exact method of compromise remains undisclosed.

 

It’s a sobering example of the scope of today’s cyber attacks and a crucial reminder to us all before the Christmas break, of the need to protect your own information and identity. Although there’s much out of direct control of employees in this particular case, you as an individual or business have the choice about how you treat your privacy so that you can minimise your risk.

This can include:

  1. Being mindful of the apps you use on your phone and how much identity you really need to share in order to use a service. Does the app really require so much information, and is it really worth it?
  2. Keeping your phone and computer software up to date. When was the last time you checked this, and is it worth getting help here from colleagues, a phone shop, or IT Support?
  3. Chatting with your family and friends about what’s important to you in terms of what you share online, such as posting on social media. Are there some boundaries to be considered?
  4. If you run a business, ensuring you understand your legal obligations for data security, such as Essential 8 frameworkand Notifiable Breach legislation. Are you doing enough to reduce risk to you and your clients?

Also over the last few days, a major Java software exploit has been announced that has the potential to affect most computer users globally. Microsoft and other software developers (including our antivirus partners, BitDefender), have released software patches to mitigate this exploit, which has been labelled as a “perfect 10/10 risk”.

To reduce your risk, ensure your phone and computer software is up to date, make sure you’re using good antivirus software, and make sure you, your families, and your colleagues, become cyber aware – it’s as simple as talking about it, sharing information and thoughts, and making informed choices about what’s most important to you in the online world.

As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any queries.