Are you a Cyber Crime victim? Here's a handy list of things you can do to mitigate the potential damage.

It seems like every second day there is a cyber breach that affects thousands of ordinary Australians. And while mega breaches are in the news, the unreported stories are those of everyday people losing money and being scammed by cyber criminals.

To help, I have put together a list of things you can do to help mitigate the potential danger to yourself and your family if you find yourself the victim in a data breach.

1. Immediate actions

1. Change Passwords: Immediately change any passwords for accounts which may have been compromised. Use strong, unique passwords or passphrases and consider using a password manager.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on your accounts where you can and add an extra layer of security.

2. Report the Incident

1. Notify Your Bank: If financial information such as bank accounts or credit card numbers have been compromised, contact your bank to monitor and secure your accounts. They may issue new cards or take other protective measures.
2. Report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC): Report the breach through the ACSC's ReportCyber platform .

3. Monitor Your Financial Accounts

1. Check Your Bank accounts and financial statements: Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
2. Credit monitoring: Consider setting up credit monitoring to alert you to any unusual activity. Equifax and Experian are well known providers.

4. Protect Your Identity

1. Contact IDCARE: Australia's national identity and cyber support service, IDCARE , offers personalised support for victims of identity theft and cybercrime. IDCARE also has guidance on the recent spate of cyber breaches in Australia.
2. Consider a Credit Report Ban: You can request a ban on your credit report to prevent new credit accounts from being opened in your name.

5. Update Security Software

1. Install/Update Antivirus Software: Ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date and run a full system scan.
2. Apply Security Patches: Regularly update your operating system and applications to protect against known vulnerabilities.

6. Educate Yourself

1. Stay Informed: Keep updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices. The ACSC is a great resource to help you better understand the vast and complicated world of cyber risk.
2. Cyber Security Awareness: Participate consciously and actively in cyber security training and awareness programs offered by your employer.

And finally....

Its always important to remember that prevention is better than cure - protect yourself from potential issues by implementing many of the steps listed on a previous article I authored in late 2023 - https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/making-2024-your-most-safe-secure-cyber-privacy-year-ever-tony-vizza-8ebuc/ .

As always, if you have any questions, please feel fee to reach out.