How to prevent passwords and personal data ending up in hackers’ hands

Fraud, identity theft and data compromise are on the rise but everyday Australians and businesses can reduce the likelihood of their falling victim by adopting rigorous protections and processes. 

Receive a nasty ‘sextortion’ email while you were on COVID-19 lockdown, or know someone who did? Back in early April, thousands of Australians experienced disconcertion and dismay when they opened an email advising them their computer or device had been hacked – along with ‘evidence’ this had occurred, in the form of a full or partial password they’d previously used, some time, somewhere. 

 The senders threatened to reveal intimate images of the recipients to their contacts unless a ransom was paid via bitcoin. The campaign generated 1900 reports to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, which advised recipients to cease contact, hang onto their cash and delete the email.