For individuals, cyber security is the practice of protecting personal information or data contained in online accounts and internet-connected devices from unauthorised access, theft or criminal use.

With technology now a part of our everyday lives, we are all spending more time online than ever before. That means that every single person needs to understand how they can improve their own cyber security so that they can protect themselves, their friends and their family online.

Cybercrime refers to illegal activity directed at online devices and accounts. Common cybercrimes include cyber attacks, identity theft, scams, fraud, deliberate data breaches, and the sharing of offensive and illegal content.

Cybercrimes can cause serious harm and disruption to the lives of all Australians and leave lasting consequences. Learn more about cybercrime(Opens in a new tab/window).

In Australia, a cybercrime is reported every 6 minutes. Cyber security helps to reduce the risk of cybercrime.

For individuals, learning about good cyber security behaviours and undertaking them consistently will significantly reduce the chances of being a victim of cybercrime.

Learn more tips on staying secure online.

You can protect yourself online and reduce your risk of being affected by cybercrime through a few simple actions.

The 3 most important actions everyone can do every day to be more secure online are:

• Install all software updates to keep your devices secure.
• Always set up multi-factor authentication.
• Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account.

Consistently undertaking these actions will significantly improve your cyber security and help keep you safe online.

Find out more simple cyber safe actions to protect yourself online.

A cyber attack is when cybercriminals access digital systems and devices without permission with intent to cause harm. Cybercriminals can steal, expose, alter, disable or delete information. This can cause harm to an individual’s physical, mental and financial wellbeing, as well as compromising Australia’s national security and economy.

A data breach occurs when sensitive or personal information that is held by an organisation is accessed, disclosed or exposed without your permission. A data breach is often the result of a cyber attack.

Data breaches can lead to your online accounts being compromised if they share the same login details. This can lead to further personal cyber attacks resulting in identity theft, financial loss and targeted scams. Learn what to do if your information is involved in a data breach(Opens in a new tab/window).

A scam is when a criminal tricks you into providing personal or financial information so they can steal from you.

Scams are the most common way individuals are targeted by cybercriminals, so it’s important to stay vigilant and know the warning signs(Opens in a new tab/window).  

To report a scam or to find out what to do if you’ve been scammed, visit Scamwatch(Opens in a new tab/window). 

Identity theft is when someone steals your identity and pretends to be you for financial gain or other benefit. This could be stealing your money, opening a bank account, applying for a credit card and conducting illegal activity.

Your identity can be stolen through the information you share online or by accessing your personal documents such as your passport, driver’s licence or birth certificate. Identity theft can have serious and long-term consequences for your finances, personal reputation and mental wellbeing. Learn the common indicators of identity theft(Opens in a new tab/window) and how to report and recover from identity theft(Opens in a new tab/window).

Anyone can be a victim of cybercrime. These are some warning signs:

• You are unable to log in to your online account.
• There are unexpected purchases or withdrawals on your financial records.
• Sudden increase in spam emails from services you didn’t sign up to.
• You receive suspicious messages claiming to be from official organisations or the government.
• You stop receiving regular mail (such as electricity bills).
• Debt collectors contact you or you are refused credit due to debts you have not incurred.
• Your device crashes or unknown programs open.
• You receive a government benefit that you did not apply for.
• Social media posts appear on your profile that you did not write.
• You receive messages from an organisation involved in a cyber attack.

Remain calm and act quickly. Report the cybercrime(Opens in a new tab/window) and access the support resources available to help you. The steps you need to take will differ depending on the type of cybercrime.

Find the right support for your situation(Opens in a new tab/window).

You should always report cybercrime, suspicious activity, scams, harmful content and online abuse. You can report them to:

• Cybercrime – If you think you’re a victim of a cybercrime or security incident, report it via ReportCyber(Opens in a new tab/window) or over the phone on 1300 CYBER1.
• Scams – If you’ve been scammed, you should report it straight away to ScamWatch(Opens in a new tab/window).
• Harmful content and online abuse – You can report harmful online content and interactions to eSafety(Opens in a new tab/window).

Information and guidance on cyber security is available through these trusted Australian Government sources.