Up by 150 per cent : Experts warn Australian Cyberattacks to grow exponentially
The number of cyberattacks against Australian organisations have more than doubled in the past several years, prompting new warnings from experts about the vulnerabilities in digital systems.
The warning follows 9News exclusively revealing that UnitingCare Queensland suffered a ransomware cyber-attack over the Anzac weekend, crippling hospitals and aged care centres.
The organisation has now joined a number of other major companies in Australia, including Lion Beverage Company, Toll Transport and Nine Entertainment (the publisher of this website), which have suffered significant attacks in the past 12 months.
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In ransomware attacks, hackers typically try to access and encrypt as much of an organisation s data as possible, rendering it impossible to access without a decryption key that the attacker owns, with its aim to be sold to the target.
iTWire - Healthcare provider UnitingCare Queensland hit by ransomware
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Scammerâs paradise: why you should change your online habits
It is becoming increasingly easy for scammers to build a profile of their victims as more information is handed over online and ultimately ends up in the wrong hands.
Criminals are using the personal information we post online to operate more targeted scams.Â
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It started with what appeared to be a legitimate email from Australia Post and ended with the loss of nearly $5000.
The victim, who later reported the scam and agreed to share their story anonymously via the competition watchdog, had recently received a delivery from Australia Post. The email requested $1.99 for a delivery â such a small and unassuming sum that it appeared to be unpaid postage from the sender.