A report by NortonLifeLock Digital Transformation claims that one in every six people in Australia were defrauded by cybercrimes during the lockdown. Increased screen time has led to a spike in the number of suspected cases.
The spread of the coronavirus led to a work-from-home environment for many businesses, yet these measures carry their own risks. In particular, the lack of adequate cyber security systems has resulted in an increased number of online scams. Exposed networks have become a kind of low-hanging fruit for many cyber criminals, who are using this period of social adaptation to their own advantage.
Senior Director of NortonLifeLock, Mark Gorrie, says that as a result of COVID-19’s related heightened agitation, the public has become increasingly vulnerable to cybercrimes online. “Cyber criminals always prey on people’s fears, they are very opportunistic,” he added.
One of the most common cyber threats is identity theft. Sensitive information can be extracted through phishing, with scammers posing as authorities to trick people into giving up passwords and other key data. These phishers then combine their ill-gotten information to develop a database of profiles, which they can then sell on the dark web. As Mr Gorrie warned, prevention means taking our online safety measures as seriously as we take our hygiene.
Another report claimed that at least 29% of the Australian public are connected to unverified and unreliable servers, increasing their chances of being targeted by malware or scammers.
Earlier in August, officials presented a $1.67 billion plan as part of a national cyber security strategy to deal with these types of threats online.