The recent Optus hack has shocked everyone. Optus users need to act quickly to protect themselves from becoming easy targets for future cyber-attacks.
Please refer to this link from Accountant Daily on what information was leaked, and what could happen if your information is stolen: Optus hack puts all Australia on alert, accountants in front line
You can also consider joining possible future class action against Optus. Please refer to this link: Law firm mulls class action against Optus, SMEs ‘sitting ducks’
We also received below tips from trusted IT experts at GI Computer Innovations:
- Be aware of the most common scams. This includes everything from phishing emails to fake websites. If you’re not sure if something is legitimate, do some research before clicking on any links or giving away any personal information.
- Don’t give away personal information unless you’re absolutely sure it’s safe to do so. This includes your social security number, credit card information, and bank account numbers. If someone asks for this information over the phone or online, make sure you verify their identity first.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off about an email, a website, or even a person you’re talking to, it’s probably not worth taking the risk.
P.S.: As mentioned in our previous newsletters, on top of normal protections such as firewalls, antivirus software, we also use systems such as Practice Protect and Karbon to protect our client’s private information. As your accountant and tax agent, we understand how important data security is to our client and will spare no effort or cost to protect you.
