While scammers and hackers have always lurked on the internet, the COVID-19 pandemic gave them a massive advantage: we’ve been using the internet so much more often over the past three years, from remote work to online shopping, banking, and more. According to Australian comparison service Savvy, rates of cybercrime have sky-rocketed, with an 84% spike in scams since last year. At this point, we’ve all encountered scammers – fake phone calls from “Amazon”, anyone? – and some of us have fallen for them, with over $72 million lost to scammers from January to April.

So, why have online scams become so prevalent? Read on to learn who’s most affected, and how best to protect yourself!

In Australia, over 40% of cyber-attacks target small-to-medium enterprise (SME) businesses, largely because smaller businesses tend to have less cybersecurity protection. Ransomware is a particularly common threat – this is when malware infects your computer and encrypts your data, after which the scammers demand a ransom payment for decryption. With one cybercrime levied against Aussie businesses every ten minutes, it’s imperative for business owners to take care of their digital security.

Of course, your computer is not the only target for scammers. Phishing, hacking, and remote access scams are all major threats for smartphones, particularly through emails. The best way to protect yourself, your family, and your business is to understand your devices and their vulnerabilities. Establish protocols around identifying and protecting regulated, private, and sensitive data, update your hardware and software regularly, and provide cybersecurity training to staff to make sure everyone’s vigilant and on the same page.