Login
iscover
Share this article on:
Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Powered by MOMENTUMMEDIA
The Cyber Wardens program has released new research ahead of a campaign, warning businesses of Easter threats.
Australia’s Cyber Wardens program is warning small businesses to “watch out for bad eggs” in the run-up to the Easter long weekend in a few days.
“Cyber criminals know that small businesses and their staff can be extra busy in the lead-up to holiday periods such as Easter, and may let their guards down. And just like Easter eggs, cyber threats in the AI era can come wrapped in shiny, appealing packaging to try to trick you,” Luke Achterstraat, COSBOA’s CEO, said in a statement.
To back up this warning, Cyber Wardens has released new research based on responses from more than 1,500 small-business owners and employees, and the data shows that cyber security is both a front-of-mind concern and a challenge to Australian businesses.
Eighty-two per cent of small businesses surveyed experienced some form of cyber incident in the last 12 months, with a similar number – which jumped 5 per cent from last year – now concerned about cyber crime.
But while businesses are – quite rightly – concerned about rising cyber threats, only 41 per cent are confident they are protected from threats such as ransomware and AI-powered cyber attacks.
“Our new Cyber Wardens research shows that incidents are increasing, and emerging technologies such as AI are compounding concerns for already-stretched Australian small businesses,” Achterstraat said.
“Cyber attacks on small businesses can cause devastating financial loss and personal distress for owners, employees and customers. That’s why the Cyber Wardens program for owners and employees is such an important initiative.”
To keep small businesses informed about AI threats, Cyber Wardens is launching its Safe AI for Small Business campaign later this month.
But it’s not all bad news. Strong passwords are becoming more common, and there has been a 12 per cent drop in the number of businesses ranked in the lowest category of risk awareness.
Rebecca Warren, executive general manager for small business banking at CommBank – a Cyber Wardens founding partner – said that staying up to date with modern scam trends was an essential part of staying secure.
“For example, traditionally, phishing involved scammers sending dodgy-looking emails or texts with suspicious links in an attempt to trick you into sharing personal details, including bank or email account information and one-time security codes,” Warren said.
“We’re now seeing AI-powered scams that mimic human interaction with alarming accuracy. From lifelike impersonations to near-perfect email imitations, scammers are adapting to trick time-poor business owners into sharing confidential information or approving fraudulent transactions.”
You can read Cyber Wardens’ full Small Business Cyber Security Pulse Check Report here.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the cyber industry.
