Infosec stories
Thousands of New Zealanders face fraud and blackmail each year as many still skip basic online security steps, CERT NZ says.
Pressure is mounting on firms as ransomware gangs now threaten to leak stolen data online if victims refuse to pay.
Remote workers and online shoppers in New Zealand are facing a surge in Covid-19-themed phishing, ransomware and malware attacks.
Most organisations faced at least one successful cyberattack last year, underlining the need to reassess security practices and share lessons.
Phishing campaigns are exploiting coronavirus anxiety, with fake health alerts and newly registered domains helping criminals harvest credentials.
Weak passwords can expose every online account, so a generator helps users create harder-to-crack logins in seconds.
Poor patching and employee privacy concerns are helping mobile malware account for 20 percent of external cyber attacks, a Forrester survey found.
Weak account settings and careless clicks can expose personal data, let criminals impersonate you and compromise linked services.
Simple checks can stop account takeovers and phishing, from stronger passwords and two-factor authentication to encrypted connections and attachments.
Rising cyberattacks on smart grids are driving utilities to adopt stronger identity checks and encryption as connected meters multiply 30% a year.
Phishing is expected to drive bigger breaches in 2018 as mobile scams, cloud attacks and ransomware spread beyond email filters.
Mistaken file sharing could become less risky after a messaging update lets users delete sent attachments from both devices.
Rising digital dependence is exposing businesses and households to more phishing scams, malware and other attacks, NZTech warns.
A new delete feature lets SafeSwiss users erase mis-sent files from both devices, reducing the risk of leaked business information.
Reported cyber incidents costing NZ companies more than GBP £400,000 in three months may be only a fraction of the true toll, NZTech warns.
Patients could face disrupted care and higher risks as a Microsoft security chief warns New Zealand health systems remain easy targets for hackers.
Health services could face major disruption as officials warn a severe cyberattack is likely, with insurance cover still scarce among firms.
Smaller firms could struggle to cope as rising cybercrime puts personal data, reputations and finances at increasing risk in New Zealand.
Barely five per cent of New Zealand firms have cyber cover, leaving them exposed as ransomware claims and attacks climb sharply.
The new unit will give businesses and internet users a hotline and online tools to report attacks as ransomware and hacking rise.
