Privacy Awareness Week: 4 tips to stay safe online

Privacy Awareness Week: 4 tips to stay safe online

The first week of May marks Privacy Awareness Week – an annual international event that aims to raise awareness about privacy issues and the importance of protecting personal information in today's increasingly digital world.

At PayNuts, we take your privacy and security extremely seriously.

We have rigorous data and fraud prevention practices that have been in operation throughout our existence. We are committed to protecting you.

Whether you’re online shopping, working or booking your next holiday, it’s extremely important to remain vigilant while online.

Here are 3 helpful ways you can keep yourself safe:

• Be skeptical of random emails and text messages

Don't engage with any SMS, email, direct message, or phone call from someone you don't know, especially if they ask you to either click on a random or suspicious link, provide personal information and/or download any files. It's best to err on the side of caution and be skeptical.

• Regularly change your password

We understand that this one is annoying, but the fact is, automated attacks rely on people using the same password for many accounts and therefore if you do not change your passwords regularly (and make it one hard to crack), you could be at risk. If you are someone who finds it hard to keep track of passwords (who isn't these days?), you might want to consider subscribing to a password manager.

• Avoid using open Wi-Fi connections

While accessing free Wi-Fi may seem attractive, there’s a real risk that cybercriminals may be lurking. Do not take the risk, always access Wi-Fi via a trusted network, a mobile hotspot, or a virtual private network, commonly known as a VPN. A VPN is software that encrypts all connections, which means that a cybercriminal won’t know which websites you're visiting and the credentials you're using.

With data breaches and identity theft on the rise, Privacy Awareness Week serves as a reminder to be vigilant in safeguarding our personal data and to take proactive steps to protect our privacy both online and offline.

By following the above tips, you can better safeguard your personal information and help to protect yourself from cyber threats.

At PayNuts, we continually monitor and implement industry-standard security measures to help protect you against evolving identity theft and fraud risks.

Further advice can also be found at: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ and https://education.oaic.gov.au/paw2023/