Staying safe online
The internet has indisputably changed our lives. However, interacting with the world through LED-lit glass does come with risks, many of which we’re still coming to understand. Considering how much time we spend online, it’s wise to be informed of the issues. Research by Hootsuite and We Are Social released in 2019 found Australians aged 16 to 64 years spend an average of five hours a day logged onto the internet on computers and smartphones. That’s more time than we spend exercising, socialising or playing with our kids. And it doesn’t include time streaming shows on our Smart TVs.
Without debating the merits of the internet (it’s here to stay), managing any negatives can help us shape our best possible experience of this amazing global mega-brain of connection and information.
Avoiding cybercrime
While crime is as old as the world, the World Wide Web gives today’s felons instant easy access to hordes of potential victims. Cybercrime affects around one in three Australian adults annually, according to incidents reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Internet-based crime costs the Australian business community around $29 billion annually, while the average loss to individuals is $700 per incident.
The most common cybercrime is online fraud, followed by identity theft. Common online
