More Australians falling victim to cybercrimes in lockdown

Findings released from the NortonLifeLock Digital Transformation Report have revealed that one in six (15%) of respondents were victims of cybercrime during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite efforts to be more vigilant towards cyber attacks. The report uncovered the changes in Australians’ online behaviour as a result of the lockdown, with four in five (77%) of respondents relying on technology more during this time. The report also analysed how Australians have adapted to new ways of working, the increase in entertainment subscription services and the impact of COVID-19 on Australian parents.

Many respondents (83%) believe cybercriminals have used COVID-19 to their advantage, causing more Australians to become cautious of cybercrime, with 65% of those surveyed claiming they have become more vigilant about their online security during lockdown. Despite this, respondents admitted to taking more risks when it came to their online security, with 29% saying they are connected to open/unsecured networks.

Additionally, 41% of respondents who were/are working from home said they have downloaded content or apps that are not 100% secure, while 44% admitted they are visiting websites that may be unsecure. Over 60% of respondents stated that they have used social media more as a result of lockdown. Usage of desktops (40%), laptops (45%) and mobile phones (46%) also increased during lockdown.

More than half of respondents use videoconferencing platforms, up 30% compared to pre-pandemic data. In the case of those working from home, 80% now use these platforms, compared to 41% before the lockdown. More Australians turned to online gaming and subscription services during lockdown, with 42% playing games online, while 35% of respondents signed up for a new account of magazines, books or a streaming service.

Mark Gorrie, Senior Director Asia Pacific, NortonLifeLock, urged Australians to use complex and unique passwords across all services, with two-factor authentication, if available. Gorrie also recommended using a password manager, for those that struggle to manager multiple passwords.

More than half of respondents (57%) increased their online shopping, including from unfamiliar websites (9% increase since lockdown). Australians also preferred digital payment options to complete these purchases, with 44% of respondents using a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay or PayPal. Online payments are also on the rise, with 74% of respondents paying for groceries and utilities bills online with their credit or debit card, marking a 12% increase since pre-lockdown.

“As people begin to use new services, there is a learning curve as they may be unfamiliar with the privacy settings and leave themselves exposed to an attack. Measures such as reading the privacy policies and default settings on a new app are more important than ever,” Gorrie said.

The report revealed that 64% of respondents found the transition to working or staying required a significant setting up of home or work equipment; however, 87% of respondents felt they adapted well to the lockdown period, with 80% indicating they would consider working or studying from home on a more permanent basis. New South Wales leads this trend with 84% of respondents.

Additionally, 81% of respondents indicated they had used a personal device for work purposes during lockdown, thereby making the protection of employee personal devices a key consideration to protect business data.

“With more of us being encouraged to work or study from home more, it’s important to put in place a proper cybersecurity plan or follow your company or school’s IT protocols to make sure your data is not in danger of being breached,” Gorrie said.

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