Protecting yourself online

Canstar is committed to keeping you safe online but there are also steps you can take to protect yourself

1. Know the signs – learn more about the common tricks fraudsters use
2. Take our 5-point check to minimise your own security risk level

Know the signs

• Know what to look for – The government has compiled a resource where you can learn more about the type of scams that exist.
• Go direct to the source – Visit the official website of the company or service or call their phone number. Don’t use the links or contact details in the message or given to you on the phone.
• Ask the source what’s required of you – Companies or government services will often state on their site what they will and will not ask you online or over the phone. Canstar provides details on how to be sure the communications you receive from Canstar are legitimate here.

Learn more about security threats.

Take the 5-point check

1. Have your credentials been compromised?

• Use free tools like this to check whether your key details have already been compromised.

2. Do you have antivirus/anti-malware software on all your devices?

• Antivirus/anti-malware is recommended to ensure your devices are less susceptible to threats.

3. Is your software/browser up to date?

• Make sure you are using the latest software and operating systems. Don’t leave yourself open to vulnerabilities.
• Turn on notifications to automatically update.

4. How secure is your password?

• Make sure you are not using the same credentials for everything.
• If you are struggling to remember multiple complex passwords, consider a password manager.

5. Do you have multi-factor authentication (MFA) on everything?

• MFA makes it harder for the average criminal to steal your information and it is relatively easy to set up.
• More information about MFA and the set-up process is provided by the Australian Government Cyber Security Centre here. 

For more tips check out this guide that the Australian Centre for Cyber Security has compiled.