Got a new smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart device? Congratulations! But before you dive in, take a few minutes to setup your device securely and protect your personal info, identity and digital life from cyber threats. Here’s a simple, practical checklist designed for Australians, to help you stay safe, secure and connected.

More and more of us manage finances and make purchases online — from paying bills to buying gifts. It’s convenient, but also means we need to be a little more careful. Here are some straightforward steps you can take to protect your money and your personal information when banking or shopping over the internet.

Online shopping is a wonderful convenience, from ordering gifts for grandkids, to getting groceries or essentials delivered straight to your door. But shopping online also comes with risks. Cyber criminals often use online stores to try to steal personal or financial information. That’s why it’s wise to take a few simple precautions before you click “Buy”.

Every year, late November brings two big shopping events that started in the United States: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Fake online stores, unbelievable discounts, and dodgy payment links often appear during this period, and all are designed to trick you into handing over money or personal information. The good news? A few simple checks can help you spot a scam before it spots you.

You can do almost anything on your phone these days — pay bills, book travel, watch the grandkids on video, or even manage your investments. But as more of us rely on apps, scammers have moved in too. Fake apps are one of the fastest-growing digital scams in Australia. Some look exactly like trusted brands. Others hide dangerous software that can steal personal details or quietly charge your credit card. Here’s how to spot them before they catch you out.

Many of you may have seen reports that Qantas recently had a data breach, confirmed by the airline itself, in which personal data for around six million customers was exposed when a third-party contact-centre system was accessed by cyber criminals. That kind of incident may sound like something for the big boys, but it has real-life consequences for all of us — particularly when it comes to scams via text messages (SMS) and email. Here’s what it means and what you can do