New Zealand to Fold CERT NZ into NCSC – The New Zealand government has announced that it will be folding CERT NZ into the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This is a significant move that will see the NCSC become the country’s lead operational agency to defend against cyberattacks. CERT NZ is currently responsible for providing incident response and advice to businesses and individuals in New Zealand. The NCSC is responsible for developing and implementing the government’s cybersecurity strategy. By folding CERT NZ into the NCSC, the government hopes to create a more streamlined and eff ..read more

BNZ Text Scam – Have you received a text message from BNZ recently? Beware, as it could be part of a sophisticated scam targeting Bank of New Zealand customers. Scammers are impersonating reputable organisations like Waka Kotahi and NZ Post to deceive unsuspecting customers into providing personal information. Many individuals and businesses have already fallen victim to this fraud, resulting in significant financial losses and emotional distress. One victim clicked on a link in the fraudulent text, thinking his account was frozen due to his spending in Australia. Within minutes, $35,000 w ..read more

Facebook Phishing Scams – Are you aware of the ever-present threat of Facebook phishing scams? These malicious campaigns continue to target unsuspecting users, tricking them into revealing their sensitive information or granting access to their accounts. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated in their techniques, it is crucial for both individuals and organisations to stay vigilant and implement effective security measures. In this article, we will explore the various types of phishing scams on social media platforms like Facebook and provide tips on how to recognise warning signs and re ..read more

Phishing Disruption Service – Helping to Protect New Zealanders from Phishing Attacks   Phishing is a type of cyberattack that involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency. The emails often contain a link or attachment that, when clicked, installs malware on the victim’s computer or steals their personal information. Phishing attacks are a serious threat to businesses and individuals alike. In New Zealand, phishing attacks cost businesses an estimated $1.2 billion each year. To help protect New Zealanders from phishing ..read more

Cyber Risks and Human Error – In today’s digital world, businesses are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than ever before. And while there are a number of security measures that can be taken to protect against these attacks, human error is still a major factor. That’s where cyber mindfulness comes in. Cyber mindfulness is the practice of being aware of the potential for cyberattacks and taking steps to mitigate the risk. It’s about being present and engaged in your online activity, and being mindful of the risks involved. There are a number of things that businesses can do to promote cyber mind ..read more

Cyber Ransomware: What you need to know Cyber ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. Ransomware attacks are on the rise, and businesses of all sizes are at risk. The New Zealand Government recommends not paying a ransom. Payment does not guarantee that you will get your data back, may breach sanctions, and creates harm to others by providing funding for criminal activities.   How does cyber ransomware work? Cyber ransomware works by exploiting vulnerabilities in a victim’s computer system. Once the ransomware i ..read more

Learn how to encrypt files and folders – Encryption is a critical tool for keeping data secure. It’s an essential piece of any cybersecurity strategy and can be used to protect files and folders from unauthorised access and malicious actors. In this article, we’ll discuss how to encrypt a file or folder so that your data remains safe and secure. Encrypting files or folders is relatively straightforward, but it does require some technical know-how. We’ll cover the basics in this guide, including what encryption is, why you should use it, and how to set up encryption on different operating sys ..read more

Securing your Gmail account is essential for protecting yourself online. With the rise of data breaches and identity theft, it’s important to take steps towards secure access control. In this article, we’ll go over some simple yet effective measures that you can use to protect your Google account from malicious actors. By following these guidelines, you will be able to keep your personal information safe and secure! Enable Two-Factor Authentication Securing a Gmail account is an essential step towards protecting confidential information. It’s also important to ensure only authorised individua ..read more

Recognise and Report Scams – Scammers impersonate trusted sources to steal your money or personal information. They can also try to get access to your company’s systems and steal data. Whether you are working from home, purchasing goods or services, or just catching up on email, be aware of commons scams making the rounds on the internet. Here’s our pick of the 3 most common scams: Phishing Scammers use to trick you into giving them your personal information, including access to your online accounts. They send you a deceptive message that’s designed to steal your passwords, account numbers, o ..read more

AA Traveller Website Hack – AA Traveller announced that a security incident in the AA Traveller website led to customer data being compromised. The now deprecated website allowed customers to make travel bookings, enter competitions, participate in surveys, and receive travel-related newsletters. Affected customers received a notification from AA Traveller that explained that a website vulnerability allowed an unauthorised party to access information within their database. The hack occurred in August 2021 and was only identified and confirmed in March 2022. The hack occurred in August 2021 ..read more