Jay Fegan
With the increasing use of digital technologies at home and in business, recent data has revealed that Australia current places as the sixth-most targeted country for ransonware with the threat of cybercrime presenting a daunting challenge for many.
Cyber attacks rose by an alarming 44% worldwide in 2024, as highlighted in Check Point Software Technologies annual report emphasising the need for further education and awareness. Whilst the rise in cyber attacks can largely be attributed to nation-state actors and hacktivists, ransomware has notably transformed into a more intricate and damaging risk, moving beyond simple file encryption to include data exfiltration and extortion strategies.
For businesses, the report emphasises the need for strong cybersecurity defences, especially as exploits target vulnerabilities in outdated systems. Alarmingly, 96% of exploits in 2024 targeted software weaknesses that had been made public the previous year. Compounding the issue, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning security updates and technical assistance for the operating system will no longer be provided.
Families are not exempt from these risks either, particularly those with elderly members who are often more susceptible to phishing scams and other cyber threats, with pop-up error messages being amongst the most common strategy, often displaying a full screen alert and asking the individual to call a displayed number. Government website Scamwatch.gov.au can help educate individuals on the latest scam methods and help establish stronger protections to remain updated on the latest scams.
As cybercrime is expected to maintain its upward trend, staying vigilant and proactive at home and work remains one of the best defences against continually evolving threats.
