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Police forces across the country, led by the AFP’s Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre, join forces to educate Australians on the warning signs of cyber crime.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), alongside police forces from all states and territories, has responded to research outlining the poor security habits of Australians with a new cyber crime awareness campaign, dubbed ClickFit by the AFP.
“Research shows our online habits directly impact our risk profile, and many Australians overlook simple steps to stay secure online, which can prevent their victimisation,” AFP acting Commander of Cybercrime Operations Marie Andersson said in a 21 October statement.
“Just like drivers learn to spot hazards on the road, we want online users to learn to recognise the warning signs of cyber crime.
“After all, the more we drive, the better we get at navigating blind spots and reacting safely to avoid an accident. Online safety works the same way. The more aware we are of checking our digital blind spots – suspicious text messages, shady email attachments or fake investment ads – the better we are at steering clear of cyber threats.”
One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement in Australia is a lack of reporting of cyber crime, with many victims feeling their experience is not “serious enough” to warrant reporting.
Similarly, while many Australians consider themselves to be technically savvy, many are failing to take even basic precautions to protect themselves, such as using multifactor authentication and keeping on top of software updates.
“Changing our online habits is just as important as locking your car door after getting out,” acting Commander Andersson said.
“ClickFit isn’t about making people feel fearful or anxious about being online, it’s about empowering them to take small, simple steps to dramatically reduce their risk of being impacted by cyber crime.
“By building safe habits into our everyday digital routine, such as using strong and unique passphrases, setting up multifactor authentication and keeping software up to date, we can make it harder for cyber criminals to succeed and easier for people to navigate safely online.”
The ClickFit campaign will run until December 2026, highlighting threats such as romance and investment scams and business email compromise.
You can learn more about the campaign and access its free resources here.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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