As part of Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Northern Territory Government is hosting free Be Cyber Smart presentations to support local businesses and not-for-profit organisations to better protect against cyber security threats over the month of October.
Businesses are strongly encouraged to be alert to the risk of cybercrime and to attend a free Be Cyber Smart presentation to understand the practical measures you can apply in your business to protect against this crime, Northern Territory Police say.
Cyber-attacks can lead to reputational damage and financial loss. Local businesses and legal firms have been recent victims of cyber fraud.
A number of construction companies have been targeted by business email compromise, resulting in significant financial losses. Property conveyancing transactions have also been targeted by cybercriminals.
A local civil construction company received an invoice from a supplier that had been intercepted by a hacker and the bank account details changed. Funds lost amounted to $50,000 and nil funds were recovered. A similar example affecting a building company and its supplier saw $30,000 defrauded by cybercriminals.
Reports of conveyancing transactions losing funds to cybercriminals have included a law firm receiving a fraudulent email impersonating an executor of a will that re-directed funds to cybercriminals.
In another case, a property purchaser received a fraudulent email impersonating his conveyancer instructing a change of payment details, indicating that company’s email account had been compromised.
In both cases substantial funds were not recoverable as cybercriminals quickly transfer funds overseas.
The Be Cyber Smart presentations include an ethical hacker briefing on how and why cybercriminals target Australian businesses. The Australian Cyber Security Centre will detail the measures you can apply in your business to protect against cyber threats and costly cybercrime. The Darwin Be Cyber Smart presentation includes a Centre for Defence Industry Capability briefing on cyber security challenges and protections specific to Australian Defence Force suppliers to support them to be cyber ready.
Seats are limited, register online at BeCyberSmart.nt.gov.au.
This is a Department of Corporate Information Services initiative.
