Holiday hacks to stay cool, calm and protected

Sally Youden
08:00am December 17 2024

Out of office message written in the sand. (Getty)

For many of us, the end of the year is a time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when cybercriminals ramp up their efforts to catch us out while our guard might be down.  

Westpac’s cybersecurity and fraud prevention teams work around the clock, 365 days a year, to protect the bank’s customers and employees. But there are also many ways individuals can protect themselves during the break. Here are a few tips:  

1). Overshared on your out of office message?   

While switching on your out of office message is an easy task, you might want to reduce the amount of information you provide. It could be used for malicious purposes by cybercriminals looking for opportunities to find a ‘way in’ to an organisation.   

It can be helpful to use different messages for internal and external out of office messages and avoid including too many details like personal mobile numbers, names, titles and contact details for others in your organisation.  

2). Public charging stations can be used for ‘juice jacking’  attacks on your devices 

If you’re low on battery and desperate to charge your device, be aware that public charging stations such as those at airports and hotels can be exploited by cybercriminals to access electronic devices while they’re being charged.  

Malware (malicious software) can be installed through corrupted charging ports and can lock your device or export personal data and passwords directly to the cybercriminal, which is then used to gain access to online accounts or your data being sold to other criminals.   

Take a portable charger with you and only use your own equipment. If you plug your device into a charging port and a message appears asking you to select "share data" or “trust this computer” or “charge only”, always select “charge only” (and never “trust”).  

3). Stay safe when using connected ‘smart’ toys and gifts   

While unwrapping a new gadget on Christmas morning is always exciting, connected ‘smart’ devices can also come with risks. Whether it’s a drone, a robot vacuum cleaner, or a smart watch, understanding how they work and how to connect to them safely can protect your privacy and your data. Does everyone need to know that you’ve just run 6km?   

Read the eSafety Commissioners’ gift guide for recommendations and key tips on setting up your new gadget.   

4). Expecting a delivery during the holiday period?   

Australians are being warned to be alert this holiday season to scammers sending text messages and emails impersonating Australia Post and other well-known courier services. In 2023, the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre saw the number of reports for delivery phishing scams quadruple and is concerned that losses may increase during the holiday period.    

If you're expecting a delivery, you may not be as alert to the warning signs if you receive a phishing email or SMS that may be an attempt to steal your credentials or contain malware. Stop and think, don’t click the link. Remember, no parcel is worth compromising your security over. 
 

Sally Youden

Sally is a Senior Information Security Consultant in Westpac Group’s Cyber Culture team. The team is responsible for employee cybersecurity education and awareness across the bank.

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