Protecting your data and identity
News 30 OctoberAs cyber security awareness month comes to a close, have you thought about what to do if you do fall prey to a cyber incident?
28 June 2023
Share
Tax time is a headache for most of us, but to a cybercriminal, it’s like Christmas in July. This is due to the large amount of personal and financial information being shared by Australians. Follow these tips to stay safe this tax season.
Many cybercriminals try to impersonate the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to convince you to provide personal and financial information. While the ATO may contact you via phone, email, text or mail, they will never ask you to provide your tax file number (TFN) or financial details. Nor will they use hostile and urgent language or threaten you with jail time or fine increases. Should you receive a fine, you can check its legitimacy by logging into your ATO or MyGov account directly. For more information, the ATO website offers a page on how to identify and report scams.
Cybercriminals will almost always try to create a sense of urgency. Patience pays. If you receive a communication that makes you even a little bit suspicious, take down the information and call the official ATO office number to validate it. If you think it's fraudulent, report it by sending an email to ReportScams@ato.gov.au.
Antivirus software adds an extra layer of security to your device and provides real-time protection against cyber attacks. To help keep you safe, ACU provides Sophos antivirus to staff free of charge for use on up to 10 personal devices (Mac and Windows). Be proactive this tax time and ensure you are protected with antivirus software.
Phishing is the most common type of cyber attack. Refer to our phishing article to learn how to identify a phishing scam. Never open an attachment or link if you don’t recognise the sender or if the content seems out of the ordinary for them to send.
Public Wi-Fi is unsecure. Given the sensitivity of the information you are providing when filing your taxes, using a secure network is essential. If you are unable to connect to a secure/private network, tether to your phone or wait until you can connect to one.
Before you share anything on social media, ask yourself if this is really something you want people to see. Cyber criminals can use all sorts of personal information to impersonate you to gain access to your accounts.
As cyber security awareness month comes to a close, have you thought about what to do if you do fall prey to a cyber incident?
A message from the Executive Dean Faculty of Education and Arts Professor Mary Ryan: The Faculty of Education and Arts is dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities we serve.
Have you ever wanted to link to an article, ebook, or chapter in your Canvas unit so students can read it in the context of your teaching? What about linking to a section of your Leganto reading list?...
Academic staff who have recently returned from parental leave are reminded that they may be eligible for reimbursement of childcare expenses if they are presenting a refereed paper at an international...
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Term 4 (Foundation Studies) (202474).
A reflection from ACU Chaplain Fr Michael Buck on the Camino pilgrimage.
As Halloween approaches, Campus Ministry reflects on how this 'festival of fear' can be balanced against the love encapsulated by All Saints Day.
As we approach one year since ACU gained the prestigious Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement (CE), it is important to reflect on ACU’s growing commitment to CE in our core business and th...
A message from Acting Chief Operating Officer Russell Parker: As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering healthy, safe, and welcoming campuses, I would like to remind you that all ACU campuses are...
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 7 (202470).
A summary of the Academic Board meeting 05/2024 held on 18 September 2024 is detailed below.
Normalising menstruation and pastoral care are behind a breakthrough partnership between ACU and Libra that will provide free period care products to students.
Every October, individuals and organisations are encouraged to prioritise work health and safety (WHS) by taking preventative action to reduce the number of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatali...
Congratulations to poet and author Christine Paice who has won $10,000 in the ACU Prize for Poetry for a poem about the death of her mother.
In line with ACU’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework, the Research Awards for Academic Staff following Parental Leave support academic staff members to re-establish their research pro...
CourseTrack, ACU's new tool for monitoring student course progress, is now live to staff and students in selected courses.
Student Communications (MER) compiles, edits and sends a monthly Student News and Events bulletin. This bulletin is sent to all students, nationally, and includes a broad cross-section of news, announ...
Submit your abstract for the 2024 CEI Showcase of Teaching and Learning by 7 October and celebrate the transformative stories that shape the educational experience.
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and a timely reminder to learn a few simple ways you can protect yourself online from cyber threats.
Join us to hear from students about GenAI, how they’re using it and their concerns for their future careers. Promising valuable insights as we navigate GenAI’s impact on higher education.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.