Act Now. Stay Secure. cyber security campaign empowers Australia’s multicultural communities to take action
Media Release
Research shows that although there is high vulnerability for cybercrime amongst multicultural communities, they are committed to learning more about cyber security.
The Act Now. Stay Secure. campaign is urging Australia’s multicultural communities to do more to protect themselves from cybercrime, with education resources available in 32 languages.
Research conducted by the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Institute of Criminology show that people who speak a language other than English at home are significantly more likely to experience a cyber incident or cybercrime, including being 13 per cent more likely to be a part of a data breach and 6 per cent more likely to be a victim of a scam.
The same research identified that those who speak a language other than English at home are more likely to underestimate their risk of being a victim of cybercrime. This can leave them at greater risk of cybercrime due to a lack of vigilance or deprioritising taking cyber safe actions when online.
However, importantly, the research was clear that a strong majority (70 per cent) of multicultural Australians want to do more to protect themselves online. This highlights the importance of ensuring communities have access to the information they need to protect themselves online.
The Act Now. Stay Secure. campaign provides all Australians with the knowledge and confidence needed to safely embrace digital technologies and the opportunities they offer.
The campaign highlights the most important cyber safe actions that everyone can do to protect themselves online. These include:
- always set up multi-factor authentication when available;
- use unique and strong passphrases for every account;
- install all software updates as soon as they are available to keep your devices secure;
- Be cautious when using public wi-fi;
- Check and update privacy and location settings;
- Learn how to identify a scam; and
- Talk about cybercrime and cyber security with friends and family.
The campaign takes a community-first approach by providing translated resources in 32 languages other than English, making important cyber security information more accessible for individuals from multicultural communities.
In the weeks ahead, the campaign will also launch real-life case study videos in Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Vietnamese and English. These stories will highlight the human impact of cybercrime, regardless of language spoken and encourages all Australians to act now to protect themselves online.
For further information on the campaign and to access a wide range of translated resources, visit Act Now. Stay Secure.
Quotes attributable to the National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC
“As cyber security threats continue to evolve, individuals need advice that feels reliable and actionable. This holds especially true for Australia’s multicultural communities, who experience additional language barriers when wanting to access information.
“To ensure that the Australian Government supports every Australian in taking action to be more secure online, the Act Now. Stay Secure. campaign is reaching out to diverse communities with a variety of helpful resources translated in 32 languages.
“These resources are designed to educate and inform people about cyber security and guide them through simple, effective actions to protect themselves online.”
Quotes attributable to Chief Executive Officer, MARSS Australia Inc, Sonia Di Mezza
“Cyber security is often in the headlines, but many multicultural communities still face information gaps in understanding how they could be vulnerable online.
“The Act Now. Stay Secure. translated campaign resources have been integral in helping our organisation start the conversation on cyber security and ensure that it doesn’t have to be a difficult or a complex subject.”
Quotes attributable to café owner and cybercrime victim, Wilson
“I was really shocked when I found that my business’s social media account had been hacked and my saved payment details had been stolen. I nearly lost $2,000 because of this cyber attack.
“I had spent a lot of time building that page for the business – it was heartbreaking to lose it.
“I always thought cyber security was more of a concern for big corporations. But now I know how important it is for every person to be cyber-aware.”
