This October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, an initiative launched by the Australian Signals Directorate’s ACSC, aimed at empowering everyone with essential knowledge on cyber security. This year’s theme is ‘Be Cyber Wise – Don’t Compromise’. The rise in cyber threats The Annual Cyber Threat Report 2021-22 found a 13% increase in cybercrime reports – averaging one report every seven minutes in Australia. Fraud, online shopping and online banking were the top reported cybercrime types, accounting for 54% of all reports. Four Steps to Cyber Wisdom This month-long campaign advocates for a proactive approach to cyber security and encourages you to take four easy steps to become more cyber wise: ✓ Regularly update devices. Turning on automatic updates for your devices and software ensures that you have the latest security in place. ✓ Employ multi-factor authentication ‘MFA’. This adds another layer of protection to your accounts. ✓ Back up essential files to safeguard your data from threats and avoid costly data recovery. ✓ Utilise passphrases and password managers. Also, don’t compromise your accounts by re-using passwords or passphrases! Engagement and Empowerment There are great resources available to help improve your cyber security knowledge and skills, including: • A quiz that allows you to test your knowledge of cyber security • Guidance materials (from cyber.gov.au) that are downloadable, to boost your cyber security expertise. Cyber Security Events and Activities in October: A Snapshot Image credit: AISA Australian Cyber Conference Melbourne 2023 - Tuesday 17 Oct to Thursday 19 October Presented by Australian Information Security Association and sponsored by the Victorian Government, CyberCon 2023 will provide business leaders with insights and best practices taught by the cyber industry’s top experts through keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions and live demonstrations. Hosting over 4,000 attendees, the conference has an interactive format of presentations, workshops, plenary sessions. There are also a range of opportunities to network with cyber security experts. Cyber Security - Online Training - available online throughout October Business Victoria, in partnership with Monarch Institute, is offering an online course tailored for individuals who are either launching or enhancing a small business. This course is designed to help small business owners understand the significance of cyber security and provide you with practical knowledge on how to defend your business from potential cyber attacks. The course offers key strategies to keep pace with this fast-evolving field. Let's get you cyber fit! – DIF Live On-Demand Susie Jones is Co-founder & CEO of Cynch, a Victorian startup focused on supporting small businesses in large, critical supply chains to meet and exceed their cyber security obligations. In this session, you'll hear the latest trends in cyberattacks and the measures you can take to mitigate them, as well as learning several free and easy actions that you can implement right away to improve your cybersecurity. This DIF2023 Festival session is available to stream anytime, on demand. Cybersecurity: Protecting Ourselves & Our Data - Wednesday 4 Oct NORTHLink and Pitcher Partners are hosting an event to discuss cyber security and how it affects the success of a business. It will also focus on how cyber security impacts our personal lives including identity protection, financial situations, and the entities/services we all use daily, such as banks. Hamilton Library - Cyber Safety Talk - Friday 6 Oct Held at the Greater Hamilton Library, Gerard Kelly from Victoria Police will talk about cyber- crime and will provides tips on how to protect against identity theft and fraud. Cyber/Online safety: Legal implications for community groups - Wednesday 18 October This session at St Albans Community Centre will share information on cyber safety - what it means to be safe online and how to maintain this. This also includes the legal requirements and implications for community groups. For more information about Cyber Security Awareness Month, head to https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics/view-resources/cyber-security-awareness-month
Are you for, or against, AI? What about in cyber security? Battle lines are drawn, and debaters are ready to make their cases as the DIF2023 Festival gears up for an exciting start. As an event partner, the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) will launch the DIF2023 Festival with a lively debate at Melbourne Connect on Wednesday, 23 August 2023. AI Integration on the Rise A survey conducted by AIIA highlighted the growing significance of AI adoption - 36% of respondents currently use AI in their business, marking a notable surge from the 27% recorded in 2021. With an increasing number of people exploring the possibilities of AI, from creating jokes to complex problem-solving, the debate hinges on whether the cyber security risks associated with AI tools like ChatGPT outweigh their benefits. Clashing Perspectives: Meet the Team Captains of the Debate Image: LinkedIn EJ Wise The Affirmative team, led by EJ Wise, Principal of WiseLaw, a Melbourne law firm established in 2018 that specializes in cyber security law. They will argue that AI chatbots offer businesses many benefits, including round-the-clock customer support, reduced response times, task automation, and human-like customer interaction. Wise is an internationally recognized expert in cyber law and operations, a sought-after speaker and commentator, and has been published in law journals and magazines on topics including cyber law and ethics. Image: LinkedIn Dr Kobi Leins Representing the Negative team is Dr. Kobi Leins (GAICD), an esteemed expert with a vast array of achievements. As an Honorary Senior Fellow of King’s College, London, an Advisory Board Member of the Carnegie AI and Equality Initiative, and a Member of Standards Australia as a technical expert on the International Standards Organisation’s work on AI Standards, Dr. Leins brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the debate. Their background is in administrative law & justice, humanitarian law, human rights law, disarmament, and have worked in two different university faculties of Engineering and Computer Science. The Rules of Engagement The teams have 5 minutes each to present their compelling cases. Then, the debate concludes in closing arguments by the respective team captains. Audience Verdict: Empowering the Spectators The audience will determine the winner by a show of hands. Expert Moderation Ensuring a fair and engaging debate is Akash Mittal, Director of the AISA Board. Conclusion Don't miss this opportunity to be part of this debate at Melbourne Connect. Register today and witness two teams engage in intellectual combat, showcasing the cyber risks and rewards of using AI in Cyber Security. Interested in more Cyber Security events? Check out Women in Cybersecurity: Inspiring Career Journeys and From Aspiring to Inspiring: Journeys of Women in Security. Both these events are hosted by the Australian Women in Security Network as part of the DIF2023 Festival.