Surfers Paradise Blog

As smart property investors it is important that we take the time to continually keep up to date with what is happening in the real estate market.  We must research, read, become knowledgeable and understand all things real estate to protect our assets ‘the property’.  However, assets are more than just our investment ‘properties’.  Assets are our superannuation funds, shares, cash in the bank as well as our family and friends.

In June this year, the Prime Minister made an announcement that Australia had been targeted by a major cyber-attack against governments and businesses. 

We are entering times of financial pressures, increased stress and uncertainty, and now is the time that we don’t get personally caught up in not seeing a bigger picture. Personal data (outside of cash that is slowly being eliminated) is the new currency of the world that we all need to think about in protecting the focus of ‘you, your family and friends’ against data hacking and control.

SMART TIPS TO BE ONE STEP AHEAD…

These tips are some simple ways that you can protect your assets, data and information.

• Check that all devices have virus protection software.
• Do not open any email attachments that appear suspicious. Opening an email attachment can download malware to your device to extract information.
• Make sure that you use strong passwords that are unique and different. Avoid using a couple of common, similar passwords for everything.
• Keep your software up to date.
• Be mindful of what you are posting on social media. Hackers want to obtain personal information to access your bank accounts (including superannuation funds).  If you are sharing you pet’s name, date of birth or your mother’s maiden name online this can allow a hacker direct access to sensitive information used to identify you.
• Educate yourself on the settings, features and applications of your devices.
• Make sure the Internet access into your devices is strong and protected with a complex password or consider a VPN, which is an additional layer of security to stop (prevent) hackers getting your data at work or in the home.
• Where possible, introduce a 2-step verification on your accounts, which is an additional layer of security to protect you if a hacker obtains your passwords. The 2-step will require an additional code to be sent to your phone, email or via an authenticator app.
• Avoid saving your passcodes online.
• Utilise Face Recognition and make sure apps have your password codes turned on.

Technology is here to stay… just be smart, aware and safe with your data.