How to stay safe online

Estimated reading time
 5 min

Key points

• With the internet being at our fingertips all day, every day, being alert and aware when you’re communicating, banking, and shopping online can help you protect your money and personal information from cybercriminals.
  
  
• Making a strong, unique password, activating multi-factor authentication, and being wary of messages with suspicious links are just some of the steps you can take to help protect yourself online.
  
  
• Unexpectedly receiving a message or call where there’s pressure to act, such as transferring money or sharing your personal information, is one of the many red flags of a scam.

The internet is a big part of everyday life. Whether using a desktop at work, scrolling through social media from the couch, or shopping from the comfort of your home, the internet is at our fingertips 24/7. This makes online safety very important.

Cybercriminals are always looking for opportunities to access your money or personal information, but knowing how to protect yourself when using the internet can go a long way toward helping you secure your precious data. Let’s explore some tips on how to stay safe online.

How to bank safely online

Keeping your personal information and banking details safe is our top priority, but there are also actions you can take to keep your online banking sessions more secure. Read our online banking safety tips below:

• Always log in to ANZ’s site by typing www.anz.com.au into your browser’s address bar instead of following any links or bookmarked pages.
  
  
• Activate multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an extra layer of safety when logging in or performing banking tasks, such as transferring money.
  
  
• Avoid banking online when you’re using public WIFI.
  
  
• Log out of online banking and close the browser as soon as you finish.
  
  
• Never share important online banking details with anyone, like your password, PIN, or ANZ Shield code.
  
  
• If you receive an unsolicited email, call, or message from ‘ANZ’, don’t respond. ANZ will never send you a message or an email asking you to verify or provide confidential information.

How to make (and protect) a strong password

A strong password is critical to your online safety. If your passwords are compromised, your accounts – such as banking, email, and social media – might become vulnerable to identity theft. Here are sone ways to create a strong password and protect it:

• Create strong passwords with a minimum of eight characters. It would help if you used a combination of numbers, symbols, upper and lowercase letters.
  
  
• Consider using a passphrase as your password. A passphrase is where you combine two or more random words to make a strong, hard-to-crack password. For example, your passphrase might be a combination of colour, fruit, a random noun and a location, which can make ‘purplePearprincessParis’.
  
  
• Avoid choosing a generic password that is easy to identify with you. For example, don’t use ‘Password123’, your date of birth, your child’s name, or your phone number.
  
  
• Create different passwords for different accounts. This can help protect your accounts if one password gets compromised.
  
  
• Consider using a password manager to help you manage your passwords. This app can generate and store passwords for your online accounts.
  
  
• Change your password immediately if you suspect that someone else might know it.

How to shop safely online

Love online shopping? Here are our tips for staying safer while shopping online:

• Most websites and browsers have a symbol next to ‘https://’ in the address bar (such as a padlock or slider symbol). This symbol tells you if the website or online store is secure.
  
  
• Look at reviews on independent sites, such as Trustpilot, for any online store to confirm its legitimacy. Be careful, though, as people may write fake reviews. Pay attention to the lower-scored reviews to see what issues or complaints people have.
  
  
• Check the URL and make sure it’s legitimate when shopping at online stores. Letters might be added at the end of the company name that can go unnoticed (ANZ would become ANNZ, for example). It is also good practice not to simply click the first link from a Google search without checking the URL, especially if it says ‘ad’ next to it.
  
  
• You can make secure payments through PayPal or BPAY® rather than via money transfers and direct bank deposits.
  
  
• Never send your bank or credit card details via email, SMS, or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.
  
  
• Where possible, consider using PayID when buying through an online marketplace to ensure the name matches the person or company you’re paying.

What to do if you experience cyberbullying and online harassment

If you’re experiencing cyberbullying or online harassment, know that you’re not alone, and it’s not okay. Here are some ways to take action and get support:

• Report the content to the service or platform where it’s taking place.
  
  
• If the person being bullied is under 18, you can find information on how to report it to the eSafety Commissioner.
  
  
• If you’re over 18, you can find information on how to report it to the eSafety Commissioner.
  
  
• You can find further support by calling 1800 RESPECT, visiting the website, or contacting Lifeline on 13 11 14.
  
  
• You can learn more about cyberbullying at the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

How to protect your personal information

Be cautious about the information you share online. If your identity is stolen, the cybercriminal might use your information to access your online banking, take out loans, or even damage your credit score. Here’s how you might protect your personal information:

• Change your social media profile privacy settings to ‘private’.
  
  
• Activate automatic updates on your devices to ensure they have the most up-to-date security software.
  
  
• Pause before you share any information with another person or website. Chances are they don’t need to have your personal information.
  
  
• Beware of unexpected messages asking you to click on a link or scan a QR code to verify details or download an attachment.

5 signs of identity theft to look out for

Here are five signs that someone might have stolen your identity:

1. You see transactions on your bank statements for things you don’t recall buying. You might also receive unusual bills and credit or loan statements.
   
   
2. Someone contacts you about products or services you’ve never used. You might also receive calls from creditors about whom you know nothing.
   
   
3. You get notified of someone’s claimed money or application for a rebate in your name.
   
   
4. Getting a credit card or loan is challenging due to an unusually poor credit rating.
   
   
5. You notice an increase in suspicious calls and messages.

Signs it’s a scam or suspicious message

• It’s unexpected and from an unknown sender. The message might also include links, QR codes or attachments.
  
  
• There’s a sense of urgency to act. For example, ‘Update your online account details immediately’ or ‘Click now to claim your prize!’.
  
  
• It asks for your personal or financial information.
  
  
• It appears to be from a trusted source, like your bank, but when you search for it online, the contact details or website address differ from the company’s.

What can you do if you think you’ve been scammed? 

• If you’ve shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. If you’re an ANZ customer, contact us immediately to report the fraud. 
  
  
• If you shared credit card details, ‘block’ or cancel those cards immediately. If your cards are with ANZ, you can report the stolen card through the ANZ app or by calling us.
  
  
• Report the account to the app or platform you used to communicate with the cybercriminal.

Who can you contact if you’ve been scammed?

• Contact the Australian Cyber Security hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1300 CYBER1 (or 1300 292 371).
  
  
• Help others by reporting to Scamwatch or to the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre’s ReportCyber.
  
  
• For phishing or identity theft associated with government accounts such as Centrelink, Medicare, or Child Support, contact the Services Australia scams and identity helpdesk on 1800 941 126 or visit their website.
  
  
• You can also contact IDCare, a not-for-profit organisation providing support to those experiencing identity and cyber security concerns.
  
  
• Contact your bank immediately if you have shared personal or financial information.
  
  
• If you’re an ANZ customer, you can report fraud or suspicious activity in multiple ways, such as through the ANZ app or by calling us