Take steps to minimise cyber threat

Commenting on the opinion piece: Taking cyber security into your own hands

Morry Bailes raises some interesting points regarding cyber security for small-to-medium enterprise. From my industry experience, many business leaders are not aware of the potential financial costs cyber security breaches can have.

Most cyber incidents are minor and more of an inconvenience than catastrophic, but we are seeing an increasing number of targeted attacks that cause real financial harm. Ransomware, while relatively common, should be easily contained and one should never have to negotiate payment to unlock files, as payment would surely mean you are targeted again.

Greater threats include business email compromise, “spear phishing” and “whaling”, which are the types of attacks likely to cause most harm – and apologies for the cyber jargon. Email remains the number one targeted channel for cyber attacks by far.

My recommendation for small to medium businesses is to look at the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s “Essential Eight Cyber Security Strategies”, and implement these to a level that is appropriate to their organisation and risk profile.

At the very least, people should always update their software and systems (including phones), use two-factor authentication where they can, and get themselves a password manager. These strategies, along with some common sense, will help prevent and contain where necessary, almost all types of targeted attacks. –Kym Welsby

Breathe new life into Leigh Creek

Commenting on the story: New Leigh Creek blow as hotelier pulls out of contract

So much perfectly good housing and amenities gone to waste. How about a short to medium term, resettlement site for refugees?

Time to acclimatise themselves to our way of life, in peaceful surroundings. Or is that against a UN resolution? – Mike Lesiw

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