Retailers urged to be vigilant amid cyber security crime wave

According to the latest report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 22 per cent of businesses were targeted in a cyber incident. That figure sat at just eight per cent during the 2019-20 financial year.

Scams and fraud were the most commonly reported incident at 16 per cent, with malicious software infections (five per cent) and unauthorised access or use (three per cent) also of concern.

Head of ABS business statistics Robert Ewing said: “Today’s ‘Characteristics of Australian Business’ data release is important because it gives governments and researchers information about the prevalence, impacts and nature of cyber attacks.

“This helps them understand who they need to support and what strategies they need to use.”

The release reveals that 34 per cent of businesses reported a loss of time in managing cyber security attacks and 18 per cent recorded downtime of service. A further 17 per cent reported a loss of staff productivity.

Of those surveyed, 70 per cent said that they relied on some form of protection software, while just 13 per cent gave staff cyber security awareness training.

With the International Jewellery Fair in Sydney (19-21 August) now just weeks away, vigilance concerning cyber security remains important for the jewellery industry.

Scams in the lead-up to industry events such as the IJF are common, and tend to concern attendee lists, fair directories, and accommodation reservations.

Jeweller is aware of a number of emails currently circulating with offers to purchase the contact information for the attendee list of the IJF.

Fair organisers Expertise Events advise that the only way to deal with scammers is to not reply.

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