CERT NZ’s latest Cyber Security Insights report, covering the first quarter of 2024, showed New Zealanders reported $6.6 million lost to cybercrime, up 84% from the previous quarter.
More New Zealanders reported losing money. There were 413 incidents that reported financial loss and indicated the loss amount, compared to 364 in the final quarter of 2023.
However, the bulk of the money lost was from a handful of scams where people reported losing over $100,000.
The percentage of incidents with financial loss below $500 has decreased for the third quarter in a row.
“We hope that New Zealanders who might normally be caught out by less costly scams are getting better at spotting them,” said CERT NZ Acting Director Sue Critchlow.
Number of reports drop
Between 1 January and 31 March 2024, CERT NZ received 1,530 reports, a 20% decrease from the last quarter of 2023.
“A drop in incidents sounds like encouraging news, but we also know cybercrime is significantly underreported,” Critchlow said.
“Reporting every incident and forwarding phishing links can seem like a waste of time because new emails and messages keep popping up in your inbox. But every report sent through to CERT NZ plays a part in keeping everyone in Aotearoa safe from future threats.”
CERT NZ relies on reports from all New Zealanders – individuals and organisations – to assess and act against online threats and so, the main message in the Cyber Security Insights report is to report every incident to CERT NZ.
You can report any incident to CERT NZ using the reporting tool on its website: https://www.cert.govt.nz/report/business-and-individuals/
A business cyber security plan made easy
The more you know about how to manage online security, the less your business is at risk. Knowing where to start and what to do can be overwhelming. The good news is that many online security incidents can be prevented by implementing a few small changes that will make a big difference.
Own Your Online has developed a helpful online self-assessment tool that gives you tailored actions and advice for your business needs.
Simply go to https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/business/get-protected/business-online-security-assessment-tool/ to start the business online security questionnaire.
Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you will get an online security action plan checklist that breaks up your tasks into levels:
1. Business basics.
2. Next level protection.
3. Extra for experts.
You can email your plan, print it out and even go back to it again to tick off your completed actions.
When you’ve finished your actions, set a reminder to take it again in a few months’ time – online security isn’t something you should set and forget, as new threats are always emerging.
Created by CERT NZ, Own Your Online is part of the New Zealand government’s work to raise understanding of cyber security issues for individuals and businesses. ownyouronline.govt.nz/business/
As part of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), New Zealand’s CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) functions work to create a more cyber resilient Aotearoa.
NCSC supports businesses, organisations and individuals who are affected by cyber security incidents as well as providing trusted and authoritative information and advice to help prevent those incidents.
Did you know?
If it were measured as a country, then cybercrime – expected to inflict damages totalling USD $9.5 trillion in 2024 – would be the third largest economy in the world, after the USA and China.
Written by Heather Kawan
Published in WIRED issue 74/September 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ
