Online Safety

Following these safety tips can help protect your devices and personal information:

• Use strong, unique passwords on your devices, online accounts and services.
• Keep your devices, applications, and operating systems up to date to help keep them secure.
• Secure your home Wi-Fi network with a strong password and update it regularly.
• Avoid using online banking or other services containing sensitive information when using public computers or public Wi-Fi networks.
• Never open email attachments or click links from senders you don’t recognise or trust.
• Use an email filter to help identify and protect yourself from malicious messages.
• Only download software and applications from trusted sources, such as official app stores or software providers.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your online accounts where available.

You should also consider installing antivirus software to help protect your devices from malware and other security threats.

To learn more about anti-virus software visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

The internet can be a great place for children to learn, play and connect with others. However, children can also be exposed to risks such as cyberbullying, scams, inappropriate content and unwanted contact from strangers.

If you would like to learn more about keeping your children safe online, the following online resources are available:

Cyberbullying - Guidance on recognising cyberbullying and accessing support.

Online safety – Resources to help parents support safe and responsible internet use.

Advice for parents – Tools and advice to help keep children safe online.

Advice Overview – Practical advice for managing common online safety issues.

Online safety basics – Key online safety tips for parents.

Malware is short for malicious software. It is software that is designed to damage devices, steal information, disrupt services, or gain unauthorised access to systems.

Common types of malware include:

• Viruses - Malicious software that can copy itself and spread between devices. Viruses can damage files, applications and operating systems.
• Spyware - Software that monitors device activity and may collect personal information, passwords or other activity without the user's knowledge.
• Adware - Software that displays unwanted advertisements on a device. Some adware may also track online activity to deliver targeted advertising.
• Ransomware - Malware that can lock a device or encrypt files, preventing access until a ransom is paid.
• Worms - Self-replicating malware that can spread across networks without requiring user interaction.
• Trojans - Malware disguised as legitimate software. Once installed, it can steal information, damage files, or install additional malware.
• Bots - Malware that allows an infected device to be remotely controlled as part of a network of compromised devices, known as a botnet.

How can I protect my device?

To help protect your devices from malware:

• Keep your operating systems and applications up to date.
• Install antivirus software.
• Only download software and applications from trusted sources.
• Avoid opening email attachments or clicking suspicious links from unknown sources.

Scammers often pretend to be a common business or institution you are familiar with, in order to obtain your personal information, such as financial details or information pertaining to your identity.

Phishing methods used by scammers include:

• Emails
• Fake websites
• Text messages
• Phone calls
• Instant messaging services
• Social media

These are designed to deceive you into giving out your private and confidential information.

Dodo will never ask you for your personal or private information via an email or SMS.

It’s not always easy to spot a scammer, but you should look out for these signs;

• Generic greetings – If you have an account, they should know your name.
• Poor spelling or grammar.
• An ‘urgent’ request for information – Most companies will not send you an email asking for passwords, credit card information, or tax numbers, nor will they send you a link from which you need to login.
• Deals, Offers or Prizes (Holidays, cash prizes, etc.) – If an offer comes with a request for personal information, a link to claim your prize, or an attachment to download, it’s a phishing scam. It’s like the old saying “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
• Scare Tactics – Threats like “your account has been compromised”, “A warrant has been issued for your arrest” and other threats.
• Attachments or Click Links - If something makes you suspicious or doesn’t look right, do not open it and simply delete. To report a scam, you can contact Dodo directly or make a report to Scamwatch here.   
   

If something doesn’t look or sound right, or if something is too good to be true, it usually is. To help safeguard yourself, you should:

• Not respond to missed calls or SMS from unknown international numbers.
• Block any numbers on your phone that you suspect to be a scam call or SMS.
• If you don’t know the number, let the call go through to voicemail. Then check if the number is from a credible source by searching for the organisation’s official number online before returning the call.
• Be careful where you share any personal information in an online setting such as social media.
• Avoid clicking on any unknown links in text messages.
• Immediately contact your financial institution if you believe you may have lost money to a scam.

To report a scam, you can contact Dodo directly or make a report to Scamwatch, a division of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. You can report the scam to Scamwatch here.

If you are receiving unwanted sales and marketing calls, you can register your number on the National Do Not Call Register here.

More information about the National Do Not Call Register can be found on their website here.

With scammers becoming more sophisticated, calls and SMS can sometimes appear to originate from a credible source such as a government agency or other well-known organisations.

Go with your first instinct and never respond to a request for personal or account information, demand for immediate payment or remote access to a device.

Although these calls and SMS’ can appear to be genuine, credible sources generally don’t ask for this type of information over the phone or in an SMS, so it is important to be vigilant. Scammers may also:

• Claim that you have won a prize.
• Use a well-known logo or send an SMS that appears to be legitimate.
• Call or SMS multiple times.
• Use a recorded message to urge you to return the call.
• Add a link in an SMS to get more information.