chadmin, Author at Murdoch Webster

In a strategic move to thwart the escalating menace of scams in Australia, the government has allocated $86.5 million to establish the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC). The centre, set to launch in July 2023 within the ACCC, is aimed at amplifying cybersecurity measures and ensuring robust information sharing to combat scamming operations in real-time.

Last year, scams cost Australians an alarming $3.1 billion, an 80 per cent surge from 2021. The most devastating of these were investment scams, which alone accounted for $1.5 billion. In response, the newly-funded NASC will utilize cutting-edge technology for high-frequency data sharing and coordination with law enforcement, government institutions, and the private sector.

The establishment of the NASC is a groundbreaking initiative in the fight against scams. “As scammers become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, it is clear a coordinated response across government, law enforcement, and the private sector is essential to combat scams more effectively,” said ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe. The centre is set to change the cybersecurity landscape by facilitating faster responses to scam reports, launching “fusion cells” – expert task forces that will act on scam trends, and introducing a “white list” of approved phone numbers to prevent SMS scams.

Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, Jacqueline Jayne, commended the development, saying, “This new anti-scam centre is good news and I’m hopeful that with the addition of education and awareness, these government measures will support the decrease of Australians becoming victims of scams.” She emphasized the need for empowering Australians to make better decisions when it comes to security, advocating for ongoing and relevant education to increase basic cyber hygiene and enhance their ability to spot phishing attempts.

The National Anti-Scam Centre represents a burgeoning commitment by the Australian government to tackle the escalating issue of scams. The establishment of the centre underscores the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to cybersecurity and highlights the need for robust collaboration between government, law enforcement, and the private sector.

While the National Anti-Scam Centre signifies a major leap forward in the fight against scams, it’s crucial that individuals and businesses remain vigilant and informed. In the face of evolving cyber threats, maintaining good cyber hygiene and staying updated on the latest security practices can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to scams.

Thanks for reading, remember to follow the Murdoch Webster LinkedIn page to stay informed on industry developments.

Sources

Wow, what a morning! 🌺

Murdoch Webster recently hosted a fabulous #LadiesofIT brunch to celebrate the incredible and talented women of IT and other related industries. We had a blast swapping ideas, connecting with fellow professionals and, of course, enjoying some delicious food.

We were thrilled to be joined by the talented and stylish Esmeralda Petrov (Owner and Chief Stylist at Ooshka), who shared some amazing tips on how to #DressforSuccess. Her insights were invaluable, and we’re already putting them to use in our professional lives.

A big thanks to everyone who attended and made this event such a success! We can’t wait for the next one.

In the meantime, we have some stunning professional photos available to view and if you like purchase.

Please share your own takeaways on social media using the hashtag #LadiesofIT. Here’s to all the amazing women in tech! 🥳

#MurdochWebster #CorporateClassy #Womenintech #LadiesofIT #MothersDay

We had a great time starting off our annual regional roadshow in Geelong!

As a leading provider of cyber-security solutions, our roadshow aims to provide industry insights, facilitate discussions and foster collaboration. It’s always an amazing opportunity to catch some tech talk and swap ideas with our valued partners and customers! 😁

We heard from industry experts including talks from Spartan Security’s Louay Ghashash, KnowBe4’s Candice Sellwood and Rapid 7’s Ken Kinoshita . Each speaker gave an amazing insight into industry trends, positively engaging all of us for the entire session.

A big thank you to KnowBe4 and Rapid 7 for sponsoring the event. Our partnered events are only getting better!
With our Geelong stop being such a success, we can’t wait for the next one.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Murdoch Webster team. 🎉

#MurdochWebster #KnowBe4 #Rapid7 #GeelongRoadshow #GeelongCats

The Ransomware and Extortion Report by Unit42 @ Palo Alto Networks covers the current state of ransomware and cyber-extortion while also discussing the future and what to look out for. A fantastic update on the global state of cybersecurity as we move through 2023.

As of late 2022, threat actors engaged in data theft in about 70% of cases on average. Compare this to mid-2021, and we saw data theft in only about 40% of cases on average. Threat actors often threaten to leak stolen data on dark web leak sites, which are increasingly a key component of their efforts to extort organizations.

Ransomware and cyber-extortion are nothing new. It usually involves an individual, group or company being tricked, black-mailed or bullied into giving up money/assets. Threat actors are something we all have to be vigilant of even if the majority of us won’t ever be victims of a large scale attack. But this could be changing. Not only are ransomware attacks on the rise, but threat actors are using more extortion tactics than ever before.

Download the Report Now

We had a great time starting off the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with our valued customers and partners!

The amazing Larry Dean gave us a special night of laughs 🎭 😆

A big thank you to Dell Technologies for sponsoring the event. It’s one of our best partnered events yet!
With more to come later on this month, it’s a great time to be part of the Murdoch Webster team. 🌏

“Murdoch Webster’s annual Comedy Festival event is always a wonderful night, customers and their partners enjoy the night. Family inclusion and a focus on “how” people are stands out, MWTG are not just solving IT challenges, they are helping people succeed and thanking their supporting family members!

This to me is really special. It’s a core value at the center of the MWTG family. I’m honoured to be a part of it!”

Tom Dowding
Partner Account Manager
Dell Technologies

We’re pleased to announce the new additions to the team at Murdoch Webster. Welcoming Hugh Pascoe, Rob Craig and Kusal Premachandra to the team. We’re excited to have them on board to continue to grow with their extensive experience and skillsets.

This marks an exciting new chapter in our new year ahead.

Don’t miss our next live webinar ‘Hear from an Expert’ featuring Illumio. Learn how to prevent attacks and ransomware from spreading with intelligent visibility and micro-segmentation. Register now! https://lnkd.in/gQykzav6

#murodochwebster #webinar #cybersecurity #hearfromanexpert #illumio #ransomware #zerotrust #security

Today is #RUOKAYDay2022. A national day dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and support those struggling with life. The team got together for lunch driving the conversation on mental health and why we always look out for one another at Murdoch Webster.

The significant challenges and difficult circumstances we have all faced over the past two years (and continue to face) amplify the importance of staying connected and being as supportive as we can to the people in our lives.

You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not OK.

Find conversation tips and learn how you can get involved at ruok.org.au

We are fortunate to be celebrating our 16th year in business.🎉
The achievements of an organisation are the results of the combined efforts of every individual. Special thanks to our valued clients and incredible team for your continued support! Go team Murdoch!

The team at Murdoch Webster are excited to hit the road this week for our next Regional Roadshow in Mildura!
We are looking forward to reconnecting and updating the discussion around security with the excellent tech teams from Cisco Meraki, Rapid7 and W3.Digital making for a brilliant line up of security experts!

Its not to late to register, click this link below to join us!
https://lnkd.in/ennynt_a

Passwords have been around since Roman times and were used to discern between friends and foe. They have proven there worth but it’s now time to say goodbye to passwords.

Let’s start the conversation on how it can integrate within your workplace today. 👏 https://lnkd.in/gxW_U45h

#murdochwebster #mwtg #technology #passwordlessfuture #cybersecurity #future

Murdoch Webster is excited to announce the role of Sales Coordinator.
Join our fast paced sales team to provide administration support across a number of products and services to our fabulous customers. Flexible ways of working from home or Cremorne office. Applicants must be well organised, work in a fast paced environment on their own and in a team. Excellent phone manner and attention to detail. Experience with Microsoft O365 required and database management skills preferred.

#murdochwebster #mwtg #technology #salescoordinator #cybersecurity #team #sales