Almost half of all Australian internet users were victims of cybercrime in the past year, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Federal Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke said the Cybercrime in Australia: 2024 report, released today (August 18), found 47 percent of Australians experienced at least one form of cybercrime in the past 12 months.
Minister Burke said online abuse, identity theft, malware, and scams were among the most common.
He said the report highlighted:
- 26.8 percent experienced online abuse or harassment.
- 21.9 percent were victims of identity crime.
- 20.6 percent encountered malware attacks.
- 9.5 percent fell victim to fraud or scams.
“Vulnerable groups included young people, First Nations Australians, LGBTQIA+ communities and people with disabilities.”
Minister Burke said small and medium business owners also faced disproportionate risks.
He said while some types of cybercrime declined compared with 2023, the report found protective behaviours, such as using strong passwords and security updates, remained worryingly low.
“Remember these three simple steps to stay safe online – always install the latest software updates, use unique passphrases, and enable multifactor authentication wherever it’s available.”
Access the full report on the Australian Institute of Criminology website.
