Practical tips for staying safe online — scams, phishing, passwords, privacy and protecting your family. Led by a cybersecurity expert, in plain English.
This category is a place to learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your money in a digital world that’s getting harder to navigate. We cover a wide range of topics — recognising scams and phishing, staying safe on social media, strong passwords and two-factor authentication, protecting your privacy, keeping kids and older relatives safe online, spotting deepfakes and AI-driven fraud, and what to do if something goes wrong. No jargon, no fear-mongering — just clear, practical guidance you can actually use.
Why this matters
Most of us were never taught how to stay safe online — we just got handed the devices. Meanwhile, the threats have become more convincing, more personal, and more automated. The good news is that you don’t need to be technical to protect yourself. A handful of habits and a bit of know-how make an enormous difference, and that’s exactly what this space is here to share.
If something has already happened
If you’ve lost money, contact your bank first — before anything else. Many banks can stop or recall a transfer if you reach them quickly enough.
Then report it. Reporting helps you, and it helps the people who’d have been targeted next:
- Scamwatch (ACCC) — report a scam and check current alerts
- eSafety Commissioner — report online abuse, image-based abuse and cyberbullying
- ReportCyber — report cybercrime to Australian authorities
- Australian Federal Police — report a crime
Nobody is too smart to be scammed. The messages are convincing, they arrive when you’re distracted, and the people sending them do this for a living.
Your Sponsor
This category is led by Mono Training, an Australian cybersecurity consultancy that operates globally. Mono Training’s whole philosophy is human-led security — the belief that staying safe isn’t about scary dashboards or being caught out, but about supporting real people to build genuine confidence. That’s the same spirit we want here: practical help, offered kindly, from someone who knows the field inside out.
In the interest of being upfront: Mono Training is a business with professional expertise in this area, and that’s exactly why they’re here. Their guidance is genuine, and there’s no hard sell — just an expert sharing what they know with a community that benefits from it.
How to use this category
- Ask a question. If something’s worried you — a suspicious text, a dodgy email, an account that doesn’t feel right — ask. No question is too basic.
- Share an experience. If you’ve been targeted or scammed, your story helps others spot it coming.
- Read and learn. Browse the tips and guides, and follow the category to get new ones as they’re posted.
One rule when you post: strip out anything personal first — your name, account numbers, addresses, phone numbers. Never post passwords or one-time codes, not even partially. If you’d rather not be identified, you can post anonymously.
You’re in good company here. Stay curious, stay a little bit sceptical, and you’ll stay a lot safer.