Reading the news today about the meat manufacturer that paid up $11 million in ransom to cybercriminals after having its business shutdown over a hack recently, my mind turned to celebrants.

I hold grave fears that any day now there’s going to be an Australian marriage celebrant breached by a hacker, and all of their clients’ NOIM, Marriage Certificate, Passport, Divorce, Drivers License, details will be leaked, stolen, sold.

There’s basic things celebrants can do:

  • Use different and unique passwords for each service you use, like email, facebook, xero, bank, computer, phone etc.
  • Change passwords every 6-12 months.
  • Use two-factor authentication.
  • Secure your telephone account.
  • Limit access to your emails.
  • Learn how to identify phishing and scam emails.
  • Have a good firewall on your home network.
  • Have a good local computer password.
  • Limit the data you hold that can be stolen, deleting client’s data when no longer needed to be kept.
  • Update and run the latest operating software, and firmware on your devices
  • Maintaining a good local backup and a secure offsite backup

The Australian government also provides these powerful resources:

Step one: Understand the threat by reading the Small Business Cyber Security Guide.

Step two: Start applying these really basic security methods on the devices, applications, that apply to you using these Step By Step Guides.

Step three: Learn how to identify phishing/scam emails.

Step four: Take the Cyber Security Assessment Tool test.