Aspen Corp works closely with  Metrowest IT, a Perth based IT company who specialises in helping to protect business. 

They have kindly shared some of the practical steps they regularly advise their clients to take to help protect  Banking, Financial, ATO and MyGov accounts:

It's important to ensure your security practices are up to date. With a rise in hacking and scam attempts targeting these platforms, safeguarding your personal information has never been more important.

Here are a few simple steps to improve your security and protect your sensitive data:

1. Create Strong, Unique Passwords: Choose passwords that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess by combining three distinct words, a number and a special character, like "BlueSocksSky7!".
   It's essential to use a different password for each account so that if one gets compromised, the rest of your accounts stay secure. If passwords like this are hard to remember there are always Password Managers that make storing and accessing passwords easy, like LastPass and bitwarden.
   
   
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Always enable 2FA when available it adds an extra layer of security requiring a second step to log in protecting against your password being compromised.
   
   
3. Beware of Scams: Be cautious when you receive unexpected emails claiming to be from the ATO or MyGov.
   Common signs of a scam email include an incorrect or suspicious sender address, a sense of urgency or pressure to take immediate action (like "act now" or "your account will be locked"), and poor spelling or grammar.
   Always double-check the sender’s email address and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments unless you’re sure the email is legitimate.
   
   
4. Use Trusted Devices: Avoid logging in to your ATO/MyGov account on public or shared devices like those at an internet cafe or library. Only use devices you own and trust.