NewsOrbital Desk | Canberra | October 6

Cybercrime incidents in Australia have seen a significant rise, according to a fresh report released by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). The 2024 report reveals that more than 40% of Australians experienced one or more types of cybercrime over the past year.

The “Cyber Crime in Australia 2024” study highlights that 42.1% of victims suffered multiple cyber attacks within the same year. The report emphasizes four main types of cybercrime causing the most trouble:

Online harassment and abuse

Identity theft and misuse

Malware infections

Online fraud and scams

Out of the 10,335 Australians surveyed, 47.4% reported being affected by at least one cybercrime.

26.8% faced online harassment or cyberbullying

9.5% were victims of fraud or scams

Alarmingly, 6.6% encountered all four categories of cyber threats

Commenting on the findings, Graeme Marshall, Cyber Commander of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), stated:

“Preventing cybercrime is no longer a one-time effort but a daily habit. Cybercriminals don’t stop after a single attack. If they spot any weakness — like weak passwords or outdated software — they will persistently exploit it in various ways.”

Marshall urged Australians to remain vigilant about their digital security and take proactive steps to safeguard against cyber threats.