Here is the converted article in markdown format:
Cybersecurity in PNG: A Growing Concern
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, cybercrime is becoming an increasingly significant threat to businesses and individuals alike in Papua New Guinea. According to a recent report by PwC, cybersecurity is the third biggest risk to revenue growth for many organizations, surpassing external change and geopolitical risks.
Unfortunately, the PNG judicial system may not be equipped to effectively tackle these types of crimes, making it unlikely that those responsible will be caught and brought to justice. This has led to an increase in home-grown cybercrime, with hackers and cybercriminals exploiting vulnerabilities in online systems and networks.
The Importance of Proactive Measures
To combat this growing threat, businesses must take proactive measures to improve their cybersecurity defenses. According to Section 27 of the PNG Act, Division 3 Content Related Offences, a range of activities are considered illegal, including pornography, child pornography, child online grooming, animal pornography, defamatory statements, and more.
Lessons from Australia
In Australia, several high-profile organizations have fallen victim to cyber attacks in recent years, highlighting the need for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously. Examples include Canva’s data breach, which impacted 137 million users; Optus’ cyber attack, which affected 9.8 million customers; and ProctorU’s data breach, which impacted 444,000 people.
PwC’s Ten Key Tips
To mitigate these risks, PwC has developed ten key tips for businesses to consider when defending against common cyber attacks:
- Pay attention to browser warnings
- Use unique passwords for every account
- Keep passwords tough enough to guess
- Avoid clicking on unsolicited emails
- Keep business and personal accounts separate
- Don’t rely solely on system password change notifications
- Change passwords often
- Avoid storing passwords in plain sight
- Keep security software up to date
- Backup computer and settings regularly
Take Action Against Cyber Threats
If you need further information or support in protecting your business against cyber threats, contact:
Jonathan Seeto, Managing Partner - jonathan.seeto@pwc.com Michael Collins, Entrepreneurial and Private Business Partner - michael.j.collins@pwc.com Stephen Beach, Entrepreneurial and Private Business Principal - stephen.beach@pwc.com
For more information, visit our website at www.pwc.com/pg.