Want to hear some of the most commonly told myths about cybersecurity?
As experts in cybersecurity in Australia, we’ve heard some pretty tall tales about online security, and we’re going to share some of the most common ones with you.
Five Cybersecurity Myths You Should Know
We’re all aware that cybersecurity risks exist, but often it’s easier to pretend like they don’t. No matter how much you ignore them, cybersecurity breaches can happen to anyone, so it’s important not to fall into the trap of believing these myths.
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Cybersecurity Isn’t my Responsibility
It doesn’t matter how great the cybersecurity around you is, there will always be times when you need to take personal responsibility. For instance, a business can have amazing on-premises cybersecurity, but once an employee leaves the office, they leave that bubble of protection.
Top cyber security services in Australia will help to protect organisations by giving individuals the training they need to take responsibility for cybersecurity. Otherwise, risks will persist.
Hackers Don’t Target Small Businesses
This cybersecurity myth is grossly wrong.
Large businesses might offer big rewards to hackers, but they’re also often much more difficult to compromise. Think of it like this, what’s a thief more likely to target, Fort Knox, or lots of little stores with limited security?
Here are some eye-opening statistics from the Australian Signals Directorate's (ASD's) Annual Cyber Threat Report 2025–26:
- ASD's ReportCyber received over 82,000 cybercrime reports in 2025–26, on average one every 6 minutes.
- The average self-reported cost of cybercrime per report was $55,400 for small businesses and $141,300 for medium businesses (up 45%).
Cybersecurity in Australia isn’t just about protecting big businesses and other huge organisations, it’s about the little guys as well.
Firewalls and Virus Scanners Protect my Computer and my Enterprise
Firewalls and virus scanners are just a part of your cybersecurity defences.
Good cybersecurity services in Australia will put together multiple layers of security and monitor threats to protect your business. Hackers are after easy targets that offer quick payouts, so it’s important to put multiple barriers between them and what they’re looking for.
If you’re relying solely on firewalls and virus scanners, then you’re not doing this.
Laws are Keeping Pace with Technological Innovation
The whole way in which our world works has been completely transformed in just a few short decades. Legislation is still catching up. For example, it was only from 30 May 2025 that Australia's Cyber Security Act 2024 began requiring businesses with an annual turnover over $3 million to report ransomware payments to ASD within 72 hours.
Even with strong legislation, there will still be plenty of bad actors who are willing and able to circumnavigate laws and attack your business. If you don’t have the right cybersecurity services, then you’re making yourself an easy target.
Scams and Phishing are Glaringly Obvious
This is another cybersecurity myth that is horribly inaccurate.
Yes, some scams are terribly done and you can have a laugh about them, but they also serve to lower your defences. If you think you can easily spot any phishing scam, then it just makes you more vulnerable when you’re targeted by a really good one.
ASD warns that phishing messages can look very authentic and convincing, with official logos and wording, and newer tactics use fake QR codes (quishing) or cloned voices (vishing).
Hackers are clever and highly motivated, and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Now’s the Time to Invest in Your Cybersecurity in Australia
If cybersecurity hasn’t been a priority for your Australian business, then now’s the time to change that.
These myths might exist to put people’s minds at ease, but it just serves to make them easier targets for hackers. We want to change that, and the best way to do that is by calling in the professionals.
Find out what cybersecurity services you need and start protecting your business.
The First Step is Crucial. Start with a Cybersecurity Assessment
Where are you at your cybersecurity maturity journey? Get an assessment of your current security posture and identify the gaps and challenges that you need to act upon. Start an assessment or book a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How can you spot a phishing message?
ASD lists common warning signs: unexpected emails, texts or calls, pressure to act urgently, requests for passwords or authentication codes, links, attachments or QR codes you weren’t expecting, strange or misspelled email addresses, and generic greetings such as “Dear customer”. If a message seems unusual, check it using the organisation’s official website or a phone number you already know, not the details in the message.
What is quishing?
Quishing is phishing that uses QR codes instead of text links. Scanning a fake QR code can take you to a malicious website or download harmful files. ASD notes it is harder to detect because security tools may miss links hidden in an image, and staff often scan codes on personal devices that aren’t protected by work security controls.
What should you do if you’ve fallen for a phishing scam?
Act quickly. Stop all contact with the scammer and record what happened, when, and what you shared. If you lost money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. Change the passwords for any affected accounts, and report the scam to ASD and to the platform the scammer used to contact you.
Is a strong password enough to protect business accounts?
Not on its own. ASD recommends using passkeys where available and turning on multi-factor authentication. Where you must use a password, make it unique, unpredictable and at least 15 characters long. Never reuse passwords: anyone who knows or guesses a reused password can access every account that uses it.
Can staff safely use personal devices for work?
They can, with the right controls. ASD’s guidance on enterprise mobility and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) recommends an enterprise mobility strategy, approved devices and apps, multi-factor authentication, encryption, regular updates, and clear BYOD policies with monitoring. Without these, personal devices sit outside your work security controls.
How quickly should businesses install security updates?
As soon as practical. ASD’s Essential Eight maturity model expects patches for vulnerabilities in online services and internet-facing systems to be applied within 48 hours of release when they are critical or a working exploit exists, and within two weeks otherwise. ASD also advises installing updates and security patches regularly.
