Cybersecurity tips for safer online banking and shopping

As COVID-19 continues to dominate the social and economic landscape of 2020, virtual experiences and transactions are becoming more popular and often essential.
Financial institutions have seen a sharp rise in online banking, while growth in online shopping platforms and digital payment methods shows no sign of slowing.
But with this rise in digitised spending, scams and other fraudulent activities have also increased.
Cyber Security Awareness Month
October is recognised nationally as Cyber Security Awareness Month, and with the second month of spring fast approach, it could be an ideal time to reassess your online safeguards.
Advocate for KnowBe4 – a security awareness training organisation – Jacqueline Jayne has urged Aussies to be vigilant when it comes to any online activity, especially sharing financial information.
“Our interactions online have increased tenfold in 2020 thanks in part to COVID-19, which means the risk of falling victim to a cyberattack has similarly increased,” she said.
“Staying safe online can at times seem too hard, and we [often] believe it won't happen to us. But it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.”
Jayne’s top tips for identifying scams include:
- looking out for anything which suggests great urgency or asks you to click on a link
- not engaging with emails where you don’t recognise the source
- carefully assessing or otherwise ignoring unsolicited social media invitations
- reviewing security and privacy settings across all apps and social media accounts
Tips for shopping safely online
Whether you’re looking to avoid hidden international transaction fees or outsmart scammers, there’s plenty you can do to beef-up your security when shopping online. Here are our top five tips:
Stick to well-known sellers. A little research goes a long way. If you’re buying from a brand or provider you haven’t heard of before, cross-check their information with other sources like social media or customer reviews and make sure you read their privacy policy. This goes for apps too.
If you know the company well, still analyse things like the URL, branding and contact details to make sure it isn’t a fake (reputable websites will start with a ‘https’). Best practice for this is to search for the site in a browser, rather than clicking a link from somewhere like an email or SMS.
Pay securely. If a website or seller is asking you to do things like make a direct bank transfer, share bank details via email, or pay in crypto currency, that’s a red flag. Established payment methods like PayPal, Bpay or your credit card are your safest bet.
Update your software. It’s time to finally take action on that nudge to update your computer or phone software. Software and system updates are often released to help combat security issues or freshly developed cyberattacks.
Avoid public WiFi. If you’ve depleted your data, resist the urge to jump onto an unlocked WiFi network. These unsecured connections are breeding grounds for scams. If you’re in a tight spot and urgently need to get online, just make sure you’re logged out of any banking apps, online shopping portals and other payment platforms first.
Keep those passwords fresh: Even if you’re into double digits with passwords at this point, it pays to keep them updated and original. As a security consultant would advise, frequently changing your passwords and ensuring uniqueness for each platform or service is paramount. And yes, as all the internet hotshots and experts, including security consultants, have been saying for decades, varied passwords for different accounts are your best friends when it comes to cyber security.
If you’re an avid online shopper, check out some of the digital features of the bank accounts below.
Compare bank accounts
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Exceptional Everyday Account - 2025
- Travel Debit Card - 2025
Everyday Edge Account
$0.00
Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, Samsung Pay
0% p.a.
This bank account has no account keeping fees to pay. There are unlimited fee-free domestic transactions. Safe and secure digital banking. Fee-free card purchases and cash-out transactions in-store. Free access to thousands of ATMs nationwide. For customers 18 or over.
CompareCompareEveryday Edge Account
This bank account has no account keeping fees to pay. There are unlimited fee-free domestic transactions. Safe and secure digital banking. Fee-free card purchases and cash-out transactions in-store. Free access to thousands of ATMs nationwide. For customers 18 or over.
- account fee
- $0.00
- Payment Options
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, Samsung Pay
- interest rate
- 0% p.a.
- ATM networks
- -
- What kind of card?
- Visa Debit or
EFTPOS
- Interest rate
- Balances from $0: 0.00% p.a.
- Fee free transactions
- Unlimited free transactions from counter deposit, phone, internet and EFTPOS. Free counter withdrawals.
Read reviews and learn more about Great Southern Bank bank accounts
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Orange Everyday
$0.00
Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, PayTo
0% p.a.
ING’s Orange Everyday bank account offers no monthly fees and 1% cashback on eligible utility bills up to $100 (T&Cs apply). Experts Choice Awards Highly Commended Everyday & Savings Bank 2025^
CompareCompareOrange Everyday
ING’s Orange Everyday bank account offers no monthly fees and 1% cashback on eligible utility bills up to $100 (T&Cs apply). Experts Choice Awards Highly Commended Everyday & Savings Bank 2025^
- account fee
- $0.00
- Payment Options
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, PayTo
- interest rate
- 0% p.a.
- ATM networks
- None
- What kind of card?
- Visa Debit
- Interest rate
- Balances from $0: 0.00% p.a.
- Fee free transactions
- Access 1% cashback on eligible utility bill payments (up to $100 per financial year), rebates on ATM fees for the first 5 fee incurring withdrawals (domestic). When you deposit at least $1,000 from an external bank account and make at least 5 card purchases using your ING debit card each month.
Read reviews and learn more about ING bank accounts
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Everyday Global Account
$0.00
Apple Pay, Google Pay
0% p.a.
Enjoy $0 monthly account fees and international fees, with no minimum deposit or balance requirements. Buy, hold and spend in 10 currencies (AUD included) and earn 2% cashback for purchases under $100 (T&C’s apply). Mozo's Experts Choice 2025 winner for Exceptional Everyday Account.^
CompareCompareEveryday Global Account
Enjoy $0 monthly account fees and international fees, with no minimum deposit or balance requirements. Buy, hold and spend in 10 currencies (AUD included) and earn 2% cashback for purchases under $100 (T&C’s apply). Mozo's Experts Choice 2025 winner for Exceptional Everyday Account.^
- account fee
- $0.00
- Payment Options
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- interest rate
- 0% p.a.
- ATM networks
- HSBC
- What kind of card?
- Visa Debit
- Interest rate
- Balances from $0: 0.00% p.a.
- Fee free transactions
- Unlimited free transactions from HSBC ATMs, EFTPOS, phone, internet, BPAY and direct debits
Read reviews and learn more about HSBC bank accounts
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Everyday Options Account
$0.00
Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID
0.01% p.a.
Enjoy 0% foreign currency conversion fees on Visa Debit card purchases. Plus make an eligible purchase using your linked Visa Debit card to earn cashback at participating merchants. $0 monthly account keeping fees & the option to open up to 9 sub-accounts. Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited ABN 66 010 831 722 AFSL 229882 Australian Credit Licence 229882). The SUNCORP brand and Sun Logo are used by Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited) under licence and Suncorp Bank is not part of the Suncorp Group.
CompareCompareEveryday Options Account
Enjoy 0% foreign currency conversion fees on Visa Debit card purchases. Plus make an eligible purchase using your linked Visa Debit card to earn cashback at participating merchants. $0 monthly account keeping fees & the option to open up to 9 sub-accounts. Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited ABN 66 010 831 722 AFSL 229882 Australian Credit Licence 229882). The SUNCORP brand and Sun Logo are used by Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited) under licence and Suncorp Bank is not part of the Suncorp Group.
- account fee
- $0.00
- Payment Options
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID
- interest rate
- 0.01% p.a.
- ATM networks
- Suncorp
- What kind of card?
- Visa Debit
- Interest rate
- Balances from $0: 0.00% p.a.
Balances from $1: 0.01% p.a.
- Fee free transactions
- Unlimited free transactions from own-bank ATM, atmx ATM, Big 4 banks ATM, EFTPOS, counter withdrawals, counter deposits, phone and internet
Read reviews and learn more about Suncorp Bank bank accounts
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Bank Account Awards
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