Home » Blog » Cybersecurity » Is NZ Vulnerable To Cyber-Attacks? And What Does That Mean To You?

Business

Is NZ Vulnerable To Cyber-Attacks? And What Does That Mean To You?

In 2019, hackers infiltrated Texas local body government computer systems. They seized control, blocked access to vital data, and demanded a huge ransom. Is NZ vulnerable to similar attacks?

Published

3 years ago

August 1, 2020

TwinzTech

In 2019, hackers infiltrated Texas’s local body government computer systems. They seized control, blocked access to vital data, and demanded a huge ransom. Is NZ vulnerable to similar attacks?

The Texas government learned from the $10 million Baltimore disaster and paid out the $2.5 million ransom demand quickly, regained control, and patched the leak. But they didn’t learn their lesson and in 2020 hacked again, using ransomware that invaded computers and encrypted files in the transportation department.

Closer to home, Australia has been facing increased cyber attacks from overseas. Malicious attacks from sophisticated entities targeted a range of Australian sectors, both private and government. This has resulted in increased controls and defenses against attackers.

1. Why worry about cyber-attacks?

Cyber attacks are dangerous in a range of ways:

Release of private, personal, or confidential information. This is a risk for all organizations- businesses having customer details shared, or sensitive financial information. For governments, the risk of almost anything going public is enormous.
I am holding computer systems hostage. This means no access to information, and the possibility of data being destroyed.
Misuse of computer systems. This is hugely worrying; traffic light controls, operating power plants, and almost anything that can be controlled remotely can also be taken over and used maliciously.
Loss of money. The goal for some hackers is income from extortion. Also, businesses may lose money- and trust- from their users.

Should You Be Afraid of 5G Its Top Security Threats Revealed

These threats aren’t just from a hacker in a darkened bedroom somewhere either; business competitors, state threats, and organizations such as Anonymous all have various aims or goals. If you want to Protect from cyber-attacks use any of the antivirus software of these two Mcafee vs avast.

2. Does this matter to you?

As an individual, a business owner, or a citizen, this is a threat that you should be worried about. Not just for your data’s privacy, your business’s compliance with GRC and security, or to stay safe in an increasingly digital Tech world, but for the safety of your country.

While security affects your workplace, your ability to work securely from home, and the ramifications from that, there are also other much broader implications.

3. What is NZ doing about cybersecurity?

Eight years as Prime Minister, Sir John said his roles on the board of the cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks & as the chairperson of ANZ Bank New Zealand, had given him insights into the escalating threats New Zealand businesses face.

“Individuals, companies, governments they play by the rules,” said Sir John, who spoke alongside Microsoft Managing Director, Vanessa Sorenson, at the launch of Umbrellar Connect.

Everyone, from individuals to the state, needs to keep their systems safe from cybercrime.

Individuals: Consider having a password system such as LastPass, which allows you to securely store passwords, create complex random passwords, and detect if passwords are too weak. This means your log-ins are far more secure and less likely to be hacked.

Have a tricky password for your Wi-Fi (not 12345678 or ‘password123’). Also, think about your IoT, and all digital-enabled items in your home need to be protected. A smart refrigerator was hacked in 2014 and used to send spam – all smart devices run this risk.

Website Security Tips

If you work from home and have secure access to your employer’s computer system, ensure you follow all best practices. Don’t log on in insecure connections, don’t share your password, and don’t leave your laptop unattended.

Businesses and governments: You need to invest time and money into your cybersecurity. Hire specialists that can help you pinpoint where your weaknesses are and then plug the gaps. As well as a robust system for passwords and staff, there are technical things to investigate, such as firewalls.

One of your most significant weaknesses is your staff- training them to identify cyber threats and manage them. McAfee estimates over 100 billion malicious scans each day and thousands of phishing and ransomware attacks. This is not IF, this is WHEN.

Regular system maintenance and keeping up to date with the latest threats are vital. Scammers and hackers move fast and will exploit all gaps in processes, software, and hardware. While hiring professionals to manage this may seem expensive, they will find security vulnerabilities.

The cost of not doing this should be losing everything.

Encrypting and backing up are excellent means of defense. Backing up, off-site, securely, is not just a must in case of physical disaster where your business cannot access the location, but also a safety net in case systems are hacked. If you have a backup of everything, hackers refusing to obtain your order are less catastrophic.

Also, encrypting information, running things through VPNs, and multiple security layers make a hacker’s job much more difficult.

If cyber threats aren’t taken seriously, there could be some extremely unpleasant and unexpected consequences. All online systems are vulnerable, and keeping them safe should be a priority for businesses, individuals, and governments.

Finally, listen to what others say. Zoom suffered an embarrassing and challenging setback when a social media influencer hacker found several weaknesses in their software and then Tweeted about it.

This spawned a string of security incidents with an in-demand service at the global pandemic height when more companies were moving their operations online. Governments have also been warned in the past about possible security flaws, only for further breaches to be made.

Think about it now, before it is too late. If you’re unsure, ask Garmin, which was hacked in July 2020, and resulted in global outages, runners, and cyclists who can’t track their training, and ongoing problems.

Business

How To Create A Seamless Checkout Experience

Ultimately, a seamless and positive checkout experience can boost customer satisfaction and create a stronger association with your brand.

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2023

TwinzTech

How To Create A Seamless Checkout Experience

The checkout process is an integral part of the customer journey, significantly influencing purchasing decisions. An ideally designed checkout page can streamline the buying experience, leading to an increase in conversion rates.

Moreover, a well-organized, intuitive checkout experience can motivate customers to complete their transactions, enhancing the abandoned cart recovery rate. Ultimately, a seamless and positive checkout experience can boost customer satisfaction and create a stronger association with your brand.

This connection often translates into repeat purchases and invaluable word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers. If these are your business goals, then read on for five excellent ways to create a seamless checkout experience.

Table of Contents

1. Provide More Payment Options

Diversifying payment options is critical to facilitating a smooth and flexible customer checkout process. By accommodating various payment methods, you cater to various customer preferences. Traditional credit and debit card payments, digital wallets, bank transfers, and even options like cash on delivery should be considered.

It’s important to understand that payment preferences can vary significantly depending on your target audience and their geographical location. For example, customers from different regions may prefer specific local payment methods. By offering these options, you demonstrate respect and understanding of your customer’s needs and preferences, which can significantly boost your conversion rates.

Lastly, remember that security is a paramount concern regarding online transactions. Ensure all your payment options are secured and trusted to prevent potential data breaches or ecommerce fraud. Transparency about security measures can build customer trust and encourage more transactions.

2. Ensure Your Checkout Page Is Mobile-Friendly

With the rapid rise in mobile device usage, ensuring that your checkout page is mobile-friendly is more important than ever. Users should be able to navigate your checkout page easily, fill in their details, and complete the purchase without experiencing any glitches or frustrations, regardless of their device.

A mobile-friendly checkout page is not just about compatibility but also about design. The design must be intuitive, with clear calls to action and minimal input fields. Moreover, the text and buttons should be sufficiently large to facilitate easy touch interactions.

Testing is vital in ensuring mobile friendliness. Regularly test your checkout process on different devices and browsers to spot any issues. Remember, a smooth mobile checkout experience can increase conversions and customer satisfaction.

3. Allow Guest Checkout

While it’s beneficial for businesses to have customers create accounts for future marketing and retargeting, it’s important to respect the customer’s choice. Mandatory account creation can deter customers, causing them to abandon their carts and reducing your conversion rates.

Offering a guest checkout option can enhance the user experience by speeding up the checkout process. It caters to customers in a hurry or those who don’t want to commit to an account. While you can still encourage account creation by highlighting its benefits, the choice should ultimately be left to the customer.

Provide More Payment Options - Seamless Checkout Experience

Remember, the aim is to reduce barriers to purchase. A simple and straightforward guest checkout process can significantly improve your conversion rates and customer satisfaction, even if it means potentially missing out on gathering some customer data.

4. Create A One-Page Checkout Page

A one-page checkout design is a strategy that can streamline your checkout process by minimizing the number of steps needed to complete a purchase. This approach reduces the likelihood of customers abandoning their carts due to a complicated or lengthy checkout process.

A one-page checkout page should include essential fields such as billing and shipping information, payment methods, and an order summary. This page should be designed with simplicity and user-friendliness in mind. Also, use auto-fill features where possible to speed up the process.

Bear in mind that this strategy doesn’t suit every business. For example, businesses with a large number of stock-keeping units or complex shipping rules might need more pages for a comprehensive checkout process. However, if a one-page checkout fits your business model, it can significantly improve the user experience and conversion rates.

5. Utilize “Buy Now” Buttons

‘Buy Now’ buttons can greatly enhance the user experience by offering a quick and straightforward way to make a purchase. These buttons allow customers to bypass the traditional shopping cart route, facilitating an immediate checkout process.

When implementing the ‘Buy Now’ buttons, ensure they are placed strategically. They should be easily visible, usually close to the product details. Additionally, their design should be compelling and consistent with your brand identity to attract customers’ attention.

However, while the ‘Buy Now’ buttons can accelerate checkout, they should be used thoughtfully. For some customers, particularly those intending to buy multiple items, the traditional cart process might still be preferable. Therefore, ensure you offer both options to cater to different shopping styles.

Also, be aware that the ‘Buy Now’ buttons require a robust system in the background to ensure a seamless and secure immediate transaction. Balancing convenience and security is the key to the effective utilization of the ‘Buy Now’ buttons.

Conclusion

Optimizing the checkout process is integral to boosting conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Diverse payment options, a mobile-friendly design, guest checkout options, and streamlined processes such as a one-page checkout or ‘Buy Now’ buttons all contribute to a user-friendly buying experience.

Remember that it’s crucial to balance customer convenience with robust security measures and to cater to varying customer preferences. When implemented effectively, these strategies can significantly improve your business’s performance and customer retention.