The government has made the use of two-factor authentication compulsory when porting mobile numbers from one provider to another, in what it says is a big step to keep Australians safe from telephone scammers.

Australian Cyber Week 2019 has launched with a week-long series of events and activities nationally coordinated by AustCyber – the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network - and with a focus on cybercrime and Australia's growing cyber security sector.

Security firm Proofpoint says that retailer Kmart’s recent warning of a new attack by a sophisticated SMS scam means that it is important for Australians to remain vigilant and aware of these types of attacks.