"I have anxiety around cyber security because I understand how important it is, but don't feel I have the skill needed to look after myself online."

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That comment came from a regional Victorian who participated in auDA's latest Digital Lives of Australians research. It captures something many Australians recognise. We know cyber security matters, but many of us feel ill equipped to protect ourselves online.

The latest auDA Digital Lives report - the sixth study conducted since 2021 - shows 83 per cent of consumers could not imagine life without the internet, while 68 per cent of workers say they could not do their job without it. We use the internet to bank, shop, work, study, access services, and stay socially connected with family, friends and our communities.

But as our reliance on the internet grows, so does our exposure to online threats.

This year's research reveals a gap between confidence and capability when it comes to detecting threats online.

At first glance, the findings appear encouraging. Seventy-three per cent of consumers say they are confident spotting an online scam. Yet when participants were shown examples of suspicious emails, many overlooked some of the most common warning signs.

While most recognised an urgent or threatening tone, 42 per cent did not identify suspicious links and 52 per cent did not recognise an incorrect or unofficial email address as suspicious, suggesting what may be a false sense of security.

At the same time, scams are becoming harder to detect. The report found 88 per cent of consumers and 86 per cent of small businesses believe cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated and that people need to stay up to date with emerging threats.

That concern is well founded. The research shows almost one in five Australians (19 per cent) lost........

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