FMG has rolled out a new online cybersecurity learning module, timed with New Zealand’s Cyber Smart Week, to help farmers, growers, and rural businesses improve their defences against rising cyber threats.
The tool reflects FMG’s effort to address growing concerns as rural businesses adopt more digital tools, increasing their exposure to cyber risks.
Angela Taylor (pictured), advice service manager at FMG, explained that the increasing reliance on digital systems has made rural operations more vulnerable to cybercrime.
“We know that small businesses including smaller rural businesses are increasingly becoming targets for cybercrime, and we need to find new ways of engaging with clients when it comes to complex topics like these,” she said.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, New Zealanders lose approximately $198 million annually to various scams, and rural businesses are often ill-prepared to fend off such attacks.
FMG’s new training module aims to provide essential advice and practical steps to improve online security. Recommendations include:
For clients and the general public interested in enhancing their cyber defences, FMG’s cybersecurity module is available through its website, offering tools and information designed to mitigate the risks of online threats.
FMG’s release of its cybersecurity tool coincides with a reported surge in global cybercrime.
A recent report by cybersecurity firm Gen revealed a 46% increase in cyberattacks during the second quarter of 2024, with New Zealand identified as one of the regions most affected by financial scams.
The report, drawing on data from 500 million global users, highlighted the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by cybercriminals to enhance the effectiveness of their scams.
According to the report, 95% of cyberattacks occur while users are online, and scammers have started incorporating AI into traditional schemes, such as phishing and fraud. One notable scam used deepfake technology during a SpaceX event to conduct fraudulent cryptocurrency giveaways, resulting in $1.4 million in stolen funds.
In New Zealand, other common cyber threats include fraudulent invoices, tech support scams, and AI-generated voice calls targeting job seekers.
Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness, these scams continue to exploit financial insecurities. There has also been an uptick in “antivirus scams,” where users are tricked by fake pop-up warnings that lead them to download malicious software.
