Building our cyber safe culture
Cyber threats are part of everyday life – but taking small actions make a big difference.
Cyber Security Awareness Month is an annual reminder and opportunity to take action to protect yourself online and to secure your devices and accounts from cyber threats.
Protecting yourself online isn’t hard. This #CyberMonth2025, there are simple actions you, your family, friends and colleagues can take to improve your cyber security.
The theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 is building our cyber safe culture and we are encouraging you to prioritise cyber security by taking these actions:
- Install all software updates to keep your devices secure.
- Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account.
- Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Make cyber security an everyday habit. Just like buckling your seatbelt or locking your front door, cyber safe behaviours protect your accounts and devices.
How to help build our cyber safe culture
Install all software updates to keep your devices secure
Why: Installing regular updates will keep your devices secure and makes it harder for cybercriminals to access them.
How:
- Make sure that automatic updates are switched on so that you are notified when an update is available.
- Install software updates as soon as you are prompted.
Learn more about how to update your devices at Update your devices | Cyber.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window).
Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account
Why: A passphrase is a more secure version of a password. Passphrases are hard for cybercriminals to crack, but easy for you to remember.
How: Create passphrases that are:
- long: 15 or more characters
- unpredictable: use 4 or more random words and avoid identifying information such as family names, birth dates or addresses
- unique: are different for every account.
Password managers can help you create, manage and store passwords for each of your accounts. Learn about choosing a reputable password manager(Opens in a new tab/window).
Tip: Combining a unique and strong passphrase with multi-factor authentication where possible will provide an extra layer of security.
More information about creating strong passphrases is available at Set secure passphrases | Cyber.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window).
Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Why: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires two or more proofs of identity to log in to your account. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to gain initial access to your account.
How:
- Turn on MFA where available.
- Use MFA on your most important accounts (such as online banking and email accounts).
Learn more about how to turn on multi-factor authentication at Turn on multi-factor authentication | Cyber.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window).
Cyber safe actions
There are many more cyber safe actions that you can take. For more information, go to:
Cyber safe actions | Act Now. Stay Secure.
Cyber Security Awareness Month resources
You can spread awareness of how everyone can be more secure online and build our cyber safe culture by using the following communication resources.
Social media
Raise awareness by tagging #CyberMonth2025 when you share Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign messaging and materials.
Posters
Other assets for download
Stakeholder kit
This kit includes a range of resources and information that anyone can use.
Spread the message about building a cyber safe culture with your employees, stakeholders and community to raise awareness of cyber safe behaviours.
Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025
Stay informed
Cyber threats are always evolving, but so are the ways we can protect ourselves.
Learn more at: cyber.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window)
Report a cybercrime or cyber security incident: ReportCyber(Opens in a new tab/window)
Report a scam: ScamWatch(Opens in a new tab/window)