Staying Cyber-safe this Christmas: Protect your Accounts with Multi Factor Authentication

December 5, 2024

As the Christmas holiday season approaches, many of us are planning festive celebrations, shopping for loved ones, and looking forward to well-deserved breaks. However, it’s also a time when cybercriminals ramp up their activities, taking advantage of busy online traffic and the seasonal increase in digital transactions. This Christmas, make cybersecurity a priority by fortifying your online accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to keep your personal information safe.

Why MFA is Essential for Your Cybersecurity

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber threats are ever-present, and recent headlines about online scams and data breaches highlight just how vulnerable personal information can be. In Australia, cyber incidents continue to rise, underscoring the need for proactive measures. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a powerful tool that provides an added layer of security, making it more challenging for cybercriminals to access your sensitive information.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication (2FA) or two-step verification, is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more authentication factors to verify their identity before gaining access to a system or account. These factors typically fall into three categories:

Something you know: This includes passwords, PINs, or security questions.
Something you have: Such as a mobile device, smart card, or token.
Something you are: Biometric identifiers like fingerprint scans, facial recognition, or iris scans.

By combining two or more of these factors, MFA adds an additional layer of security that makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access, even if they manage to obtain one factor, such as a password.

Tips for Implementing MFA This Season

Just as you double-check your holiday shopping list, here are some key tips for setting up and using MFA to protect your accounts this season:

Enable MFA on all accounts: Whenever possible, enable MFA on all your online accounts, including email, banking, social media, and cloud services. Most major online platforms and services offer MFA options, making it easy to enhance security across various digital environments.
Choose strong authentication methods: Opt for authentication methods that offer the highest level of security and convenience based on your preferences and available options. While SMS-based codes are commonly used, authenticator apps, hardware tokens, and biometric authentication methods are generally more secure alternatives.
Setup backup authentication methods: It’s essential to have backup authentication methods in place to ensure access to your accounts in case your primary method is unavailable or compromised. This could involve setting up multiple authentication factors, such as a secondary device or backup codes provided by the service.
Stay informed and vigilant: Remain vigilant against phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to bypass MFA protections. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for authentication codes or attempts to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links

Be cautious of sign-in links sent via SMS or email. Scammers often impersonate legitimate organisations to steal sensitive information like account numbers and passwords. If in doubt, visit the official website of the organisation directly to log in or find contact information.

Don’t Share MFA Codes or Approve Unknown Sign-Ins

Never share your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes or approve login attempts you don’t recognize. These security features protect your accounts, and sharing or approving unauthorised access could compromise your security.

5. Regularly review account activity: Monitor your accounts regularly for any suspicious or unauthorised activity. Many online services offer features that allow users to review recent login attempts and device activity, enabling early detection of potential security threats.

Make Cybersecurity Part of Your Holiday Plans

The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, and with the right precautions, you can enjoy them without worry. Adopting MFA is a simple yet powerful step to secure your personal information. Proactive measures like these help you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals who may try to take advantage of the busy season.

For more information on how to stay secure online, visit trusted sources like the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch website. These resources offer valuable tips to enhance your cybersecurity posture all year long.

Staying Fraud Safe: A Recent Case Study

April 1, 2025

In a world where the threat of fraud is constantly evolving, staying safe online is not just good practice — it’s essential. CDF recently helped identify and stop a fraud attempt on a client account that could have led to the loss of a significant amount of money. Here’s how it unfolded and what you can learn to protect your own digital security at home and at work. The power of human firewalls This situation, involving a current CDF customer, showcases a recent prevented fraud attempt: CDF received a transfer request from a registered client’s email address The transfer request involved making a payment to a new account, which the client had not previously transacted to CDF staff followed internal processes, requesting additional verification from the client When the fraudster couldn't provide further information, the staff member called the client directly This phone call revealed the email account had been compromised In this attempt, it was the human element that added the extra layer of security to an already robust internal process – it demonstrates the importance of proper security procedures when handling transfer requests, especially to new bank accounts. " Technology like emails can be compromised and used for fraud. Staying proactive, adhering to processes, and maintaining regular training is critical ," says CDF Information Security Manager, David Huang.

New National Platform for Catholic Events Launches: Introducing CathEvents Australia

March 31, 2025

Media Release A new online hub for Catholic events, CathEvents, has officially launched, providing a central platform for Catholics across Australia to find, share, and promote events that foster connection, faith, and Catholic leadership. CathEvents has been developed through the foresight and leadership of the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP), in partnership with and supported by the Catholic Development Fund (CDF). This innovative initiative is designed to serve as Australia’s pre-eminent site for Catholic events, creating new opportunities for individuals and organisations to engage with one another and grow in their fa ith. For some years, Catholic events have been promoted to members on the AMPJP website, but in response to the call of the Plenary Council and Synod on Synodality to increase formation, AMPJP has established CathEvents as a national service to all Catholics and Catholic organisations. "CathEvents represents an important step in connecting Catholic communities around Australia. It is a place where anyone—whether from a parish, school, ministry, or community group—can easily find and share events that bring many more people together in faith and fellowship," said Moira Najdecki, Chair of AMPJP. The platform features a wide variety of events, including retreats, workshops, conferences, faith formation sessions, leadership training and special celebrations. It is designed to be user-friendly, enabling organisations to submit events for free and allowing visitors to search by category, location, and date. "We are proud to support CathEvents as part of our commitment to strengthening Catholic communities," said Brendan Hoy, General Manger Client Services at CDF. " This platform will provide a valuable resource for all those across the sector seeking to learn, grow and engage more deeply with their faith or one another." Key Features of CathEvents: Comprehensive listing of Catholic events nationwide. Easy-to-use search and filter functions. Free event submission for Catholic organisations and groups. Focus on community connection, faith formation and leadership development. CathEvents is now live and can be accessed at: www.cathevents.org.au Catholic organisations, parishes, schools, and individuals are warmly invited to visit the site, explore upcoming events, and contribute their own events to share with the wider community. Please note - CathEvents is not associated with CathNews, and is a separate service to the Australian Catholic community. About AMPJP The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) is a national association of Catholic entities entrusted with the mission of governance and leadership within the Church. Its member organisations minister in health, aged care, community services and education. AMPJP promotes collaboration, formation, and shared mission among Catholic organisations. About Catholic Development Fund (CDF) CDF provides financial solutions to Catholic organisations that balance margin and mission for the common good. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching, CDF supports Catholic schools, parishes, healthcare, aged care, and social service facilities, primarily through funding capital development projects, that strengthen the Church’s mission and ensure its lasting impact on the community. For media enquiries, please contact: Martin Teulan Executive Director, AMPJP 0408 867 046 executive.director@ampjp.org.au For website enquiries and advertising, please contact: Tony Biviano Project Leader 0448 465 128 cathevents@ampjp.org.au

Congratulations to Bishop George Kolodziej, the new Bishop of Bunbury

March 24, 2025

Catholic Development Fund (CDF) congratulates Bishop George Kolodziej SDS on his ordination and installation as the fifth Bishop of Bunbury. The ceremony took place on March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), presided over the ceremony as principal consecrator, and was joined by more than 19 bishops from across Australia, including CDF’s Board Member Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. Tim O’Leary, CDF Deputy Chair of the Board, and Matthew Cassin, CDF Chief Executive Officer, were also in attendance amongst distinguished guests. Apostolic Nuncio Charles Balvo presented the Papal Bull during the ceremony, which brought together the entire Bunbury Catholic community—clergy, seminarians, acolytes, altar servers, musicians, choir members, Salvatorian priests from across Australia, and representatives from Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd and Catholic Religious Australia. In his poignant homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted the significance of Bishop George's middle name being Joseph, noting, "Perhaps today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we might look to him as a model of this tender and compassionate presence to others, a model especially, though not only, for our soon-to-be Bishop George."

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.