If you’re getting the feeling that more and more Australians have fallen prey to cyber attackers recently, there’s a reason for that.

The number of hacks has recently grown by 300 per cent in the period of just 12 months.

And the devastation to Australians is multifold. Some have lost tens of thousands of dollars. Others have had deeply private information - including intimate health details, and court testimony they thought was given anonymously - exposed to the world.

Today, technology editor David Swan on who is committing these attacks, and why. And what Australians need to know, to avoid falling victim to one.

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