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Online Safety Stories

Australian Stories

Online Safety stories

PEXA flags drop in scam confidence among homebuyers
Phishing

PEXA flags drop in scam confidence among homebuyers

Fewer Australians can spot property settlement scams, with confidence in identifying them falling to 41% as AI voice fraud worries grow.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Yesterday
OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with safety in Australia
Data Protection

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with safety in Australia

Teen users in Australia will now default to a safer ChatGPT with study tools, parental controls and tighter limits on sensitive content.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week
TrendLife launches Kaleida AI companion for families
Software-as-a-Service

TrendLife launches Kaleida AI companion for families

Parents worried about privacy and scams may get separate AI profiles, while TrendLife tests a new family-focused subscription starting at AU$16.50 a month.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last week
Bigdatr launches ad compliance platform for regulators
Data Analytics

Bigdatr launches ad compliance platform for regulators

Regulators can now flag risky adverts within 12 hours, as Bigdatr's new system targets fast-moving campaigns in finance, health and gambling.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
AI agents are moving fast. Here's what Australians should understand before using them
Malware

AI agents are moving fast. Here's what Australians should understand before using them

Australians risk giving AI agents broad access to emails, calendars and accounts, opening the door to scams and misuse.

By Stephen Kho • 4 min read • This month
Bitdefender partners Digimune to sell consumer security
Malware

Bitdefender partners Digimune to sell consumer security

Australian households gain local access to Bitdefender's antivirus, VPN and identity tools as scams, ransomware and mobile malware persist.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • This month

Global Stories

Online Safety stories

OpenAI widens free ChatGPT access with GPT-5.6 update
Generative AI

OpenAI widens free ChatGPT access with GPT-5.6 update

Free ChatGPT users will now get unlimited text chats and a new higher-reasoning mode as OpenAI tightens accuracy and safety controls.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • This month

Stories from Other Regions

Online Safety stories

ESET Canada names three women cybersecurity scholars
Network Security

ESET Canada names three women cybersecurity scholars

The award aims to widen Canada's cybersecurity talent pipeline as women remain underrepresented in the fast-growing sector.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Today
Ireland adults lose GBP £760 million to scam texts
Phishing

Ireland adults lose GBP £760 million to scam texts

Nearly every adult in Ireland was targeted by scam texts or phishing attempts last year, with more than one in five paying out and losing money.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Today
Vector expands AI literacy courses for schools & colleges
eLearning

Vector expands AI literacy courses for schools & colleges

Schools and colleges are under pressure to set AI rules as the new courses aim to close staff and student skills gaps.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week
OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with NZ safety safeguards
Data Protection

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with NZ safety safeguards

The move gives under-18 users stronger safeguards and homework support as regulators and parents scrutinise AI chatbots' impact on teens.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Last week
2degrees turns on default blocks for malicious sites
Malware

2degrees turns on default blocks for malicious sites

The default filter could spare 2degrees customers from scams and phishing attempts without any sign-up, app or settings change.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last week
Virgin Media O2 renews partnership to tackle data poverty
Digital Literacy

Virgin Media O2 renews partnership to tackle data poverty

More than 550,000 people in hardship have already received free mobile data as the renewed scheme seeks to connect 500,000 low-income households.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week
Netsafe launches nationwide online safety programme
Gaming

Netsafe launches nationwide online safety programme

A third of young New Zealanders have sought personal advice from AI, highlighting a trust gap that Netsafe hopes to tackle with its new programme.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month
NZSIS warns security threats intensify across New Zealand
Generative AI

NZSIS warns security threats intensify across New Zealand

New Zealand's national security threats have intensified amid geopolitical upheaval, foreign espionage and online violent extremism, NZSIS says.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • This month
Ecommpay warns UK fraud review ignores platform liability
Fintech

Ecommpay warns UK fraud review ignores platform liability

Losses still ran to GBP £703.4 million as Ecommpay said ministers must widen the fraud review to cover platform liability and SIM-swap crime.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
Teqare expands cyber safety for First Nations wealth
Data Protection

Teqare expands cyber safety for First Nations wealth

CAD $90,000 scam losses have pushed Teqare to widen training across more than 80 First Nations, schools and elder communities in Canada.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • This month