So much of our financial life now happens online. We access bank accounts, check super, manage investments, pay bills and communicate with financial providers from our phones and computers.
That convenience also means protecting your online accounts has become an important part of protecting your financial wellbeing.
“Cyber security can sound highly technical, but many of the most effective protections come down to a few consistent habits,” says Patrick Sutherland, Financial Adviser & Partner at Halpin Wealth.
“You don’t need to be a technology expert. You do need to slow down, protect your important accounts and know what to do if something doesn’t look right.”
Here are seven practical steps worth reviewing.
1. Use strong, unique passphrases
Reusing the same password across several accounts can increase the impact of a security breach. If one account is compromised, criminals may try the same login details elsewhere.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends long, unique and unpredictable passphrases, ideally using four or more random words and at least 15 characters where possible.
Prioritise your email, banking, superannuation and investment accounts.
“Your email account is especially important because it is often used to reset passwords for other services,” Patrick says.
“If someone gains access to it, the consequences can extend well beyond your inbox.”
2. Consider a password manager
Creating a different strong password for every account can be difficult.
A reputable password manager can securely store login details and generate unique passwords. Protect the manager itself with a strong master passphrase and multi-factor authentication.
Some services also support passkeys, which can provide an alternative to traditional passwords.
3. Turn on multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, requires more than one form of verification before someone can access your account.
This might include a password plus an authenticator app, security key, passkey, one-time code or biometric check.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre describes MFA as one of the most effective ways to protect accounts from unauthorised access.
“Adding another step at login can feel inconvenient, but it is a very small inconvenience compared with recovering a compromised financial account,” Patrick says.
Start with your email and financial accounts.
4. Be cautious with unexpected messages
Phishing messages can look remarkably convincing and may appear to come from your bank, super fund, government agency or another organisation you recognise.
Be wary if a message creates urgency, asks you to move money, requests login details or encourages you to click a link.
Instead of following the link or calling a number provided in the message, go directly to the organisation’s official website or app and use contact details you independently verify.
“Scammers often rely on getting people to act before they have time to think,” Patrick says.
“If something feels urgent or unusual, stopping and checking independently can be one of your best defences.”
5. Keep devices and software updated
Software updates often contain fixes for known security vulnerabilities.
Turn on automatic updates where practical for your phone, computer, browser and important apps.
Protect devices with a PIN, passcode or biometric login, and make sure they lock automatically when not in use.
6. Be careful on public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi at airports, hotels and cafés is convenient, but it is sensible to avoid unfamiliar or unsecured networks for sensitive financial activity.
Where possible, use mobile data or a trusted private network when accessing online banking, super or investment accounts.
If you do use public Wi-Fi, confirm you are connecting to the venue’s legitimate network and avoid entering sensitive information unnecessarily.
7. Act quickly if something goes wrong
If you believe an account has been compromised, act quickly.
Change the affected password, sign out of other active sessions and review your security settings. If you have reused the password elsewhere, update those accounts too.
If money or financial information may be at risk, contact your bank, super fund or other financial institution immediately and monitor transactions closely. Scamwatch and the Australian Cyber Security Centre can also provide guidance on reporting scams and cyber incidents.
“People can sometimes feel embarrassed when they realise they may have responded to a scam,” Patrick says.
“The important thing is to act quickly. Contact the relevant organisations, protect your accounts and ask for help rather than waiting to see what happens.”
Protecting your financial life online
Online security is not about eliminating every possible risk. It is about making it harder for criminals to access your information and reducing the potential impact if something does go wrong.
A few simple habits, used consistently, can provide an extra layer of protection around the financial accounts and personal information you rely on every day.
Source: Adapted from “7 online security tips to keep your accounts safe”, published through Advisely on 8 September 2026. Additional information sourced from the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Moneysmart.
Protect the accounts behind your financial plan
Your financial plan depends on more than investment decisions and long-term strategy. Protecting access to your bank accounts, superannuation, investments and personal information is also important. Halpin Wealth can help you review the financial implications if your circumstances change or an account is compromised, and work alongside your other professional advisers where needed.
If you have concerns about your financial accounts, contact our team.
This information provided in this article is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your own objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a financial decision based on this advice, you must consider whether it is appropriate in light of your own needs, objectives, and financial circumstances, and where relevant, obtain personal financial, taxation or legal advice. Where a financial product has been mentioned, you should obtain and read a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) prior to making any decisions about whether to acquire a product.