And what details are safe to give out anyway? Scammers really do like that combination of name, address, DOB and mobile number. That s because a scam is so much more plausible when the scammer knows your name. And when the scammer from the Australian Tax Office has your birth date too, many are more likely to believe them, engage and provide remote access. The scammer won t be able to use the above combination of information alone to create bank accounts in your name, or apply for a credit loan. They require that extra level of certification like a driver licence or Medicare card to do this.
When it comes to your “virtual friends” – Siri, Alexa, Cortana, Google Assistant and Bixby – which one is listening more closely? Kathy Sundstrom has the answers.
We might not find comfort with QR codes any more than anyone likes a giant swab stuck so high up their nostril. But it is important that we do it, writes Kathy Sundstrom