Interactive

Spot the Scam: Test Your Safety Score

Five quick scenarios. Pick an answer to see instantly whether it holds up.

Score: 0 / 5

1. A text says: 'Your parcel is held. Pay $2.50 now: auspost-track.co/pay'. What do you do?

Never use a link from an unexpected message. Open the official app or type the site yourself.

2. Which of these is the strongest password?

Length beats complexity. Four random words are far harder to crack than a short substituted word.

3. A friend DMs asking you to send them a verification code that just arrived on your phone.

Codes are never shared. This is the classic account-takeover scam using a hacked friend's profile.

4. You're on free café Wi-Fi. What's the safest choice?

Public Wi-Fi can be monitored or spoofed. Save sensitive logins for a trusted network or mobile data.

5. What does two-factor authentication (2FA) actually do?

2FA means an attacker needs your password AND your device — it blocks most takeovers outright.

Passphrase strength lab

Type a made-up password (never a real one) and watch the meter react.

Type something