Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
04/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/04/2025 15:37
DEFACEMENT OF MINISTRY OF ITAUKEI AFFAIRS...
The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Online Safety Commission and Ministry of Communications are aware of defacement by unauthorised users affecting the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs' Facebook page.
The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, with support from the Online Safety Commission, is taking proactive steps to re-gain control of the Facebook page.
Email and social media accounts are common targets for malicious cyber activity. Defacement is a type of activity where someone has accessed your account without permission and made unwanted changes, such as creating posts, posting images or sending messages. Reasons for this activity may be to cause embarrassment and reputational damage.
"Accessing social media accounts without the user's authorisation is a serious issue," said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. "The Fiji Government's priority is ensuring that our people, businesses and government can access the internet safely and securely."
"This re-emphasises the importance cyber hygiene within our communities and families. Cyber hygiene practices include using strong passwords at least 12-16 characters long, with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols."
"Don't reuse your passwords and don't share them, even with family and friends." Deputy Prime Minister added, "Fijians should also update their devices and apps regularly and don't click on links or emails that look suspicious."
Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale said, "cyber harms like defacement can cause reputational harm and disrupt essential communications and information dissemination. We urge all users to use cyber hygiene practices, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, to safeguard their accounts."
For victims of defacement activity, you can take practical steps to seek support:
The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, with support from the Online Safety Commission, is taking proactive steps to re-gain control of the Facebook page.
Email and social media accounts are common targets for malicious cyber activity. Defacement is a type of activity where someone has accessed your account without permission and made unwanted changes, such as creating posts, posting images or sending messages. Reasons for this activity may be to cause embarrassment and reputational damage.
"Accessing social media accounts without the user's authorisation is a serious issue," said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. "The Fiji Government's priority is ensuring that our people, businesses and government can access the internet safely and securely."
"This re-emphasises the importance cyber hygiene within our communities and families. Cyber hygiene practices include using strong passwords at least 12-16 characters long, with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols."
"Don't reuse your passwords and don't share them, even with family and friends." Deputy Prime Minister added, "Fijians should also update their devices and apps regularly and don't click on links or emails that look suspicious."
Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale said, "cyber harms like defacement can cause reputational harm and disrupt essential communications and information dissemination. We urge all users to use cyber hygiene practices, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, to safeguard their accounts."
For victims of defacement activity, you can take practical steps to seek support:
- Report the unauthorised access to your account to https://www.facebook.com/hacked
- Lodge a complaint with the Online Safety Commission at https://osc.com.fj/
- If your matter is urgent, please contact the Online Safety Commission's hotlines.
Cybersecurity Best Practices
If you use the internet on any device - like a phone, computer, tablet, gaming platform, or something else - you should know how to use them safely and securely.
Upsize your passwords:
Your password is your first layer of protection.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Ensure your password is at least 12-16 characters long, with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid predictable passwords: Stay away from common words, birthdays, or personal details.
- Use a password manager to store and manage complex passwords securely.
- Change passwords periodically.
- If you suspect a breach, update your password immediately.
Uphold your Privacy
Some links are harmless at first glance but dangerous upon contact.
- Before clicking on a link, check the email address or domain for inconsistencies.
- Hover over any links to preview the actual URL and ensure its legitimate.
- Scammers often pressure you to act fast. Be sceptical of urgent messages.
- Watch for poorly written emails or messages that could indicate a scam.
- Instead of clicking links from businesses in an email, visit an organisation's official site manually.
Update your Apps and Software
Malware can be sneaky, hiding in plain sight.
- Keep software updated.
- Install reputable antivirus software.
- Only download files and applications from trusted sources.
- Back up your data regularly to restore this in the case of a cyber incident.
The Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network (PaCSON) Cyber Upskill Program (CUP) will teach you how to protect yourself, your family, your workplace and your community by being secure online. http://pacson.org/cup