Business Alert at 9:00am With CVA - Cyber Crime

Caroline Gillies • November 25, 2022

The recent ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report, July 2021 to June 2022, has stated that since the pandemic began in 2020, cyber threats have grown rampant, particularly from phishing calls and text messages, attacks on video conferencing and insider threats.

Over 76,000 cybercrime reports were reported to the ACSC, an increase of nearly 13% from the previous fiscal year.

The states hit hardest were Queensland (29 per cent of all cybercrime reports) and Victoria (27 per cent). However, the highest average reported losses were from victims in the Northern Territory (over $40,000) and Western Australia (over $29,000).

Statistics show sophisticated cybercrime is a severe problem, and there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon.

Cybercrime can affect anyone, but you can reduce your risk by being informed and understanding how these threats are made.

The three most frequently reported:
- Online fraud: 27 per cent
- Online shopping: 14 per cent
- Online banking: 13 per cent

5 Tips to protecting yourself:

1. Check if You’ve Already Been Involved in A Data Breach
Visit haveibeenpwned.com and change those passwords for any accounts that it suggests may have been compromised.

2. Check the Strength of Your Passwords
Test the strength of your passwords at howsecureismypassword.net (use something similar to your original password to test its strength).

When choosing a password, remember: the longer it is, the stronger it is. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and hard to guess. Using a sentence is a great way to create a long password that you’ll never forget.

3. Avoid Simple Passwords

4. Trust No One (on emails)
This may sound a bit extreme – but always be on the lookout for deceitful emails and compromised web pages (spam and phishing). Interacting with these puts your information at risk and can download viruses. Remember:

• don't open emails from unknown email addresses
• trash attachments in unexpected emails
• avoid risky clicks – instead, type the address into your browser.

5. Secure Your Device
If your mobile device is unsecured, lost or stolen, it could be used to access your info, your money or steal your identity and irreplaceable data like photos or messages. Secure your devices by:

• installing anti-virus software
• setting a password, gesture or fingerprint that must be entered to unlock
• setting the device to require a password before applications are installed
• leaving Bluetooth hidden when not in use and disabling automatic connection to networks
• enabling remote locking and/or wiping functions if your device supports them.

https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/study-space/5-easy-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-cyber-attacks

By Caroline Gillies August 3, 2025
If you own a rental property or holiday home, keeping the right records is key to maximising your tax deductions and staying ATO-compliant. This week, we’re highlighting what the ATO expects you to keep when it comes to residential rental properties. Here’s a quick checklist of the documents you should hold onto: Purchase & Sale Documents – Contracts, settlement statements, and legal documents. Loan & Ownership Records – Loan statements, refinancing documents, land tax assessments. Rental Income – If you don’t have a rental statement you will need to document all rental income received, including bond money retained, insurance payouts, and any other reimbursements. Expenses & Repairs – Keep receipts and invoices for expenses like advertising for tenants, property agent fees, council rates, strata levies, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and interest on loans. Depreciation & Capital Works – Receipts for assets over $300, depreciation reports, and capital improvement records. Before and after photos of any capital works. Holiday Home Use – If your property is rented out part-time, you’ll need evidence of when it was genuinely available for rent (e.g. booking requests, advertising, availability calendars). How long to keep records: You’ll need to keep most records for at least 5 years after lodging your tax return, or longer if claiming capital works or carrying forward losses. Keeping detailed records ensures you claim everything you're entitled to—and makes things much easier in the event of an ATO audit.  Need help getting your documentation in order? Reach out to our team at Clear Vision Accountancy Group—we’re here to help. To read a more detailed list of items you need to keep for your rental property visit: Records for rental properties and holiday homes | Australian Taxation Office
By Caroline Gillies July 13, 2025
Running a business isn’t just about making sales — it’s about making enough sales to cover your costs and pay yourself what you deserve. But how do you figure out how much turnover (aka revenue) you actually need to make each month? Knowing this number helps you: Set realistic sales targets Price your products or services properly Know when to cut costs or increase margins Understand when your business is sustainable This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about clarity and control. Once you know your required turnover, you can stop guessing and start planning. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a growing startup, or a small business owner, this is the foundation of making your business work for you — not the other way around. We love numbers — seriously. And we get that not everyone does. If you need help breaking things down in a way that’s simple, practical, and actually makes sense (even if numbers aren’t your thing), call Clear Vision Accountancy Group today on 4688 2500.
By Caroline Gillies June 22, 2025
From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate in Australia will increase to 12%. This means employers will be legally required to contribute at least 12% of an eligible employee's ordinary time earnings to their superannuation fund. This increase is the final step in a legislated rise from 9.5% in 2021 to 12% by 2025, aimed at boosting retirement savings for Australian workers. If you use Xero for payroll, the SG rate should automatically update in the system. However, we recommend you double-check your payroll settings to ensure everything is correct. If you’re unsure or need assistance, please contact your bookkeeper or get in touch with us at: Clear Vision Accountancy Group (07) 4688 2500 We’re here to help you stay compliant and avoid any costly errors.