What it is
Unauthorised access is when someone accesses systems or accounts online that they don't have permission to access, including:
- social media accounts
- websites
- bank accounts
- emails
- business networks and systems.
How it works
Someone might access your information without permission for personal gain, or to cause you loss.
They might get access to your systems, accounts or information:
- by still having access even if they no longer have permission to do so – for example, you allowed your partner access to an account, split up, and haven't yet changed the password
- by tricking you into giving them access or information they shouldn’t have, for example through
email scams
when a scammer pretends to be someone else, like a bank or NZ Post, usually via email, trying to get your personal information or even money.
- by guessing your password – either by using automated
or by using information such as from a data leak
a set of instructions for your computer, made up of code. Apps, games, and browsers are all examples of software.
- by stealing passwords, for example through
installed on your device
refers to viruses and other pieces of software than can infect your devices. Short for 'malicious software'
- by exploiting vulnerable software.