Cyber criminals are filching more than $1 billion from Australians each year with some victims falling into clever traps while others are just careless.

According to a Norton Cybersecurity survey released Tuesday, less than half of all computer users in Australia are using secure passwords and many are still caught out by phishing emails.

View photos The speeding fine that caught out the IT professional, linking him to some ransomware. More









One victim who spoke to 7 News clicked on a link in an email - a fake speeding fine - that caught him in a ransomwear trap. He should have known better - he works in the industry.

"You feel a bit dumb working in the industry talking to clients everyday...you should have known this," he said, wanting to keep his identity secret.

He declined to pay the ransom losing months of work and other personal files on his locked down computer.

View photos The average time spent on a crime. More

View photos The number of Australians with secure passwords. More

"Definitely decided not to pay the ransom," he said, but regrettably lost a "photo of my son on his first birthday" which he would pay to get back.

Online crooks netted $1.2 billion from Australians and police say it is time we changed our habits.

Tips for protecting yourself online:

• Use smarter passwords - don't use words, but combinations of them, like the first letters of a line from your favourite song

• Don't trust any emails

• Don't click on links in emails. Use your browser and enter the business name yourself

• Delete emails asking or demanding money or if they offer to give you any

• Call organisations like your bank or electricity provider if you are worried – but not the number on the email which could also be fake

• Back up all your data on an external hard drive. And then back that up

• Use cloud services – but even the cloud can be vulnerable