Cyber Smart Week runs from 5–11 October 2026, helping New Zealanders build simple habits to stay safer online. This year, the focus is on scams — and how artificial intelligence is making them faster to create, easier to scale and increasingly convincing.
Digital Inclusion Whanganui is supporting Cyber Smart Week by sharing trusted information and practical resources from the National Cyber Security Centre and its Own Your Online programme.
AI has changed the game
Scams aren’t necessarily full of spelling mistakes and obvious warning signs anymore. AI can help scammers create polished, personalised messages and realistic-looking content at scale. That makes stopping, checking and questioning what we see increasingly important.
Free webinar for older New Zealanders
You’ve got mail… But is it real?
How to spot scams and stay secure online
Tuesday 6 October 2026 · 1.00–2.00 pm · Online · Free
AI is helping scammers create more convincing emails, texts, phone calls and fake websites. This practical session looks at real-world examples of current scams, how to recognise warning signs, protect your accounts and personal information, and what to do when something doesn’t seem right.
Especially relevant for older New Zealanders who use the internet for everyday things.
Simple ways to stay safer online
A few simple habits can make a real difference:
Use strong, unique passphrases for important accounts — and don’t reuse them.
Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever it’s available.
Stop and check before clicking links in unexpected emails, texts or messages.
Be careful what you share online — including with AI tools.
Keep your devices and apps updated so known security weaknesses are fixed.
If something doesn’t seem right, don’t rush. Check another way before responding, paying or sharing information.
Cyber Smart Week in Whanganui
Digital Inclusion Whanganui will be sharing Cyber Smart Week resources at the Living Well, Ageing Well Expo at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre on Tuesday 6 October.
If you’re there, come and have a chat. We’re interested not only in the technology people use, but in the real experiences behind it — what works, what gets confusing, and what helps people feel safer and more confident online.
Find out more
Cyber Smart Week is coordinated by New Zealand’s National Cyber Security Centre through Own Your Online.
Visit Own Your Online for Cyber Smart Week resources, practical advice and the full programme of free webinars.