Local businesses are on notice that they are not immune from the growing scourge of cyber-attack.

A number of the region's businesses have been hit by hackers in recent weeks, amid an ever-increasing wave attacks on small businesses around the country.

The issue is ever present and the number of incidents in the western plains is escalating according to Alan Dodd of Rural IT Solutions.

"In my opinion the problem is getting worse," said Mr Dodd. "People are a bit too laid back and relaxed with their cyber security. Some people don’t realise the severity of some of the implications."

Hack or scam?

Hackers use their technical ability and tools to gain access to the computers, devices, and accounts of their victims. Scammers trick their victims into giving them the same access.

Types of scams and hacks differ as well, meaning that you have to be on your toes if you're running a small business.

"You've got ransomware, which attacks weak passwords, and malware which is attached to emails," said Mr Dodd.

"In some cases people call up pretending to be Bigpond or Telstra, and then gain access to emails and from there, bank accounts. 

"In some cases the hackers intercept emails and can replace invoice details."

This exact scenario happened to butcher Joe Bellgardt who had an invoice for a new piece of machinery intercepted by scammers.

"I called and told the supplier we would pay the invoice on Thursday, and I sent it off," said Mr Bellgardt.

"They called on Friday saying they hadn't received anything, we thought it might have been the banks taking over 24 hours to transfer but we figured out that the bank details on the invoice didn’t line up with the suppliers."

"You just feel your stomach sink."

Joe's case is now being managed by police cyber security investigators, providing a glimmer of hope that he may yet get his money back.

"Because we deposited the money and it wasn’t stolen from the accounts the banks can’t really help," he said. "We're not losing all hope, but it might take six months."

"We need to do more to protect ourselves"

In the same week, hackers made their way into the main drive used in the Coonamble Times office and encrypted all files, leaving a link where the business could 'pay' to have their files decrypted.

"We have no idea how it got into our office system," said owner Lee O'Connor. "Luckily they didn't steal any information or access our financial systems and we had a backup that could be used to reinstate our files once the encrypted ones were destroyed.

"We were also fortunate to have Alan Dodd to advise us so we didn't make it worse. It could have been completely crippling but as it turned out it was just really stressful and made our job a lot harder. 

“We were lucky we could find a way to work around it so we could get the newspaper finished, but it has made it clear we need to do more to protect ourselves and we’ve already installed extra malware." 

Mr Dodd says that these are just two of the recent cyberattacks against local businesses that he is aware of, with some of the other attacks coming at a higher cost to the businesses.

“It’s no longer if it’s going to happen, it’s when it’s going to happen,” he said.

Australian Small Business Ombudsman, Bruce Billson

Small businesses a target - everywhere

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says this type of attack occurs all around Australia.

“Small businesses can’t hope to have the same sophisticated resources and teams of cyber experts as larger companies who still fall victim to ever more sophisticated attacks,” Mr Billson said.

“Small and family businesses are sadly a preferred target for some of the scammers and cyber-criminals and these new programs will give small business greater confidence they are not alone.

“The most prominent type of attack is a cyber-criminal will tap into a small businesses email system, intercept an invoice that’s going out from the business and put in some different bank account details.

“The unsuspecting customer is expecting the bill and probably knows the amount they have to pay so when it arrives they just settle that account. 

“However, the money goes to some joker on the other side of the world, is quickly converted into crypto currency and is gone."