Another day, another data breach – what to do when it happens to you

Editor's note

Data breaches are fact of modern life. Last week it was Ticketmaster. This week it’s the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. If you haven’t been caught out yet, it’s likely only a matter of time. While it’s tempting to tune out the news, there are simple steps you can take now to reduce your risk and limit the damage if and when it happens to you. Cassandra Cross walks you through it.

Shelley Hepworth

Section Editor: Technology

Top story

With so many reports of data breaches, it is easy to tune out to what is happening. Shutterstock

Another day, another data breach – what to do when it happens to you

Cassandra Cross, Queensland University of Technology

Data breaches are fact of modern life. It's likely each of us will have our personal information compromised at some point. Here's how to reduce the risk and limit the damage if and when it occurs.

Science + Technology

Curious Kids: How do wormholes work?

Hannah Middleton, University of Melbourne

A wormhole is like a tunnel connecting two places in space. They would be incredibly useful and are great for science-fiction stories. The problem is we haven't found any evidence of them existing.
Prawn white spot virus, and how we tracked down its source in Asia

Wayne Knibb, University of the Sunshine Coast

It's possible the white spot virus is now endemic in Australia - in other countries where it has broken out, it has never been eradicated.
New gene transfer rules could help prevent spread of antibiotic resistance

Heather Hendrickson, Massey University

The discovery of molecular rules that regulate the transfer of genetic material between bacteria could help prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Education
Why do kids lie, and is it normal? Penny Van Bergen, Macquarie University; Carol Newall, Macquarie University Children lying is rarely cause for concern and actually means your child is developmentally normal.

Politics + Society

Madonna or whore; frigid or a slut: why women are still bearing the brunt of sexual slurs

Eva Cox, University of Technology Sydney

The stoush between Senators Sarah-Hanson Young and David Leyonhjelm harks back to age-old - not to mention nonsense and deeply sexist - dichotomies about women's sexuality and moral character.
View from The Hill: When there's a lot in a name – 'Bean' survives a legacy war

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

As for his racism and anti-Semitism, Bean's attitudes on race changed in later years. He conceded he'd been wrong about Monash. In the 1940s he supported the idea of a Jewish refuge in Australia.
Poll wrap: Coalition gains in Newspoll after Shorten's bad week, while left wins Mexican landslide

Adrian Beaumont, University of Melbourne

More worrying for Labor than Bill Shorten's bad, though, is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's rising ratings.

Health + Medicine

The dos and don'ts of supporting women after a miscarriage

Jade Bilardi, Monash University; Jayashri Kulkarni, Monash University; Meredith Temple-Smith, University of Melbourne

Cliched comments like "it wasn’t meant to be" or "don't worry, you'll get pregnant" are hurtful and dismissive. Instead, acknowledge their loss, listen and let them grieve.
Humans are to blame for the rise in dangerous viral infections

Justine R. Smith, Flinders University; Jill Carr, Flinders University

It doesn't just seem like the world is experiencing more viral infections than before – it's a reality. And the way humans live today helps viruses thrive.

Arts + Culture

The film, Mary Shelley, shows Frankenstein is always a story for our times

Deirdre Coleman, University of Melbourne

The author Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was 18. A new film investigates the gender politics of the novel's creation.
In Rozanna Lilley's memoir, a curious life gets even more curious

Katie Sutherland, Western Sydney University

Rozanna Lilley’s book Do Oysters Get Bored? explores the complexity of family life, contrasting her own unconventional childhood with caring for her autistic son.

Business + Economy
Why our carbon emission policies don't work on air travel Francis Markham, Australian National University; Arianne C. Reis, Western Sydney University; James Higham; Martin Young, Southern Cross University If Australia is to meet its climate targets, radical measures could be required to reduce emissions in sectors such as aviation.

Environment + Energy

As power prices soar, we need a concerted effort to tackle energy poverty

Nicola Willand, RMIT University; Ralph Horne, RMIT University; Trivess Moore, RMIT University

Energy justice is a social issue, and by leaving it up to vulnerable people to sort it out for themselves, we as a society risk making it even worse.
Exit Paris climate agreement: Tony Abbott

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Delivering the Bob Carter Commemorative Lecture in Melbourne, Abbott said: ''Withdrawing from the Paris agreement that is driving the NEG would be the best way to keep prices down and employment up"

Cities
Social housing protects against homelessness – but other benefits are less clear Rosanna Scutella, RMIT University Social housing is important in the fight against homelessness. But we don't actually know that it helps vulnerable people in any other areas of life.