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Australians are making themselves vulnerable to hackers even as governments and firms harden defences.

One in three Australians has had passwords hacked or compromised and one in four has fallen for a phishing attack designed to steal banking or credit card details, according to research released by Google Australia on Thursday.

The latest scam has enticed almost 10,000 Australians to click on a text message link about a parcel that's supposedly due to arrive.

Instead, the link unleashes malware on both Android and iPhones that can steal bank and credit card information.

Few people are taking deliberate steps to protect themselves online, Google Australia spokeswoman Samantha Yorke says.

"There's been a huge focus on businesses falling victim to cyber attacks, but this data shows how frequently individuals have been caught in scams," she said.

The research found almost one in five of those who have an identical password across all of their accounts also admits to sharing that password in a text or email to someone else.

Two in five have written their passwords down somewhere, and one third say they have written it down somewhere safe.

"Password manager tools are one of the easiest ways to protect yourself, which the research shows one in four Australians are using," Ms Yorke said.

When shopping online, almost half do not look for the "secure" padlock icon next to a website address.

Nearly one third don't know that the symbol means there is a secure, encrypted connection for the transaction.

The YouGov researchers surveyed more than 1500 Australian adults last month.

© AAP 2021

An ex-navy serviceman found guilty of threatening Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young over border closures has walked free from court.

Aaron David Marriage, 44, described on social media as the "Wolf of Bargara", had pleaded not guilty to using a carriage service to make threats to kill on September 14 last year.

He was given a four-month suspended sentence and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Marriage was clearly still frustrated by the border closure which prevented him from seeing his son in NSW, Southport Magistrates Court was told.

There was no dispute Marriage sent the messages via social media as he threatened to run down police manning the border.

He vowed to drive a truck through the barriers and claimed he "did not care who was killed", the court was told.

He also warned the premier to "get ready for war", with fed-up servicemen and women ready to take up the fight.

"I will personally wipe you from the face of the earth," he threatened.

Marriage said he never intended to carry out the threat as he appeared unrepresented on Wednesday.

"I've run out of money, I can't afford it any more," Marriage told the court.

The former serviceman conceded he said "a lot of bad stuff" which he should not have sent.

"She (the premier) has a job to do, she should do her job," Marriage said.

"If I intended to do it ... I would have done it by now.

"You can't just sit there and do what she has been doing. None of us should be personally threatened by the premier.

"They're there to work for us. This is all just just crap."

Magistrate Gary Finger said Marriage was not the only person to be frustrated but the pandemic.

"There would be a lot of people in Australia frustrated by border closures ... You won't be the first and you won't be the last," the magistrate said.

"You have a very strong view and every view should be respected, but this is not the way to go about it.

"You cannot go around sending these messages."

The magistrate said the community should be thankful for Marriage's military service in Afghanistan, but he had taken things too far.

"This was a threat to cause serious harm," Mr Finger said.

Marriage appeared to accept the verdict, saying he understood, but outside court said it was a military officer's right to refuse an "unlawful order".

He accused the media of "printing lies" and ruining his life.

Marriage was placed on a $2000 good behaviour bond for two years.

© AAP 2021

Regional Victoria will soon emerge from lockdown, as the state recorded 221 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and an illegal gathering is fined.

From Friday, regional Victorians will be able to leave home for any reason, while most businesses and venues are able to reopen with strict capacity limits and some students can return to school.

But private gatherings will continue to be off-limits, though groups of up to 10 can meet outdoors.

The restrictions will remain in place until the end of September, but Premier Daniel Andrews has warned "focused and targeted" measures could be introduced if another outbreak were to occur in a regional town.

Greater Shepparton will remain in lockdown as it continues to drive down a virus outbreak.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton described the changes in regional Victoria as a "safe first step", given all but five of the state's new COVID-19 cases were in Melbourne.

"We do have significant case numbers in Melbourne. Those active numbers will almost double over the next week," he warned.

Wednesday's 221 infections, of which 98 are linked, bring the total number of active cases in the state to 1920.

There are 120 battling the virus in hospital, including a 17-year-old who remains on a ventilator to breathe. None are fully vaccinated.

It comes as six people from an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community have been fined $5452, or more than $32,000 collectively, after they illegally gathered in southeast Melbourne to mark the Rosh Hashanah holiday on Tuesday.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett says more fines will be issued in the coming days and urged those who attended to come forward.

Police officers spent hours camped outside the Ripponlea gathering, which began at 6am and was attended by about 20 to 30 people.

A news cameraman is being treated for concussion after he was injured as the worshippers left the gathering about 7pm.

Mr Barrett says the assault will be investigated, while police will remain in the area for the remainder of the Jewish new year, which ends after sundown on Wednesday.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria said the actions of a few "do not represent the vast majority of our community" who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah at home.

"The JCCV expresses its strong disappointment in and condemns the actions of a small group of people who appear to have not followed COVID restrictions," a spokesman said.

Caulfield MP and deputy Liberal leader David Southwick condemned the group, which he said had been meeting for a "number of months" under the guise of being an "AA-type meeting".

"I've written to Victoria Police. I've written to the premier. I've written to a number of people about this group," he said.

"What is happening is unacceptable. I don't condone it. There needs to be consequences."

The premier said he was not aware of Mr Southwick's letter but thanked Jewish community leaders for calling the group out.

Melbourne won't have any easings from strict lockdown until at least 70 per cent of the eligible population receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.

So far it has only been suggested Melburnians will get an extra hour of outdoor activity and the five kilometre travel radius would be expanded to 10km.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy also called for greater freedoms for fully vaccinated Victorians, noting that from September 13 double-dosed people in NSW will be able to gather for picnics.

© AAP 2021