The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, Minister for Communications, was on hand to launch the Stay Smart online campaign and web site and remind us that the internet while extremely useful is not always a nice place – especially for children.
“Only 32% of Australians feel secure in an increasingly digital world - we need to improve those odds. A 2012 study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that over 1.2 million Australians – that’s 6.7% of the population aged 15 years and over – had been a victim of personal fraud in a period of 12 months, losing approximately $1.4 billion,” he said.
“It is important to note that this really starts with education and awareness – and this is what this week is really all about. I have often noted that the biggest threat to online security is often not vulnerabilities in the hardware or software; it is the ‘warmware’ – us – the vulnerabilities and shortcomings of the people using technology online,” he said.
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The Stay Smart Online campaign for 2014 focuses on mobility – ‘On the go’.
Stay Smart Online is promoting tips across seven themes this year:
- Securing your mobile device
- Securing your desktop or laptop computer
- Protecting your online accounts
- Safely connecting and sharing
- Protecting your child
- Buying online
- Selling online
“They are all tips that need to become second nature like other basic safety measures we take without thinking, like locking the front door or never leaving a wallet on a café table,” he said.
Australians can visit the Government's free Stay Smart Online site and register for the Alert Service, to learn about online scams, data breaches, viruses and other issues and how to address them. There is good information for home users, business, schools and kids/teens.
