Do you want an anti-virus with that? 06 July 2011

The recent phone hacking scandal in England has once again raised concerns for our security and privacy when using technology to conduct our affairs.

The government signed the Convention on cybercrime CETS NO 185 in 2002 but as yet they have not ratified it.  I have raised a query on this,  my hope is that they are too busy dealing with cyber crime issues to respond, as the query was lodged over two months ago.

In Ireland the Department of Communications is directly responsible for monitoring and responding to cybercrime. They run a national campaign every two years called makeITsecure, which involves radio, and television advertising as well as seminars.  The stated aim of this campaign is to ensure that using computers, broadband and the Internet is a positive experience by providing some basic information on the issues that may affect compter users.  The key topics included are, Phishing, identity theft, Socail Networking risks, Spywar and anti viruses.  The website for this initiative is www.makeitsecure.ie, it includes among other things a very good handbook for parents on educating their children about social networks.  Some printed copies of this and other handbooks will be available at the CompuCara office from next week on.

Also the Irish Awareness Centre have an initiative running called “think B4U click”, which urges students to take responsibility for their own online privacy, it involves a number of worksheets that the students work through agus tá na bileog oibre ar fáil as Gaeilge chomh maith.  Results of a survey taken in 2009 in Ireand showed that over 45% of teenagers in Ireland use Internet messaging services everyday, this was one in 10 in 2006, most likely it has increased to over 70% at this stage.  The website is http://www.thinkb4uclick.ie/

Over 72% of houses in Ireland have Internet connection, and of those only 9%  expressed unwillingness to perform transactions such as Internet banking, it is a cause for concern that only 56% of those surveyed use security tools to protect their home private computer.

Everyone needs to play their part in keeping their computer system secure, always use strong passwords even on your mobile phone.   So for your own protection update your software regularly, install an update to date anti-virus and security system and follow guidelines on protection of personal information.