MakeITsecure programme focuses on new threats

17-11-2005

by Charlie Taylor

Almost 40 percent of Irish parents don't monitor what their children do online, according to new research conducted as part of the makeITsecure initiative.

Unlike last year's campaign which focused primarily on issues surrounding computer viruses, the aim of this year's programme is to educate internet users about phishing, spyware, identity theft and child safety online.

At a press conference held in Dublin on Thursday the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey TD presented new research into consumer awareness and behaviour concerning IT security.

According to a study which was carried out by Amarach Consulting, although 76 percent of parents claim to have discussed the potential dangers of internet use with their kids, 37 percent don't keep a close eye on what their children are doing online. In addition, two-thirds of parents in Ireland don't use any type of filtering software to restrict internet use.

The makeITsecure initiative is being run by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources along with a number of partners including Microsoft, Dell, Symantec, Eircom, BT, RTE, Vodafone, Wards Solutions, NCTE and the Internet Advisory Board.

"This year's campaign brings together the public and private sector and I think it's extremely important that both sectors work together to get the core messages across clearly," said Minister Dempsey.

"Together we've worked to create a lasting campaign which will make PC users aware of the risks when they go online and to ensure that they have the knowledge to protect themselves," he added.

The research indicates that only 13 percent of those surveyed had a good understanding of the term "phishing", while just 19 percent knew what identity theft is. Almost a quarter of internet users understood what the term "spyware" meant.

Approximately 45 percent of home users have been affected by a virus in the past and around 28 percent of them said they had updated their antivirus software less than one week ago. This marks a rise of 10 percent over the past year. However, one in three home users said they couldn't remember when they had last updated the software.

Around 59 percent of respondents said that they had used their credit card online with 39 percent of internet users saying that they were confident about using it over the internet.

The study also found that the number of respondents using broadband to access the internet at home has risen from 10 percent to 18 percent in the past year.

According to a number of company representatives who are supporting the initiative, the campaign is making internet users more aware of the need to protect themselves online. Nonetheless, many said that people need to understand that security is an ongoing worry and that therefore they must continuously strive to ensure that their systems are not compromised.

"If you look at the survey we released today, then you find that 75 percent of businesses now have software installed and there's also a large number of home users who have it on their PCs as well so there's been a really big shift in behaviour over the past year," Joe Macri, general manager of Microsoft Ireland told ElecticNews.Net.

"Now we're trying to teach internet users that as well as viruses there are also other security risks such as identity theft, phishing and spyware, of which most users know very little. Our objective is to change that," Macri added.

Such a view was echoed by other company representatives at the press conference.

"I think as more people start to use the internet the awareness grows about the need to protect yourself online, but there's no doubting that it's an ongoing initiative," said Mike Maloney chief operating officer, BT Ireland, speaking with ElectricNews.Net.