8 May 2007
Improving e-security for home users and small business
The Australian Government will provide $13.6 million over four years to help protect Australians from sophisticated online attacks targeting their home computers and small businesses, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan said today.
“This package is part of a $73.6 million whole of Government initiative to strengthen the electronic operating environment for business, home users and government agencies,” Senator Coonan said.
“The Australian Government has identified the protection of home users and SMEs from electronic attacks and fraud as an important priority. The e-security environment has changed significantly with an increase in more sophisticated and targeted attacks on home users and small to medium enterprises (SMEs).”
Initiatives under the $13.6 million package include:
- National awareness activities, including an annual National E-security Awareness Week to be held in collaboration with industry and community organisations to raise the level of awareness of e-security threats and to encourage smart online practices;
- The expansion of the Stay Smart Online website (www.staysmartonline.gov.au) to include a National Alert Service to provide home users and small businesses with up-to-date information on e-security threats;
- An education module for schools on e-security; and
- Expansion of the Australian Internet Security Initiative which identifies compromised home and SME computers and supports internet service providers to help their customers restore their computer security.
“This package of measures will provide Australians with the information and skills to improve their computer defences and ensure they stay smart online,” Senator Coonan said.
“I look forward to working with industry to raise the level of e-security awareness in the community. Consultations found that there was wide support for the Government and industry to work together on this issue.”
Supporting Information
Improving e-security for home users and small business
Why is this important?
Australian home users and small businesses are increasingly using online technologies in their everyday lives. Online technologies provide enormous benefits for home users and small businesses but it is also important that they have the necessary defences in place to protect themselves against e-security threats.
These threats pose a risk to the protection of identity and financial information of home users and small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
Some home and SME computers are being compromised by malicious software and controlled remotely to send spam, collect personal information and launch denial of service attacks. These compromised computers can be joined into large networks capable of launching online attacks against critical infrastructure and government networks.
Due to the interconnected nature of the online environment, home users and small businesses are now a line of defence in the protection of Australia’s critical infrastructure and government networks.
Who will benefit?
All Australian Internet users will benefit from the initiatives under this package.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
The Government has committed $13.6m over four years to raise the level of e-security awareness of home users and small businesses in Australia.
This funding is part of a broader $73.6m package to strengthen the electronic operating environment for business, home users and government agencies.
What have we done in the past?
The Government has undertaken a number of awareness raising activities to educate Australians about e-security. In October 2006, a pilot National E-Security Awareness Week was held to encourage home users and small businesses to adopt smart online practices. The Awareness Week was a collaborative effort between industry, government and community organisations.
In conjunction with E-Security Awareness Week, a new e-security website www.staysmartonline.gov.au was launched . This website has been designed to provide home users and small businesses with basic, step by step information on e-security.
The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has also released a number of publications to educate Australians about e-security. These include Phishing: Don’t Take the Bait, Internet Security Essentials for Small Business and Taking Care of Spyware.
In November 2005, the Government launched a trial of the Australian Internet Security Initiative. The trial involved the Australian Communications and Media Authority and six Internet Service Providers (ISPs) collaborating on a pilot system to identify compromised computers, notify the owners and help them take appropriate action. The initiative was extended from 6 participating ISPs to 25 participating ISPs in October 2006. The Australian Communications and Media Authority is continuing to work with ISPs on this initiative.
When will the initiative conclude?
Funding for these specific initiatives is ongoing.
Media Contact: Fiona Telford - 02 6277 7480