149/07
Wednesday 19 September 2007
The Australian Government and Microsoft join forces to protect families online
The Australian Government and Microsoft have joined forces to help Australian families improve the security of their home computers, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan said today.
Senator Coonan said Microsoft has committed to a long term partnership with the Government by extending its Think U Know initiative, to include information and resources to help parents understand the benefits of using the administrator function in their computer operating system to manage access to on-line services and materials.
“Properly setting up and monitoring the administrator function on home computers is essential to making effective use of internet content filters and to maintaining computer security more generally,” Senator Coonan said.
“Giving children and young people access to the computer’s administrator function is like giving them the keys to the family car.”
Microsoft estimates that around nine out of 10 households with a PC are using one of the Windows operating systems on a regular basis yet many families remain unaware of the benefits of the administrator function and other family safety settings available to them.
“The administrator control in a computer’s operating system enables a parent to be the boss of the home computer,” said Mr Peter Watson, Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft Australia.
“By setting up children as standard users parents can significantly reduce the potential for their children to unwittingly view or download viruses, trojans and other computer nasties on the home computer,” Mr Watson said.
“Microsoft is also supporting the NetAlert – Protecting Australian Families Online initiative by providing a link from their website to www.netalert.gov.au and promoting online safety education through its more than 200 community technology learning centres around Australia,” Senator Coonan said.
“Parents need help to protect their families, their computers and themselves from those who use information technology for negative purposes. The Government and Microsoft want Australian parents and families to experience the benefits of computer technology and feel safe when on-line.”
The soon to be released education materials will be produced in Australia and promoted by Microsoft and also be available via the NetAlert toll free helpline and the NetAlert outreach officers.
The NetAlert internet content filter vendors are also looking to incorporate messages to their customers about the importance of using administrator functions to further boost the effective use of their products.
Safety on line is a combination of good technology, good processes and practices, and continuing vigilance by all users of a computer. Parents can help their children be safer on-line by being the computer administrator and talking to them about what they read, see and do when using the computer.
Media contact: Senator Coonan’s office: Katherine Meier 0417 441 141 (mobile) 02 6277 7480 (Canberra) Microsoft: Clair Deevy: 0404 090 292 (mobile)