An ICM poll of 1,000 internet users, commissioned to support the
campaign, reveals that millions of UK internet users do not
understand threats to their computer or how to protect against
them, while 42% rely solely on friends and family for online safety
advice rather than seeking advice from experts.
Seventeen percent of people in the UK think internet crime is of
greater concern than physical crimes like car theft and mugging.
But despite this, 22% of us still open suspicious files from
unknown sources that can unwittingly spread viruses to others.
Furthermore, most of the internet users interviewed did not
update their anti-virus software enough – leaving them vulnerable
to online attack. Only a third of respondents (32%) updated their
anti-virus software at least every three months, says the
survey.
Educating users is therefore one of the key goals of the
campaign, which hopes to raise awareness of the issues and provide
solutions through a one-stop-shop website. Campaign ambassadors
will also be touring major UK cities over the next few weeks.
The campaign is a joint initiative between the Government, the
National Hi-Tech Crime Unit and private sector sponsors from
the worlds of technology, retail and finance, including BT, Dell,
HSBC, Lloyds TSB, and Yell.com.
“Increasingly we are seeing organised criminals turning to the
internet as a vehicle for their criminality,” said Sharon Lemon,
Head of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. “And as more of us are
connecting to the internet to shop, bank and communicate, we need
to make sure that we do so as safely as possible. Get Safe Online
gives the public the information they need to protect
themselves.”
Welcoming the initiative, Tom Newton, product manager for
security provider SmoothWall called the campaign a step in the
right direction.
“User PCs are frequently compromised as a springboard to attack
larger organisations – solving problems at the grass-roots level
will help everyone, from home users to multinational business,” he
said.
