Budget: $13.6m to beef up e -security for home and small business

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 09 May 2007 08:15

IT Policy - Regulation

The Federal Budget has allocated $13.6 million over four years to help protect computers in homes and small businesses from online attacks.

The $13.6 million 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. It will fund:
• 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;

• 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.

Th internet Security Initiative was launched by the Australian Communications and Media Authority in November 2005  with six ISPs. A year later it was expanded to several others.  Under the scheme, the ACMA forwards information on 'zombie' computers (computers that have been infected by a computer virus or other form of malware) to the participating ISPs who then contact their customers to assist them to 'disinfect' their computer.

A pilot National E-Security Awareness Week was held in October 2006 and the staysmartonline. Web site launched at that time. DCITA 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".