Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 06 June 2008 12:29
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
Hi, I’m Senator Stephen Conroy, and like my boss Kevin Rudd, I’m here
to help. No, not with fuel or grocery prices, but I’m here to tell you
how to “stay smart online”. It’s National E-security Awareness Week,
after all - remember, be aware, not alarmed!
Ok, ok, so the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, didn’t guest write this article’s introductory paragraph.
But, in the spirit of a teensy bit of satire, I thought I’d guest write it for him, to inject a tiny bit of humour into what is otherwise a very serious subject: computer and online security.
National E-security Awareness Week, to be held from 6-13 June, is “an Australian Government initiative to help Australians understand e-security risks and how they can protect themselves online”, with the Federal Government launching a brand new
Stay Smart Online Website to help all Australians stay, well... safe, online.
Conroy said in a statement that: “Millions of Australians are now using the internet for a whole range of everyday activities. The internet is a very useful and entertaining medium, however it is important that people stay smart and think about online security.”
Sadly, Senator Stephen Conroy is one of those people who doesn’t believe the word Internet should have a capital “I”, but he’s not alone in that trend – although it could well his advisers or speechwriters that are responsible.
Me? Internet will always have a capital “I” in any article I write about the topic until the day I shuffle off this mortal coil into the darkness of cyberspace where no one can hear me scream about Internet needing initial capitalisation.
Oops. I’m veering off from the subject at hand, which actually is very serious, for a lack of computer security is putting all computer users – not just Australians – at risk of computer crimes by online criminals, ready to steal our identities, our money and ready to wreak digital havoc to our lives.
So, Senator Conroy and his Govt Department have come up with a list of “top five tips to creating a more secure online environment”. They are as follows:
1. Install, use and update your security software.
2. Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
3. Use common sense when sharing personal information online.
4. Think before you click—if it looks too good to be true it probably is!
5. Be smart and stay informed and visit
www.staysmartonline.gov.au
So, what else does this new stay smart online program entail? Please read on to page 2.
