Internet Safety Group (ISG)
Media Release
28
November 2005
New Zealand’s First Online Security Day
The Internet Safety Group (ISG) today announced 30
November as New Zealand Online Security Day to coincide with
the international Computer Security Day.
The ISG
proposes that this day (30 November), be celebrated every
year to help keep New Zealanders informed about the latest
online security threats and the best strategies for
minimising those risks.
This year, New Zealand Online
Security Day falls in the second month of the Internet
Safety Group’s Net Basics campaign to educate New Zealanders
about online security and how to protect their computers
from information theft.
The ‘Net Basics’ campaign
emphasises the importance of straightforward, regular
maintenance of a computer to keep personal information
secure. The campaign slogan: “WOF your computer” uses the
analogy of a Warrant of Fitness for a car, encouraging
regular computer maintenance, knowledge of the Internet’s
‘road-rules’ and how to operate safely on the information
superhighway.
Doing the Net Basics includes regularly
updating a computer’s operating system as well as installing
and updating anti-virus software and a firewall. Additional
campaign messages cover the importance of spyware detection
and strong passwords.
The campaign, supported by the
Government’s Digital Strategy, encourages people to visit
the NetSafe website for information about online security
(www.netsafe.org.nz) and was sponsored by Westpac, Symantec
and seven government agencies (Ministry of Justice, State
Services Commission, New Zealand Police, Ministry of
Education, Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection,
Ministry of Economic Development and Department of Internal
Affairs).
Liz Butterfield, Executive Director for the
Internet Safety Group says, “It is important to have one day
each year when we can focus on the issue of online security.
With the growing popularity of online activities, and the
growing sophistication of attacks, we must all get a minimum