Internet security campaign launch

WITH up to 65% of businesses having no internet usage policy and viruses on the increase, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, launched a “makeITsecure” campaign in Dublin yesterday.

This is the first time Government and the private sector have come together to initiate a broad awareness in the area, the minister told the South Dublin Chambers of Commerce breakfast.

This was a timely initiative given that recent figures show Ireland is the third highest originator of malicious software per head.

Symantec, the anti virus software company, revealed that in the first half of 2004 nearly 5,000 new viruses and works were documented across the internet.

That’s more than four times the figure for all of last year and “the need for vigilance in the area of computer security is ongoing”, said the minister.

The “makeITsecure” campaign has been running for a number of weeks and activities have included:

Printing and distributing 800,000 campaign leaflets.

Sending over 1 million emails containing the campaign information.

Extensive coverage of the campaign in regional and national radio and other back up initiatives to ensure proper feedback.

Visit www.makeit-secure.ie.