National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2010 was held from 6 to 11 June.
The weeks aim was to help Australians understand cyber security risks and educate home and small business users on the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information.
The ACMA hosted and participated in a number of events during the week.
On Friday 4 June, the ACMA premiered Cybersmart Hero, a new online anti-cyberbullying activity for students in the last year of primary school. The activity, part of the ACMA’s Cybersmart program was launched by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, at an inner Melbourne primary school.
On Monday 7 June, the ACMA’s Manager e-Security, Strategy and Education, Suzanne Shipard, was a panellist in a session titled ‘Targeted consumer education’ at a Cyber-Security Roundtable for People with Disabilities, which was held at Parliament House, Canberra. The Roundtable was hosted by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.
On Wednesday 9 June, the ACMA launched its new spam reporting tool ‘Spam SMS’. The tool provides Australians with a quick and easy way to report spam SMS by forwarding messages to 0429 999 888. The Spam SMS launch (by the ACMA's Chairman, Chris Chapman) was held at the Phoenix Youth Centre in Footscray, Melbourne. The launch featured artists from the Footscray Community Arts Centre X Fear of a Brown Planet's current project, Hip Hop Academy. A video of the Hip Hop Academy is availabe on YouTube.
View an animoto on the Spam SMS launch.
On Thursday 10 June, the ACMA unveiled its Pre-Service Teacher program at Deakin University’s Burwood Campus in Melbourne. Up to three hundred pre-service teachers participated in the launch. The program will equip pre-service teachers with the skills and confidence they will need to manage cybersafety education and awareness issues in schools today and includes a section on e-security. The program builds on the ACMA’s successful Cybersafety professional development program for teachers.
On Friday 11 June, the ACMA debuted a new episode of Hector’s World, the online learning resource for children 5-9 years. The new episode, which focuses on cybersecurity, was launched by ACMA Executive Manager Security, Safety and e-Security Andree Wright, at Birchgrove Public School, Sydney.
National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2010 promoted six easy tips for better online security:
- Install security software and update it regularly.
- Turn on automatic updates so that all your software receives the latest fixes.
- Get a stronger password and change it at least twice a year.
- Stop and think before you click on links or attachments.
- Stop and think before you share any personal or financial information—about yourself or your friends and family.
- Know what your children are doing online. Make sure they know to stay safe and encourage them to report anything suspicious.
The week is an annual federal government initiative held in partnership with industry, community and consumer groups and state and territory governments.
Links to more information
- Cybersmart program
The Cybersmart program is a national cybersafety education program managed by the ACMA as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to promoting online safety for children and young people. - Protecting yourself online
This section provides practical advice on protecting your children online, protecting your computer and server and information on how we can fight spam together. - Online social networking
Tips to reduce your risk when connecting and interacting with people online. Understand if what you're doing online is illegal and where to go for help. - Spam SMS
Spam SMS is the ACMA’s newest spam reporting tool in its fight against spam. - Online content complaints
What is prohibited online content? What to do if you believe you have found material on the internet or your mobile phone that you believe may be prohibited.
