Government launches Computer Security Awareness campaign
Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has launched a new Government funded Computer Security Awareness campaign amid growing concern at the increasing cost to business and consumers of virus attacks and Internet network breaches.
The Minister launched Netsecure the national awareness campaign targeting the business community, the public at large, small enterprises, public sector and educational establishments.
The campaign is aimed at heightening awareness of eSecurity, likely risks and available safeguards that can be put in place to prevent security breaches and, in particular, costly virus attacks.
The Minister revealed that in Ireland the number of internet users who have experienced a virus attack on their home PC has jumped from 5% to 12%. The figures, the latest available, relate to a period between October 2000 and February 2001.
Internationally, figures show massive cost implications from virus attacks In the UK, Pricewaterhousecoopers and the UK Department of trade and Industry found the average cost of a serious security incident was £30,000 (€43,000) and several of those surveyed had single costs which were greater than £500,000 (€720,000).
Worldwide, one estimate has placed the impact of malicious programmes or viruses at $13.2bn (€11.4BN) in 2001. eSecurity breaches cause over $15bn (€13BN) damage worldwide annually.
