A campaign to raise awareness about the importance of internet security was launched by Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte today.
MakeITsecure aims to educate people about the risks they take on a day to day basis while using online banking, emailing, participating in chat rooms or using social networking sites, especially through mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
A recent report on internet security from Symantec, makers of Norton antivirus software, highlighted that there were 5.5 billion malicious attacks online in 2011, an increase of 81 per cent on the previous year.
The same report also showed that one in every 298 emails is a phishing attack seeking information such as passwords or usernames, and one in every 239 is affected by viruses.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Rabbitte said it is important that people are not deterred from using the internet by security threats.
"The aim of the makeITsecure campaign is to ensure that all ICT users are encouraged to continue to use the technology, but to ensure that when doing so, they are taking the precautions to protect themselves especially when online," he said.
This is the fourth year makeITsecure have launched a campaign on internet security. A key trend which has emerged as a risk for internet users since the last initiative is the increased access people have to the internet through mobile devices, which will be the focus for this campaign.
"As the internet becomes ever more ubiquitous in Ireland, users have the opportunity now to access the educational and social benefits it offers from wherever they are through the range of mobile devices now available out there," Mr Rabbitte said.
"The campaign will have a lasting effect in terms of helping internet users in Ireland to take advantage of all that the internet has to offer while ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and information to protect themselves online."
MakeITsecure is run by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, with support from Symantec, the Irish Banking Federation, Microsoft, BT Ireland, Three, O2, Vodafone, eircom and Comreg.
