What's new in cyber security? 3 new initiatives

The Australian Government has recently released three new Stay Smart Online initiatives: a Video Competition, a Facebook page and a Blog site.

Video Competition

The Australian Government and 2011 Victorian of the Year, Father Bob Maguire, have recently launched a national agent search to encourage Australians to Stay Smart Online.

To help people understand the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online, the video explains how two Australians will become the first Stay Smart Online agents and be the face of National Cyber Security Awareness Week commencing 4 June 2012.

The agents will become the stars of a Stay Smart Online video series to be released in early 2012. The agents will also participate in events and activities hosted by the government and partners during the week.

With @FatherBob having a following of more than 50,000 followers on Twitter, Father Maguire is aware of the risks and challenges that Australians face spending more time online.

"People have to be alert online. You have a duty to play a role on the internet in the same way you would in a real community," Father Maguire said.

To submit an application, entrants must create a short video demonstrating how they are cybersafe and why they should be the next Stay Smart Online agent. Entries will close on Friday 14 February 2012. To submit a video and find more information on the terms and conditions, visit  staysmartonline.gov.au/agents.

Facebook

The Australian Government's Stay Smart Online website, maintained by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), now has its own Facebook Page.

The Page allows users to engage with one another and share their opinions and experiences with various online cybersecurity related issues. It also contains useful links to related resources such as the information about the White Paper, the Top Tips, the Alert Service and the Cybersafety Help Button.

To find out more information about the Stay Smart Online Facebook Page, please visit www.facebook.com/staysmartonline.

Blog

In order to better engage with the Australian public about cybersecurity matters, the department has created a companion blog website to its Stay Smart Online website blog.staysmartonline.gov.au.

This site will contain blog contributions from government, industry and community sector representatives about important cybersecurity matters, and users are encouraged to comment on the blog posts and participate in discussions about the topics and ideas raised.

The first post is from Steven Münchenberg, CEO Australian Bankers' Association, who has provided some valuable tips for ensuring people take the appropriate precautions to ensure their financial information remains safe this festive season.

Disclaimer

This Advisory has been prepared by AusCERT for the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

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