The app, NYC Secure, will launch this summer and will alert users to suspicious activities online and warn them about attempts to compromise their device. They'll also get recommendations on how to stay safe - like suggestions to log off risky Wi-Fi networks, or urgings to leave compromised websites and uninstall malicious apps.
De Blasio and city officials also sought to quell fears about the city having access to user's data — saying the app will operate under a "strict privacy policy" and will not collect or access any personally identifying information or transmit private data.
It may not be of much use to Hizzoner, who still owns a flip phone.
"Not a lot of my life is lived online compared to many," de Blasio allowed. "But enough to be absolutely sober about the dangers we face, any time you think about putting in your credit card number or your date of birth or anything, you know, it's unfortunately a cause for concern nowadays."
In the wake of hackers crippling government networks in Atlanta, the mayor also touted "NYC Cyber Command," created last year by executive order to direct citywide cyber defense efforts. But he was mum about how much it costs or who works on it.
"That is a sensitive matter, so we're going to just say — it's the same thing when we talk about some of our counterterrorism activities, that we don't go into those details," he said.
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