Improving E-Security for Home Users and Small Business

The Australian government will provide $13.6 million over four years to help protect Australians from sophisticated online attacks targeting their home computers and small businesses, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan said recently.

"This package is part of a $73.6 million whole of government initiative to strengthen the electronic operating environment for business, home users and government agencies," Senator Coonan said.

"The Australian Government has identified the protection of home users and SMEs from electronic attacks and fraud as an important priority. The e-security environment has changed significantly with an increase in more sophisticated and targeted attacks on home users and small to medium enterprises (SMEs)."

Initiatives under the $13.6 million package include:

• National awareness activities, including an annual National E-security Awareness Week to be held in collaboration with industry and community organizations to raise the level of awareness of e-security threats and to encourage smart online practices;
• The expansion of the Stay Smart Online Web site to include a National Alert Service to provide home users and small businesses with up-to-date information on e-security threats;
• An education module for schools on e-security; and
• Expansion of the Australian Internet Security Initiative which identifies compromised home and SME computers and supports internet service providers to help their customers restore their computer security.

"This package of measures will provide Australians with the information and skills to improve their computer defenses and ensure they stay smart online," Coonan said. "I look forward to working with industry to raise the level of e-security awareness in the community. Consultations found that there was wide support for the government and industry to work together on this issue."