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makeITsecure

 MAKE IT SECURE

An unprotected computer is vulnerable. Knowledge is the best protection.

Work commenced in spring 2004 on this initiative towards improving the awareness of risks arising from increased use of IT in everyday life. The first National Security Day was on November 17th 2004, with Press Campaigns highlighting the common IT security risks of hackers, viruses, phishing and modem hijacking. The campaign was conducted by a coalition of public and private sector organisations including the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

The following year , the second National IT Security awareness campaign ‘MakeITsecure 2005’ was run by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in partnership with a larger number of private companies and representative organisations. The key themes of the makeITsecure 2005 campaign were; spyware, ID theft, phishing, and child safety online .

In late 2006 work began on a further wave of the campaign, with the an updated focus including risks associated with Social Networking sites as well as the themes from earlier campaigns of phishing, identity theft and security basics. This third campaign, run on an all Island basis, was launched on February 11th 2008. For more information on the makeITsecure campaign, please click here. 

The latest makeITsecure campaign is run by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources supported by the Department of Finance and Personnel (NI) in partnership with a number of private companies and representative organisations




2005 Campaign

	Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses your identity to carry out a fraud. Once an individual has your personal information, they may sell it to a criminal;they may use it to apply for credit in your name; they may simply buy goods using your own credit card details.
Spyware ‘Spyware ’is software that is downloaded onto your hard disk without your knowledge. Once there, it can collect information from your computer system and may transmit it elsewhere. Often spyware is used for advertising purposes and is relatively innocuous. However, some spyware can prove more harmful than others. It may gather and transmit information about email addresses, passwords and credit card numbers.
	Child Safety Online The Internet can provide an incredible learning and communication experience for children,so long as you follow simple precautions. Talk together about the Internet and agree ground rules for its use. Always keep Internet-connected computers in a visible or communal area and help your children learn to be vigilant themselves. Parental interest and involvement is one of the most effective means of protection.
Phishing Phishing is a form of online fraud. In a typical phishing fraud, an e-mail, supposedly from a legitimate company or financial institution, asks you to ‘verify ’or ‘re-submit ’confidential information. It may gather this information by asking you to complete an online form or by return e-mail. Fraudsters may be looking for bank account and credit card numbers, passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs). If you inadvertently respond, these may be used to make unauthorised withdrawals from your bank account and/or to pay for online purchases.