What is National E-Security Week 2008

From 6th-13th June 2008 ASCCA celebrated National E-security Awareness Week with a program of activities made possible by support from the Australian Government.

ASCCA successfully sought to achieve the NEAW Objectives by organising the following:

• two seminars held in regional areas, Cooranbong (Hunter Region NSW) – 6 June; Ipswich, Queensland – 12 June;
• a seminar with speakers addressing the 3 themes of the week in Sydney on 10 June;
• a special e-Security Awareness webpage added to ASCCA’s website for these presentations and for general information on issues relative to awareness and security. This section on ASCCA website will be updated and maintained on a permanent basis
• Copies of seminar presentations have been added to the ASCCA’s website with open access;
• A manual was produced, both print and CD versions, and send to every one of ASCCA’s clubs throughout Australia. The manual is available in full on this ASCCA website;
• information about all activities planned for the week were distributed to all members through our website, newsletter and newsbreaks

Topics that were covered:

• Why and how installing and updating security hardware will help secure your computer!
• Do you have questions about emerging technologies such as social networking and the use of wireless security?
What can you do to help keep your family safe online?

From 6th -13th June ASCCA celebrated National E-security Awareness Week with three events made possible by support from the Australian Government. The events were tailored to help seniors understand e-security risks, and provide education about the simple steps they can take to protect themselves, their families and their businesses online.

E-security Awareness Week event were held in Sydney and Cooranbong, NSW and Ipswich, Queensland. Interesting and informative speakers helped raise awareness of security issues.

Sydney seminar

In Sydney, James McCormack who manages High Tech & Child Protection Operations with the Australian Federal Police spoke on Cyber-Safety: Protecting yourself online. After vast experience in military, defence, diplomatic and communications roles in Australia and overseas, he became the Director of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre on 16th October 2007. Follow the link above to find out more about the very important work of the AHTTC in combating high tech crimes of all kinds.

Another speaker in Sydney was Patrick Palmer-Thomas who is a Project and Research Officer with the Consumers Telecommunications Network. He is an avid user of social networking sites and talked about e-security for social networking and wireless internet. He has a Bachelor of Economic and Social Science Degree from the University of Sydney, majoring in Government and Philosophy (Ethics). Prior to working with CTN, Patrick spent several years on the executive of the United Nations Youth Association (NSW) including time as Vice President. He was involved in educating young people about a variety of international issues.

Lake Macquarie seminar

Cooranbong on Lake Macquarie welcomed Dr Jenny Mouzos, who is the head of Crime Prevention in the High Tech Crime Operations portfolio with the Australian Federal Police. She focused on the risks, and offered tips to mitigate these risks as she presented Cyber-safety: Protecting yourself online. She has a PhD in Criminology from the University of Melbourne, and worked for almost ten years at the Australian Institute of Criminology. Her main responsibilities include academic outreach; education and awareness raising in relation to internet safety, and prevention initiatives.

Ipswich seminar

The Ipswich expo was hosted by SeniorNet, Ipswich. Rebbecca Matthews from Protocol 1 gave a series of sessions and was backed up by presentations from Pat Miller from the Bendigo Bank and John Rowe from Lead On.

These events gave seniors the opportunity to learn how to enjoy the advantages and opportunities the internet offers, without compromising their security, or the security of even more vulnerable people like precious grandchildren.