Cybersecurity
In the 2007–08 Budget, the Australian Government allocated $8.9 million over four years to implement a range of initiatives designed to enhance the protection of home users and small business from electronic attacks and fraud.
National Cyber Security Awareness Week
National Cyber Security Awareness Week is held each year in partnership with industry, community organisations and all levels of government. The Awareness Week aims to educate home and small business users on the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online.
The 2012 Awareness Week is from 12 June to 15 June 2012, with over 500 industry, community and consumer organisations and government agencies as partners to deliver events and activities in metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.
If your organisation would like to be a partner for the 2012 Awareness Week, please visit the Awareness Week section of the Stay Smart Online Website.
Cybersecurity website
The government's cybersecurity website, Stay Smart Online, provides information for Australian internet users on cybersecurity issues and the simple measures they can take to help protect themselves and their family.
The website offers information on a range of topics including securing your computer, tips on how to safely bank and shop online and information for small businesses. There are also links to resources for parents and teachers to help them protect their children online.
Stay Smart Online Alert Service
The Stay Smart Online Alert Service is a free service available from the Stay Smart Online website. It provides easy to understand information about the latest cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities and possible solutions to address them. Users can receive alerts via email, online or by RSS feed.
Budd:e cybersecurity education modules
The Budd:e cybersecurity education package is a key component of the Australian Government's commitment to raising the cybersecurity awareness among school aged children.
Budd:e comprises modules for both primary and secondary school students. These modules are interactive and self learning and are designed to help students adopt secure online practices and behaviours in a fun way. Cybersecurity topics covered in the modules include malicious software, securing personal information online and social networking.
Budd:e won the 2010 Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) award for best interactive media and digital content designed for children.
A new version of Budd:e was launched during National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2011. The updated package includes more comprehensive resources for teachers and greater engagement for younger secondary school students.
Budd:e is available free to all Australian schools through the Stay Smart Online website or via a CD ROM that can be ordered online. It is also available on Scootle, the Learning Federation's educational resources portal.
Internet service provider voluntary Code of Practice
The department worked with the Internet Industry Association to develop an internet service provider (ISP) voluntary cybersecurity code of practice. The code, known as the icode, provides a consistent approach for Australian ISPs to help inform, educate and protect their clients in relation to cybersecurity issues, and address the problem of compromised computers on their networks.
The icode was implemented on 1 December 2010 and it has received a positive response from industry. Within its first 12 months 34 ISPs, covering more than 90% per cent of the Australian the home internet market, signed up to the icode. After 12 months of operation the department is leading a review of the icode to assess its effectiveness. Outcomes from the review are due for release during the second half of 2012.
Australian Internet Security Initiative
The Australian Internet Security Initiative identifies compromised computers and supports internet service providers to help their customers restore their computer security. This initiative is delivered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Government Response to the House of Representatives Parliamentary Committee report on cybercrime
On 25 November 2010, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy tabled the Australian Government's response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications report Hackers, Fraudsters and Botnets: Tackling the Problem of Cyber Crime
