Government cybersecurity report urges awareness rather than fear
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The UK Government's Science and Technology Committee has released a report on malware and cybercrime in the UK.
Malicious software, or "malware", infects computers and steals banking details and personal identity information, which can be used for identity theft. It poses a growing threat in the UK, as more people use the internet and economic activity increasingly takes place online. The Science and Technology Select Committee of MP's conclude that the UK Government must do more to help the public understand how to stay safe online, rather than continually scaring them with unsettling warnings of cybercrime.
Andrew Miller, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said: "Despite the increasing use of malware, the internet is still a reasonably safe place to go about one’s business, provided users take a few sensible precautions. Government departments need to realise that better public information about computer safety could save huge numbers of people the hassle of having their personal details stolen. Knowledge is the best defence against fear, so the Government should focus on raising awareness of how to stay safe online, rather than scaring people about the dangers of cyber crime."
The committee calls on the Government to initiate an awareness-raising campaign to increase public understanding of online security. The report makes the point that by far the greatest protection against cyber-attack is routine IT hygiene. Yet there is no one-stop shop for consumer advice, and much of the existing information about internet security is excessively technical.
The committee believes that a television campaign is crucial to gain the widest possible exposure to the safety message. They also wish to encourage more efforts to promote the existing Government website Get Safe Online (http://www.getsafeonline.org). Advice from that website should be provided with every Internet-enabled device, they write, and all Government websites should link to it.
Many Government services will move to online provision before long. The Government "digital by default" policy will increasingly require people receiving Government benefits to access them online. The committee is concerned about the need to protect the individual user against crime. The report is intended to promote debate and lay the foundation for a solution.
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