IIA, Sophos launch security awareness campaigns

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) will be offering end-users free trial of anti-spyware, anti-virus and anti-spam products as part of its GetNetSafe scheme launched today.

The scheme, which coincides with the Federal Government’s launch of the National eSecurity Week, is aimed at educating broadband users on the threat posed by spyware.

According to IIA chief executive, Peter Coroneos, there was no doubt that spyware had overtaken spam as the most serious issue facing Internet users today.

"An infected machine can turn your computer into a ‘zombie’ under the control of spammers or fraudsters and be used to send huge volumes of unsolicited email to other internet users."

The scheme would also help raise awareness of spyware’s ability to log keystrokes and steal personal information from hard drives as well as eat away at download limits and slow connection speeds, Coroneos said.

By offering the free software, via association members Cleartext, Ironport, Marshal, McAfee, Sophos, Symantec, Trend Micro and Websense, the IIA would help users manage the threat, he said.

"Our message is simple. You should NOT be on the internet today without current, updated software tools – that means a reliable firewall, and anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware solutions, which should be updated regularly. The cost is not great and will give you much greater peace of mind," Coroneos said.

Information on the trial software can be reached at, www.secureyourcomputer.info

In related news, Sophos has embarked upon a series of free seminars to coincide with the launch of the National E-Security Awareness Week.

The vendor, along with its reseller partners, will be offering the seminars – which seek to educate SMBs and IT administrators on the dangers of cyber criminals - in Darwin, Melbourne, Cairns and Adelaide.

According to Sophos A/NZ senior technology consultant, Sean Richmond, small businesses often failed to adequately protect themselves online, largely due to a lack of understanding of online threats and a failure to implement updates their anti-virus systems in a timely manner.

“The focus of computer threats has changed considerably over the last 12 months to become highly targeted at small groups of internet users”, he said in a statement.

“Cyber criminals are using spyware programs, trojan horses and phishing campaigns to acquire corporate and personal information in the hope of stealing significant amounts of money from their victims.”

The briefings will be held at the following locations:

23 October - Sophos and Evolve IT seminar—12:00pm (Melbourne – The Element Bar Bistro, 103D/604 Swanston St, Carlton)

24 October - Sophos and Brilliant Technologies breakfast seminar—8:30am (Cairns – The Shangri-La Hotel, Piperpoint Rd)

26 October - Sophos and Tripos breakfast seminar—8:30am (Adelaide – Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square) and Sophos and Editure breakfast seminar—8:30am (Darwin – Crowne Plaza, 32 Mitchell St)

Information on the seminars can be gained from Sophos at, crystal.hammond@sophos.com.au

awareness campaigns launch security sophos