— In
today’s interconnected and increasingly networked world, we are vulnerable to a
wide variety of threats, including deliberate attacks on critical information
infrastructures, with debilitating effects on our economies and on our
societies. Is fear of identity theft, the misuse of sensitive personal data and
other online fraud having an impact on confidence in the use of the internet for
commercial or financial purposes? Is the willingness to conduct online
transactions outpacing the trust? To what extent are businesses and consumers
willing to take risks in order to reap the benefits of online transactions?
ITU is conducting a worldwide public survey to assess users’ trust of online
transactions and awareness of cybersecurity measures. The data collected through
the survey will be used to increase global awareness of cybersecurity,
particularly in developing countries, and should help decision-makers in
assessing the cyberspace "trust" level with a view to reviewing national and
corporate strategies and priorities. This survey is available
here.
The lack of adequate security is an obstacle for using ICTs that rely on the
protection and confidentiality of sensitive data. These security and trust
issues are already beginning to have an adverse impact on the social and
economic development of the world.
According to ITU Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi, "In order to safeguard our
systems and infrastructure and in order to instil confidence in online trade,
commerce, banking, telemedicine, e-government and a host of other applications,
we need to strengthen the security practices of each and every networked
country, business, and citizen. We need to develop a global cybersecurity
mindset. We urge everyone using or fearing cyberspace to take part in the
survey".
In keeping with the urgency of securitizing cyberspace, the theme for World
Telecommunication Day, 17 May 2006 — which also marks the first commemoration of
the World Information Society Day, declared by the United Nations General
Assembly on 27 March 2006 — is Promoting Global Cybersecurity.
ITU will launch a cybersecurity gateway on this occasion that will serve as
an easy-to-use information resource on national and international
cybersecurity-related initiatives and websites worldwide. The web portal is
geared towards four specific audiences: Citizens, Businesses, Governments, and
International Organizations and structured around five main themes:
-
Information
sharing of national approaches, good practices and guidelines;
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Developing watch,
warning and incident response capabilities;
-
Technical standards and industry
solutions;
-
Harmonizing national legal approaches and international legal
coordination;
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Privacy, data and consumer protection.
Gateway users can
browse through information resources on specific topics, such as spam, spyware,
phishing, viruses, etc.
While the survey will remain online for some time, the results to be
announced on 17 May will include input received before 8 May 2006, 12:00 UTC. An
analysis of the survey will be posted on the new WTD website
here.
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