Brussels, 01/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes welcomed the European cyber security campaign organised this October. This pilot project, “Be Aware, Be Secure” has been organised in several countries and aims to promote cyber security awareness among citizens, to modify their perception of cyber threats and to provide updated security information through education, good practices and competitions. The Commissioner declared that “we all have a stake in keeping the internet safe. Whether you are a parent, a business owner, or just someone who loves their smartphone - the same principles apply. Be aware, use common sense…European Cyber Security Month - a great way to present these issues to the general public in a fun and engaging way.”
Eight countries are currently participating in the project: the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom. A wide variety of activities and events will be organised as part of this project: student fairs, conferences, even a round table to discuss online child protection, and competitions in the spoken and written press, which will connect the event to the public at large. As part of this event, the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) has developed a range of free material (e.g. a video clip; an animated logo; a logo in 23 languages) to support the participant countries. The material also includes: tips and advice on how to stay safe in a variety of online settings, such as on social networking sites, gaming sites, and on mobile devices. Udo Helmbrecht, the executive director of ENISA stated that, “this first European Cyber Security Month is a Europe-wide campaign to become smarter online…This campaign increases citizens' confidence in the security of the internet, helping to reduce the number of cyber incidents and breaches. In the end, this is vital for the success of the digital economy in Europe”. (IL/trans.fl)