Online security proves hot topic
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
COMPUTER jargon, a "tick box" culture and unimaginative advertising are discouraging Internet users from learning how to protect themselves online.
Faced with such gobbledegook, many of the world's nearly 2 billion Internet users conclude that security is for "experts" and fail to take responsibility for the security of their own patch of cyberspace -- a potentially costly mistake.
That was the message from cyber experts who met in Brussels this week to work out how to protect computer users from the growing problem of online theft, fraud, vandalism, abuse and espionage.
"The malicious and criminal use of cyberspace today is stunning in its scope and innovation," said Dell Services President Peter Altabef.
One problem was that computer geeks used jargon to cloak their work in scholarly mystique, resulting in a lack of clarity in everything from instruction manuals and systems design to professional training, the experts said.
The industry has made progress in educating users, but a huge and urgent task lies ahead in view of the growing criminal threat and the imminent arrival of billions more Internet users.
Plain language was vital, said Steve Purser, head of Technical Competence at the European Network and Information Security Agency, a body affiliated with the European Union.
"We use a lot of complex terminology where it's not needed," he said.
"We don't encourage people to think enough. We give people the impression that everything is about pushing the right button at the right time. But if someone is out to attack you, they are going to use their brain to do it.
"They are going to think how to get round the system."
Users may be advised to instal security software, or create better, more complex passwords but few are told why in vivid terms, according to Purser.
Delegates said imaginative messages explaining the importance of online protection were needed, tailored to different age groups and audiences and posted on an extensive range of media.
Curtis Siller, director of standards at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, said the industry had to do a better job of communicating the online risks to a widespread audience.
Faced with such gobbledegook, many of the world's nearly 2 billion Internet users conclude that security is for "experts" and fail to take responsibility for the security of their own patch of cyberspace -- a potentially costly mistake.
That was the message from cyber experts who met in Brussels this week to work out how to protect computer users from the growing problem of online theft, fraud, vandalism, abuse and espionage.
"The malicious and criminal use of cyberspace today is stunning in its scope and innovation," said Dell Services President Peter Altabef.
One problem was that computer geeks used jargon to cloak their work in scholarly mystique, resulting in a lack of clarity in everything from instruction manuals and systems design to professional training, the experts said.
The industry has made progress in educating users, but a huge and urgent task lies ahead in view of the growing criminal threat and the imminent arrival of billions more Internet users.
Plain language was vital, said Steve Purser, head of Technical Competence at the European Network and Information Security Agency, a body affiliated with the European Union.
"We use a lot of complex terminology where it's not needed," he said.
"We don't encourage people to think enough. We give people the impression that everything is about pushing the right button at the right time. But if someone is out to attack you, they are going to use their brain to do it.
"They are going to think how to get round the system."
Users may be advised to instal security software, or create better, more complex passwords but few are told why in vivid terms, according to Purser.
Delegates said imaginative messages explaining the importance of online protection were needed, tailored to different age groups and audiences and posted on an extensive range of media.
Curtis Siller, director of standards at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, said the industry had to do a better job of communicating the online risks to a widespread audience.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
