Fuelled by statistics revealing that over 83% of UK users are unaware how to protect their PCs from online threats, the campaign will provide users with the most up to date information on online security, via a central website (www.getsafeonline.org).
Jamie Cowper, senior technology consultant at secure messaging expert Mirapoint, has made the following comments regarding the announcement:
"With many computers now broadband connected and online all day, the floodgates are open for viruses, spam and phishing scams. But while this action by the Government is certainly a step in the right direction, it could be argued that this measure is merely shifting what should actually be a problem for ISPs onto the shoulders of the public.
What other industry would expect users to willingly pay for a service that regularly exposed them to security threats and inappropriate content? ISPs have a duty to protect their customers - network policies must be beefed up, and emails should be checked to see if they are infected or clearly unsolicited before arriving in the user's inbox.
While users need to be educated on the perils of the net, ISPs must be told that they can no longer continue to sell poor quality services. As the Government's campaign demonstrates, this is a matter of national importance and ISPs need to assess their 'business as usual' mentality."
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