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Are you the weak link in your workplace's Internet defences?As Get Safe Online Week draws to a close today (Friday), the TUC is launching a new toolkit to help improve workers' Internet security awareness and skills. The TUC is concerned that while employers are improving their Internet security systems, their good work could be undermined if they fail to ensure that their staff's skills are up-to-date. The 2008 Get Safe Online Report, published earlier this week, revealed that 66 per cent of internet users admitted to using the same password for multiple websites, 23 per cent had posted confidential or personal information online, and 17 per cent had opened email attachments from an unknown source, potentially putting themselves at risk from viruses or other malicious software. This could have a huge impact on employers, who may stand to lose valuable commercial or customer data, or lose money through damage or downtime due to attacks. In response, the TUC has teamed up with GetSafeOnline.org and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to produce Not Safe For Work? - a free online toolkit for staff. The toolkit brings together video interviews from industry experts, quizzes and reading lists, and offers a personalised prescription on Internet security issues that is tailored to an individual's Internet usage. Areas of advice include the four main threats to workers' online security including;
As well as being used by many UK workers directly, it is hoped that employers will make time available for their staff to use the toolkit, as a kick-start into longer term plans for training in this area and to ensure their employees are as up-to-date as possible. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The benefits that the Internet brings to UK business are growing every day. Social media and networking are increasingly important to people's professional and personal lives. 'But employers must make sure that staff are aware of the dangers associated with working online. Without training, staff may well find themselves the weakest link in the security chain, without ever knowing what they are doing wrong.' GetSafeOnline.org Managing Director Tony Neate said: 'The Internet is a fantastic place to be, and a valuable resource for both individuals and employers. But having the right software and infrastructure in place is not enough on its own to protect your organisation against online threats. 'Behaviour plays a key part, and knowing what should and shouldn't be done while we're using the Internet is just as important. As a result, staff training is an essential part of protecting organisations and employees against Internet threats and risks.' Minister for Skills Lord Young said: 'IT skills are crucial to every business and employer in the country, and will increasingly determine the success of our economy in the future. But IT security skills are sometimes overlooked. Social networking, instant messaging and file sharing offer tremendous potential but they also raise new challenges around data, identity theft and corporate reputation. I invite employers to encourage their staff to use this new tool from the TUC and Get Safe Online, as well as looking at their policies and training to see what more they can do.' NOTES TO EDITORS: - The toolkit can be found at www.worksmart.org.uk/nsfw and will also shortly be available for use on other websites. A comedy animation highlighting some of the dangers is also available at www.worksmart.org.uk/fun/nsfw - Get Safe Online Week (17-21 November 2008) is an annual event to raise awareness of internet safety issues and promote confident, safe Internet use. It is run by GetSafeOnline.org; a joint initiative between the Government, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, retail and finance. GetSafeOnline.org aims to help individuals and businesses protect themselves against internet security risks. Visit www.getsafeonline.org for more information. - workSMART is the TUC's advice website for everyone at work, at www.worksmart.org.uk - Figures are taken from the 2008 Get Safe Online Report, based on an independent survey conducted by ICM Research. Contacts: Media enquiries John Wood T: 020 7467 1269 E: jwood@tuc.org.uk Get Safe Online T: 020 3047 2561 E: press@getsafeonline.org Press release (800 words) issued 21 Nov 2008  Creative writing tips Yorkshire and the Humber Short story competition winner A set of nine Sandstone Vista books up for grabs |
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