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Insafe Newsletter
Issue 39: October 2008 |
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Welcome to the Insafe Newsletter!
The human touch
Human behaviour is all too predictable. In the same way that we sometimes overlook the simplest security measures in the home - leave a window open, for example - the unscrupulous exploit that same lack of attention to detail in our use of new technology.
A new study by researchers at North Carolina State University shows that most Internet users are unable to distinguish genuine pop-up warnings messages from false ones – even after repeated mistakes. The problem here is that the fraudsters rely on us to click "OK" rather than close the pop-up window, with rather different and dangerous consequences. (New Study Highlights Risk of Fake Popup Warnings for Internet Users)
Similarly, we can be scared into buying services that we don't need. Microsoft and the Attorney General's office in Washington state said they have filed a handful of lawsuits over pop-up ads that scare consumers into paying for software that supposedly fixes critical errors on a PC.
The lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's office alleges a Texas firm sent incessant pop-up ads that falsely claimed the computer had critical errors in its registry and directed people to a Web site where they could download free scanning software to find the problems.
The software then reports 43 critical problems and offers to sell a fix for $39.95. However, the software, dubbed "Registry Cleaner XP," does nothing but lull the consumer into a false sense of security, officials said. (Microsoft, Washington state sue over 'scareware' pop-up ads)
We also read that the majority (60 percent) of 207 London residents were happy to hand over computer password data which might be useful to potential ID thieves in exchange for a £5 store gift voucher. (Brits happy to hand over password details for £5 gift voucher)
We can be fooled, we can be scared and we can be bought. That's human beings, whether in the home or on the internet. This month we look at initiatives taken by national nodes in dissemination of internet safety through "training the trainers" schemes. Instead of taking the message directly to our audience, the message is spread from the nodes via others who are trained by them. These trainers are our ambassadors and usually professionals already involved in dissemination or education. In this way, what is important gets to more people more quickly. Through increased awareness - and that is our job - we can hope to make all of us a little less vulnerable to the failings of our own humanity.
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 Grooming case lecture for internet safety ambassadors
As part of its safer internet campaign, the Swedish Media Council has established a network of about 160 ambassadors who help it meet the increasing demand for information on internet safety for children and young people on a regional level.
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 Module-based internet safety training in FinlandThe Finnish Safer Internet programme participants, Save the Children Finland, Mannerheim League and Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA), have trained Finnish specialists about internet safety issues for many years. During the previous Safer Internet project (FiA 2007-2008) Save the Children developed and piloted the moderator training model for content providers and moderators of web sites targeted at children and youth.
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 klicksafe leads the way through the media jungleklicksafe is planning to arrange courses for multipliers throughout Germany in cooperation with the German Child Protection Agency. The courses will be entitled "Ways through the media jungle – safe conduit of children and teenagers through multimedia".
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 Insafe training meetingInsafe's latest network meeting took place in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg. Situated at the confluence of three European countries, this conference came at an important point in the European Commission funded project.
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 Commissioner Reding's role for Insafe in 2009
"In 2009, the European Commission will launch a pan-European campaign through the INSAFE network, about the potential risks children and young people could meet online. It will kick off on Safer Internet Day on 10 February."
Photo of Commissioner Reding "at work" © European Communities
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 Belgian study points to dangers caused by convergence
A study published by CRIOC in Belgium of the use of new technology by young people shows the extent that internet use has penetrated everyday life. It also warns of possible dangers faced by them: manipulation, questionable commercial practices...
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 eLearning Awards to include e-safety and media awarenessFor the eighth consecutive year, European Schoolnet is launching the eLearning Awards, Europe's prime competition which recognises excellence and best use of technology in education. Schools and teacher training institutions are invited to take part and present to an international audience their best projects which use ICT in teaching and learning.
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Ofcom's media literacy e-bulletin
Although it’s only been a month since the last bumper edition of the e-bulletin, the fifth UK Communications Market Report has been published showing that people’s take-up of devices with converged functionality rose significantly in 2007, more evidence (if needed) of the rapidly evolving communications landscape we now live in.
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 Children on Virtual WorldsThe EU Agency ENISA, the European Network and Information Security Network Agency, launches a report on virtual worlds with 25 safety tips for parents on how to make their children behave safely in online virtual worlds.
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 Red Cross launches online reality game
Vicious war in Northern Uganda has destroyed Joseph’s home and torn his family apart. He has one goal, to find out from the Red Cross if his mother is alive or dead. Now he has arrived in the dangerous refugee camp they call Hopetown, he has 24 hours to track down the Red Cross messenger and he needs you to be his guide.
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 Families at the forefront of making the internet saferSome of the biggest names from industry and charities have joined forces with the Government, parents and young people to help keep children safe online. This inevitably includes INSAFE's United Kingdom node CEOP.
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 Education and New Media
Italian INSAFE partner, Save the Children Italy, has now made available in English two essential publications for internet safety teachers and educators. The first is a handbook and the second a set of activities for use with school pupils.
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 Naked for all to see ... online?
Save the Children Italy has made available a short animated cartoon featuring a girl who reveals all - for all to see. The 30' cartoon aims to stress the active role of children in Social Networks based on their real online behaviour and on how they handle their pictures and their personal data on SNS.
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Insafe is a European network of 26 nodes in 26 countries that are dedicated to raising awareness of internet safety. It is coordinated by the European Schoolnet and supported by the European Commission through the Safer Internet Programme.
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