Supporting National E-Security Awareness Week

Posted by Alan Noble, Head of Engineering - Australia & New Zealand

Google has a large number of initiatives to help keep you and your computer secure (many of which are detailed on our official Online Security Blog). For example:

• In conjunction with Stop Badware.org, we place warnings in our search results for websites that our testing has determined to host or distribute badware. If you search for a site that Google has determined to be potentially dangerous, you will see a warning in the search results.
  
  
• We offer all Australians a free collection of software (Google Pack), which contains Norton Security Scan and Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, to detect and remove viruses, worms, spyware, adware, trojans and keyloggers.
  
  
• Our Gmail users enjoy sophisticated anti-virus scanning, as well as our well-recognised and innovative spam filters and anti-phishing measures.
  
  
• Our enterprise security products are helping many Australian businesses keep their networks secure.
  
  
• Our security experts regularly provide tips to avoid getting hooked by online scams.
  

But there's more that you can do to stay safe online, which is why we're partnering with the Australian Government for National E-security Awareness Week, from June 6-13. We share a commitment to helping you be secure online so that you can get the most out of the Internet.


The week is designed to raise awareness of the steps that you can take to keep yourself and your family secure online.

For more information, visit the Australian Government’s Stay Smart Online website. You can sign up for the new Stay Smart Online Alert Service. You’ll be sent regular emails that will alert you to the latest e-security risks, and provide useful advice for how to manage them. For more information about the types of online scams, visit Scamwatch. To learn more about how to protect yourself against identity theft, visit Protect your ID.

The online environment is constantly changing so make sure you’re keeping up to date—with your software, your passwords and the latest risks. Follow these simple steps:

1. Install, update and use your security software.
2. Use strong passwords and change them regularly (see the Official Google Blog for more info).
3. Use common sense when sharing personal information online.
4. Think before you click on email offers — if it looks too good to be true it probably is!
5. Be smart and stay informed.