ITU survey highlights challenges, safety of Internet | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

ITU survey highlights challenges, safety of Internet

HYDERABAD, May 20 2006: A global opinion survey, to assess the trust in online transactions and awareness of cyber security measures, was conducted by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in conjunction with World Telecommunication Day to commemorate the founding of ITU in 1865. The theme chosen this year – Promoting Global Cyber Security – aims to highlight serious challenges of ensuring the safety and security of networked information and communication systems.

The announcement of the results of the survey coincides with the launch of an ITU Cyber Security Gateway Portal. These efforts also highlight the work being carried out as a follow-up to the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Action line C5 dealing with “Building confidence and security in the use of ICT”, for which ITU is the facilitator/moderator.

According to the survey provided to The News based on data from about 400 respondents, the opinion was evenly different regarding safety of communication networks, including the Internet, with 51 per cent finding them safe and 48 per cent considered unsafe, while only one per cent found modern communication networks very safe.

The survey further said that when it came to the follow-up and reporting of illegal content, inappropriate websites and/or misuse of the Internet, only 40 per cent were aware of reporting procedures in their home country, while 60 per cent were unsure on how to report online abuse.

ITU survey further revealed that half of all respondents thought that issues of network stability and security are “very important” for the future of the Internet, with an additional third finding them “important”. Only 13 per cent thought that these aspects were not necessarily important for the future of the Internet.

An overwhelming 91 per cent thought that the development of security standards and best practices for worldwide deployment might help in reducing online threats and over three-quarters of respondents felt that greater information-sharing between stakeholders (government, the private sector and the public) would be efficient in achieving improved cyber security.

Therefore, on the occasion of World Telecommunication Day, ITU also launched the ITU Cyber security Gateway. Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of ITU, said, “In today’s interconnected world of networks, threats can now originate anywhere – our collective cyber security depends on the security practices of every connected country, business, and citizen.”
Source: The News
Date:5/20/2006