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The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) launched the Cyber Security Information Portal (www.cybersecurity.hk) today (January 28). The portal provides guidelines and cyber security tool information for general users, small and medium-sized enterprises and schools to conduct health checks on computers, mobile devices and websites, and gives practical advice to guard against cyber attacks.
The spokesman for the OGCIO said, "Personal computers, mobile devices and smartphones are widely used in our daily life. When conducting communication, social networking and shopping online, we should pay attention to the risks brought about by emerging technologies. Without sufficient protective measures in place, we may suffer from leakage of personal information or even financial losses. The public should be aware of the security threats of emerging technologies and apply appropriate measures to cope with the new challenges.
"The Government attaches great importance to information and cyber security and strives to raise public awareness of information security. Apart from providing practical advice and step-by-step guidelines on measures to prevent cyber attacks, the Cyber Security Information Portal also keeps users up to date with highlights of public events, expert advice and stories contributed by professional organisations."
The Cyber Security Information Portal comprises five types of information resources:
(1) The Safety Centre provides guidelines and tool information for users to conduct health checks on their computers, mobile devices and websites in order to keep them safe from common cyber attacks;
(2) The Learning Centre is a place for users to learn about the security risks they should be aware of and the precautions they can take when performing activities such as online shopping and social networking;
(3) The Expert Corner is where industry experts share their valuable experience and views on various information security topics;
(4) The Event Highlight section provides a list of cyber security-related events for the participation of interested parties. Highlights and presentation materials of past events are also included; and
(5) The Media Centre comprises a collection of multimedia materials. In addition to obtaining the latest security information, users can also learn about security best practices through videos.
The layout of the portal is simple and clear. With an emphasis on the use of images, the portal offers users a better browsing experience and a good grasp of the content more quickly. Given the popularity of using mobile phones and tablets for web browsing nowadays, the portal adopts a responsive web design that automatically detects user devices to display webpages with the appropriate size and content. This enriches the user experience by ensuring smoother browsing on different devices.
To tie in with the launch of the portal, the OGCIO will later arrange for the broadcasting of a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) on cyber security. Through the mass media, the APIs will introduce cyber threats faced by computer users in their daily life and promote proper online behaviour for protecting personal information and computing devices. They will also remind the public to take precautions against cyber attacks.
Ends/Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:01
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