[Privsec] ITU: results of global survey, launch of cybersecurity gateway

[Ralf Bendrath]

See the website for the graphs with the outcomes of the survey.
Privacy infringements (ID theft) rank highest in the "what are your 
greates online fears" category.
The new gateway is at http://www.itu.int/cybersecurity. It still needs 
some filling of the database. A query for "Germany+Government+Privacy" 
showed only the Federal Ministry of the Interior, not the Federal Data 
Protection Commissioner...

Ralf


http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2006/09.html

Promoting Global Cybersecurity

ITU announces results of global survey and launches cybersecurity gateway 
on World Telecommunication Day 2006

Geneva, 17 May 2006 — A global opinion survey to assess trust of online 
transactions and awareness of cybersecurity measures was conducted by ITU 
in conjunction with World Telecommunication Day, celebrated on 17 May to 
commemorate the founding of ITU in 1865. The theme chosen this year — 
Promoting Global Cybersecurity — aims to highlight the 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 Cybersecurity Gateway portal. These efforts also highlight work 
being carried out as follow-up to the World Summit on the Information 
Society (WSIS) Action line C5 dealing with "Building confidence and 
security in the use of ICT", for which ITU is the facilitator/moderator.

The results of the survey were released today on the occasion of World 
Telecommunication Day (see here). Based on data from about 400 
respondents, the survey found that opinion was evenly divided concerning 
safety of communication networks, including the internet, with 51 per cent 
finding them safe, and 48 per cent considering them unsafe. Only 1 per 
cent found modern communication networks very safe while 55 per cent 
considered them highly unsafe. Yet, as many as 60 per cent reported 
feeling comfortable surfing the internet and conducting online 
transactions, with 40 per cent experiencing some degree of discomfort.

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents considered privacy to be an important 
consideration in the context of surfing on the internet. Opinion was more 
evenly divided on whether privacy was respected: 56 per cent of 
respondents said that it was respected to some degree, while 44 per cent 
felt it was poorly respected.

These concerns over privacy were reflected in users’ fears while surfing, 
with theft of personal information the most commonly cited concern by over 
one quarter of respondents. Another quarter feared viruses and worms. 
Nearly one fifth were worried about spyware, while scams and fraud ranked 
slightly lower (13 per cent). Only 8 per cent found spam something to be 
afraid of, rather than just a nuisance (Figure 1, left chart), perhaps 
reflecting a grudging acceptance of spam or improvements in filtering.

   Figure 1: Online fears and self-restraint

  Source: ITU Online Cybersecurity Survey, 2006

Such fears appeared to have a big impact on online behaviour: nearly 
two-thirds or 64 per cent of all respondents admitted to refraining from 
certain activities online owing to concerns over the misuse of personal 
data or rights being compromised; only one-third carried on regardless 
(Figure 1, right chart).

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. Regarding online resources 
to consolidate information on cybersecurity and spam, and advice as to how 
to stay safe online, an overwhelming 86 per cent were in favour and 
thought such a resource would be useful, with only 14 per cent being 
indifferent (Figure 2, right chart).

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” (Figure 2, left chart). Only 13 
per cent thought that these aspects were not necessarily important for the 
future of the internet. In order to preserve internet security, over 
two-thirds of respondents, or 71 per cent, thought that new national laws 
relating to online behaviour should be enacted for personal safety, while 
nearly 30 per cent found new laws unnecessary. An overwhelming 91 per cent 
thought that the development of security standards and best practices for 
worldwide deployment might help in reducing online threats (Figure 2, 
right chart).

Figure 2: Importance of security issues and measures for online safety

     Source: ITU Online Cybersecurity Survey, 2006

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 cybersecurity (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Efficiency of Cooperation for improving cybersecurity

How efficient is the current level of cooperation among stakeholders for 
improving cybersecurity?

Source: ITU Online Cybersecurity Survey, 2006

ITU launches Cybersecurity Gateway

On the occasion of World Telecommunication Day, ITU also launched the ITU 
Cybersecurity Gateway. The portal is a global online reference source of 
national cybersecurity initiatives and websites around the world and 
provides an integrated platform for sharing cybersecurity related 
information and resources. Presenting information tailored to four 
specific audiences: citizens, businesses, governments, and international 
organizations, the portal also provides information resources on topical 
cybersecurity concerns such as spam, spyware, phishing, scams and frauds, 
worms and viruses, denial of service attacks, etc.

With thousands of links to relevant materials, ITU intends to constantly 
update the portal with information on cybersecurity initiatives and 
resources gathered from contributors around the globe. For example, a 
number of countries are now ramping up national critical information 
infrastructure protection (CIIP) programmes and sharing information on 
these initiatives through the portal can assist both developed and 
developing economies in promoting global cybersecurity.

Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of ITU, said, “In today's 
interconnected world of networks, threats can now originate anywhere — our 
collective cybersecurity depends on the security practices of every 
connected country, business, and citizen.” He invited everyone “to explore 
the vast resources and links available through the Cybersecurity Gateway 
in promoting global cybersecurity.”