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18/10/2016
£13m Lost By People In NI Through Online Fraud And Cyber Crime
New figures have revealed £13 million was lost by people in Northern Ireland through online fraud and cyber crime, according to the PSNI.
94% said they were concerned about their online safety and security and 94% said they felt online crime was as damaging, or more damaging, than physical crime.
Internet safety organisation, Get Safe Online, is running three public events in Northern Ireland to increase cyber awareness across the community.
The online safety events – at Victoria Square in Belfast on Thursday, Foyleside shopping centre in L'Derry on Friday and at Sprucefield outside Lisburn on Saturday are being supported by the PSNI as part of the Organised Crime Task Force and a range of local partners including Retailers Against Crime, Ulster Bank, the Federation of Small Businesses, Trading Standards, cyber security group Cyphra and Invest NI.
Admission to the events is free at Victoria Square 10.30am-8.30pm on Thursday, at Foyleside 12 midday-7pm on Friday and Sprucefield 10am-6pm on Saturday.
GSO Chief Executive Tony Neate said: "The fact that Northern Ireland lost £13 million to cyber criminals, and the UK lost nearly £11 billion last year, is frightening and highlights the need for each and every one of us to make sure we are taking our online safety seriously. It is clear from our survey that people are very concerned, and rightly so.
"The fact that over half of people in Northern Ireland felt there was nothing that could have been done to stop them becoming a victim is alarming indeed – particularly when it's so easy to protect yourself online. It seems there is still a big education job to do. Let's not let cyber criminals get away with it anymore by ensuring that each and every one of us is updating the operating systems of our various devices and ensuring security software is always updated. What’s more, we all need to ensure that we have a different password for each online account we own and website we visit. Online safety needs to be part of our everyday routines."
(CD)
94% said they were concerned about their online safety and security and 94% said they felt online crime was as damaging, or more damaging, than physical crime.
Internet safety organisation, Get Safe Online, is running three public events in Northern Ireland to increase cyber awareness across the community.
The online safety events – at Victoria Square in Belfast on Thursday, Foyleside shopping centre in L'Derry on Friday and at Sprucefield outside Lisburn on Saturday are being supported by the PSNI as part of the Organised Crime Task Force and a range of local partners including Retailers Against Crime, Ulster Bank, the Federation of Small Businesses, Trading Standards, cyber security group Cyphra and Invest NI.
Admission to the events is free at Victoria Square 10.30am-8.30pm on Thursday, at Foyleside 12 midday-7pm on Friday and Sprucefield 10am-6pm on Saturday.
GSO Chief Executive Tony Neate said: "The fact that Northern Ireland lost £13 million to cyber criminals, and the UK lost nearly £11 billion last year, is frightening and highlights the need for each and every one of us to make sure we are taking our online safety seriously. It is clear from our survey that people are very concerned, and rightly so.
"The fact that over half of people in Northern Ireland felt there was nothing that could have been done to stop them becoming a victim is alarming indeed – particularly when it's so easy to protect yourself online. It seems there is still a big education job to do. Let's not let cyber criminals get away with it anymore by ensuring that each and every one of us is updating the operating systems of our various devices and ensuring security software is always updated. What’s more, we all need to ensure that we have a different password for each online account we own and website we visit. Online safety needs to be part of our everyday routines."
(CD)
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