Get Safe Online is a United Kingdom-based campaign and national initiative to teach citizens about basic computer security and internet privacy. It was launched in October 2005 with the backing of several government departments, and the support and sponsorship of many companies, listed below.
The campaign's centre point is its website where people can go to get information about internet safety, how to protect themselves online, and practical advice. The site offers a 10-minute guide for beginners, as well as more technical information and guidance for businesses as well as home users.
Get Safe Online has gained significance, with the front page of eBay UK featuring the campaign logo, linking to eBay's safety centre with information from the Get Safe Online campaign. Links are given to the official website for users wanting to find out more.
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In October 2006, the Get Safe Online Report was published, one year after the campaign was launched. It reported that research indicated since the launch, 62% of people identified and understood the campaign messages, and as a result, 30% now keep their personal details safe [1].
One statistic from the report that hit the news was the fact that people fear internet crime more than burglary, mugging, and theft [2]. It was also found that only 24% of people felt they should be primarily responsible for their online safety [3].
The report showed a general increase in awareness of internet safety by the British public during the first year of the campaign. However, it did show a reluctance by some to use the internet for some services, such as 18% refusing to shop online due to fear of online crime, and 21% not wanting to do their financial management online [4]. Although the campaign appeared to have generally improved people's knowledge and understanding of online safety after its first year, it was clear there was room for improvement.
October 9 to October 13 2006 was Get Safe Online Week. An internet safety summit was held on the morning of the first day, and a roadshow travelled around the country to spread awareness of online safety.
Attention was drawn to the recently launched Get Safe Online blog [5] in a hope to "reach people on the web" [6]. In addition to this, a campaign on Bebo, a social networking site was launched.
The impact of the events of Get Safe Online Week is yet to be seen.
The campaign is headed by the following Government departments:
The campaign is sponsored by the following companies:
The campaign is supported by the following companies and organisations: