A new ‘one stop shop’ for cyber-safety advice
Filed under: customers, cyber safety, education, Facebook, internet, mobile internet, networks, news, smart phone, SMS, social media, social trends, thinking, WhereIS
Have you ever quickly needed an answer to a question, jumped online to get it and then spent then next 10 minutes trying to refine the search query enough to find what you are after?
These experiences led me to think that sometimes the web resembles one of those hardware barns – you know the ones that have the smiling sales assistants on the TV commercials talking up the experience, but none in sight when you visit the store.
I get into these places and sometimes have to use the WhereIS feature on my mobile to find the checkout. They remind me of Forest Gump’s box of chocolates, you never really know what you are going to get, but it’s usually something you neither wanted nor needed and never what you went in for!
It is a bit the same with online shopping. It’s easy and handy, but you can get distracted and lose hours surfing links promoting products, providing details about items because they sounded similar to your original search query. You can’t help but stop and read it, to make sure you’re not missing out – all good fun except nowadays time is so precious.
This is sometimes how I feel when looking for information and answers on the topic of cyber-safety. There’s so much info online that sometimes I don’t know where to start, and I work in this space.
With this in mind, we have been working on updating Telstra’s cyber-safety site. We understand the growing thirst for more information about cyber-safety and the need to provide users (from cradle to grave) with easy and direct access to credible information, links to websites and useful tips and advice.
We have not replicated existing information. Instead we’ve linked to useful content and sourced videos and case-studies to help eliminate some of the time you need to spend searching for answers on how to control the risks – we’d rather you spend that time enjoying the online world.
On the site you can see what industry experts recommend and hear first hand from parents, grandparents, students, and kids about how they use the internet (eg. social networking, keeping in touch with family, buying a car) to get the value they want, without the risks.
New features to the site include a variety of tips relevant to each age-group, short video vox-pops and written case-studies from experts and everyday people.
So jump on and have a look at our refreshed interactive cyber-safety site. Hopefully you will like it and learn something at the same time and I’d love to hear your feedback about what you think of it.
If you are interested in sharing your online experience on the website like the people featured (either via video or written case-study) please contact Angela Boundy, Telstra’s Cyber-safety Coordinator.
More information:
- Telstra’s Internet and Cyber-safety site
- Where IS
- Cyber-safety case studies
- Cyber-safety tips for all ages
As an ITC teacher I found young people were amazed that their communications using internet protocols were not private. Such users automatically trusted the technology and took few protective measures. Learning safe procedures is a long term defensive process easily abandoned with familiarity and a momentary lapse of better judgment. But even an experienced user can be duped or infiltrated by spybot and viral infiltration and once compromised where do the victims go for assistance and redress.
I tried to warn my provider (not Telstra) about fake emails pretending to be their customer service but couldn’t because there was no link to a reporting site. Maybe they didn’t want to know, but it’s poor effort if you can’t alert your own internet provider.
Perhaps their is no profit in combating cybercrime but it would be some value if each provider had links to a reporting site so at least some agency followed it through.
Defensive measures are important but I would like to see an organised response to combat what is now a worldwide menace.
So, Telstra, I see you plan on implementing a “clean feed” whether we like it or not?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/telstra-and-optus-to-start-clean-feed-to-block-child-pornography-web-pages/story-e6frgakx-1225903166489
How on earth can you do this? This is ridiculous. It should be made “opt-in”. As it is my connection here with Telstra isn’t that fast to start with and I have no idea if, at all, the NBN will improve that. And you want to slam your “mandatory for all Telstra users” filter on top of this?
Now you want go one step further and say that everyone who uses Telstra will be hit by mandatory internet filtering? Well, my answer to this, is that once my contract with Telstra is up I am leaving. If you had any worth as a company you would allow people to leave without any costs. I doubt you would, though, since this announcement shows you clearly couldn’t care less about your customers.
I will not have Telstra dictate the terms of democracy. Shame on you Telstra.
Hi Vikram,
As you are aware from our announcement, we are supportive of the introduction of interim internet blocking of child abuse material assessed by The Australian Communications and Media Authority whilst the Federal Government undertakes a review of the Refused Classification (RC) content blacklist.
Of course there is no silver bullet which will make the internet 100 per cent safe. Accordingly this is just one element of a multi-faceted approach that is required to create a safer online environment.
Telstra is still working through the logistics of putting this initiative in place.
I appreciate that internet blocking generates a lot of debate and queries within the community so thank you for taking the time to comment.
Hi Steve,
It’s an interesting point you make about the ‘digital natives’ of today which is why when it comes to cyber-safety, everybody needs to know how to stay safe online at all times. We wanted the updated site to be valuable to all users regardless of age.
Also Telstra has a page at http://www.bigpond.com/help/ContactUs/MisuseService where customers can report hoax emails that appear to be from Telstra or BigPond. Thanks for your feedback.
Hi Darren,
I still don’t understand why Telstra are pushing ahead with an initiative that is being so loudly opposed.
Even recently the Opposition has come out – Malcolm Turnbull to be precise – and said the will oppose the Internet Filter.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/14/3011746.htm
I just cannot understand why Telstra would want to implement something that will probably not be allowed to pass through Government and NOT make it opt-in/opt-out (I prefer an opt-in based service).
If you are going to implement a compulsory, “you have no choice in this”, filter I strongly suggest you:
1. Put more information about it on the Telstra website to properly inform customers of what is happening and make it EASY to find; and
2. Allow customers the option of leaving Telstra WITHOUT incurring any fees/charges for, potentially, breaking contract.
Thanks for the overview of safety issures related to the Internet in this blog. With the amount of information available everywhere, its sometimes difficult to know what information to trust and what not to. I read your postings with great interest