The Federal Trade Commission has partnered with Microsoft, eBay, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and three other government entities to launch a new multimedia, interactive consumer education program to help the public improve their online security practices.
The hub of the initiative is a new website called
OnGuardOnline.gov, which carries tips, articles, videos, and interactive activities aimed at educating the public on how to recognize Internet scams; how to do online shopping securely; how to avoid hackers and viruses; and how to deal with spam, spyware, phishing, and peer-to-peer file-sharing.
Microsoft lent its expertise to develop the OnGuard Online branding and contributed a series of security videos for the site. The Redmond, Washington-based software company also plans to place “advertorials” in major newspapers and banner ads on MSN to promote the program. EBay is posting a letter to its members and adding links to its homepage.
The DMA has agreed to co-brand a “Seven Practices for Safer Computing” brochure with the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), who is buying up ad space in magazines. The magazine ads will run with the slogan “Stop, Think, Click” and a toll-free number consumers can call to receive a copy of the brochure.
i-Safe, a congressionally chartered organization that provides age-appropriate curricula to schools, will be incorporating the OnGuard Online message into its content for distribution.
“Consumer education is critical to our success in securing the Web against hackers, viruses, spam, and spyware. Education truly is the first line of defense for computer users against fraud and deception online,” said Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman of the FTC.
FTC Launches Online Protection Campaign
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