Online safety and security:

A Global Initiative Makes a Local Impact

A six-year-old hops onto her computer to find out everything there is to know about ladybirds. A grandfather catches up with his growing family through e-mailed photos and messages. An executive conducts critical business on her laptop, a thousand miles from her office. Libraries, schools, hospitals—all have major investments in technology that they rely on to function, grow, and fulfill their roles in the community. Technology has never played a bigger part in our world. Because of this, security has never been so crucial.

As an industry leader, Microsoft recognises its responsibility to help make the Internet safer, and computing more secure, for individuals and communities around the world. Our ultimate goal is to help create an environment in which adults, children, businesses, and other organisations can enjoy the full benefits of the Internet without concerns about their safety, privacy, or security. To answer that need, we launched Trustworthy Computing, a long-term, collaborative effort to help provide secure, private, and reliable computing experiences for everyone.

Trustworthy Computing is a core priority that guides almost everything we do. It involves extensive technology investments, proactive customer guidance and engagement, and responsible industry leadership and collaboration. The products of that collaboration are numerous. They include:

Get Safe Online

Microsoft UK is proud to be a principal sponsor of Get Safe Online, alongside the Government, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and other leading businesses.

The website, www.getsafeonline.org, is a one-stop-shop for free, independent, expert advice. It will help individuals and small businesses protect themselves against internet threats such as viruses, spam, spyware and online fraud.

Get Safe Online contains nearly 100 articles including advice for small business owners and parents. It has been written for normal people not computer geeks, and because the site has nothing to sell, the advice is objective and balanced.

Simple Tools for Safer Computing

Released in early fiscal year 2005, Windows XP Service Pack 2 with advanced security brings users of Windows XP stronger default security settings and the ability to automatically install new security features that help them protect their computer from hackers, viruses, and other security risks. To keep pace with the dynamic nature of security threats to businesses, Microsoft launched Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 with new security features to help companies and organisations keep their IT environments safe and under control.

Innovative Technologies

Security breaches come in unexpected forms. That's why Microsoft is developing a series of new technologies that help prevent and protect against spam and phishing attacks by various means. These include required proof of a sender's identity and evidence of the sender's reputation, which adds another layer of safety and security features on any device.

Global Law Enforcement Partnerships

Microsoft collaborates with law enforcement agencies around the world on programs such as the Anti-Virus Rewards Program, which offers reward money to help stop people who create and launch viruses, worms, and other malicious code attacks. To date, Microsoft has filed more than 200 lawsuits against spammers and cybercriminals worldwide. We also have worked with many local and global law enforcement partners—including Interpol, the International Centre of Missing and Exploited Children, and the Australian High Technology Crime Centre—to provide training and to help with cybercrime investigations in more than 70 countries.

All these efforts are designed to help our partners and customers understand how they can protect themselves and their systems. The progress we make expands beyond Microsoft and our partnerships to reinforce the safe use of technology everywhere. So kids can continue to learn. Adults can continue to explore. Businesses can continue to thrive. Protected.