The National Information Security Day marks the beginning of a joint project on information security for 2005

The National Information Security Day 2005, held on Tuesday 8 February 2005, and launched in Finnish schools, marks a year-long common project revolving around information security. The day was arranged by the public administration, business parties and various interested organisations. This year, the prime targets of the day were schoolchildren, their teachers and parents. The day aimed at promoting the safe use of the Internet in schools and forwarding that information to the pupils’ parents. Following Finland’s example, the Information Security Day was also celebrated this year throughout Europe on 8 February 2005. In Finland, Information Security Day 2005 is the primary project of the governmental Information Security Committee.

Internet is part and parcel for children

Civic skills encompass the safe use of the Internet, which is why it pays off to learn how to use it already at school. The number of children using the Internet has, in recent years, grown immensely. According to TNS Gallup, nearly 80 per cent of children aged ten use the Internet at home and they often start using it even before pre-school. Also, the rapid growth of broadband connections has led to Finns finding it more attractive to run their errands online.

According to research by Eurostat, adolescents under the age of 18 use the Internet most, either at their home or at school. All Finnish comprehensive schools are connected to the Internet. The organising group behind the Information Security Day posted learning material related to information security to each comprehensive school in advance so that teachers were able to use the material for teaching purposes on the Information Security Day and later during the school year. It is important that pupils can familiarise themselves with the safe use of the Internet together with their teachers and parents.

The Internet has brought along with it many good things, but the open network also contains a lot of illegal material, which is harmful for minors in particular. Computer viruses, worms and spam have grown and changed their form. Current worms are able to go through the majority of Internet-connected computers in less than 15 minutes. In addition to destroying files, stealing personal data and paralysing computers, viruses can occupy a home computer and use it for the purpose of spreading spam and illegal attempts to earn money. Therefore, it is extremely important that all Finns know how to protect themselves against the dangers of the Internet.

Online service supports information security teaching at schools

To support the information security education given at schools, an online service, tietoturvakoulu.fi (information security school), was launched on the Internet in November. The three key messages of the website are: protect your computer, protect yourself and follow the rules. The service includes sections for teachers, younger and older schoolchildren and parents.

The teachers’ section contains easily-adaptable teaching material to support information security teaching. The online material is illustrated and printable. Also, the service offers teachers a “godparent bank” through which the school can, without charge, request that an information security specialist attend, e.g. teacher conferences, parent conferences and parent association meetings and provide lectures on the basics of the safe use of the Internet. Specialised in information security, godparents represent companies that participate in the project. Information security godparents offer their services to schools throughout the spring term.

Pupils have their own section

In the pupils’ section of tietoturvakoulu.fi (information security school), animated stories designed for different age groups include information security knowledge, suggest themes for further discussion and lots of exercises. The story for younger students focuses on protecting themselves and minding their manners online. Above all, older students familiarise themselves with ethical and legal issues related to online activities and the basics of technical information security.

A contest for pupils

On the Information Security Day, a contest related to the subject was opened on the tietoturvakoulu.fi website for all Finnish pupils. There were two contests: the first was for pupils in grades 1-4, and the other was for pupils in grades 5-9. In the contest, pupils studied various phenomena related to information security. The contest was open for a month, i.e. until 8 March 2005. The winners will be announced at the end of the school year.

Finns lead the way in information security issues

At Finland’s initiative, the Information Security Day was celebrated this year throughout Europe on 8 February 2005. Mr Andrea Pirotti, Executive Director of ENISA, the European Network and Information Security Agency, visited Finland on Information Security Day and attended the invitation seminar. Mr Pirotti and Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications, visited Ressun peruskoulu (a school in Helsinki) that afternoon and familiarised themselves with Finnish information security teaching in practice.

An opportunity to interview Mr Pirotti

The media was offered an opportunity to interview Mr. Pirotti at the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) on Information Security Day.

What happened in schools on Information Security Day?

In schools, information security issues were dealt with and will be dealt with later in the spring in many ways. For example, the tietoturvakoulu.fi website will be the focus of learning during lessons. Pupils will then discuss the information found on the website in smaller groups. Some schools have also sent notes to the homes of schoolchildren emphasising the importance of information security. Also, parent associations will arrange information security related events for parents.

The media had an opportunity to contact local schools and inquire as to how information security issues have been brought up in schools and how teachers and pupils react to the use of the Internet.

The executive board members give additional information on the Information Security Day 2005 project:

Lauttamus-Kauppila Anna, Communications Director, FICORA, tel. +358 9 50 635724

Salmela Sari, Project Coordinator, FICORA, tel. +358 9 40 505 8677

Immonen-Oikkonen Pirjo, Project Manager, National Board of Education, tel. +358 9 774 77821

Klemetti Kristiina, Communications Manager, FiCom, tel. +358 50 506 7323

Kuikka Suvi, Project Manager, Save the Children Finland/Hotline, tel. +358 9 413 55400

Ovaska Anita, Head of Department, Elisa Oyj, tel. +358 50 514 8982

Sirkiä Jaana, Communications Manager, F-Secure Oyj, tel. +358 400 303 096

Saxén Timo, Communications Manager, TeliaSonera Finland Oyj, tel. +358 400 787 948

Vuorio Tiina, Marketing Manager, Microsoft Oy, tel. +358 50 523 8819

The background and the project participants of the National Information Security Day 2005 -
project

The National Information Security Day 2005 is the primary project of the governmental Information Security Committee. Among the committee’s other important projects are Information security program, Information network crime as an information security problem and the Situation awareness of national information security risks. Additional information on the committee and its projects can be found at http://www.mintc.fi/tietoturvastrategia.

The Information Security Day 2005 is arranged by: Elisa Corporation, Finnet Association, F-Secure Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Oy, Helsinki Televisio Oy, Ministry of Transport and Communications, The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Microsoft Oy, Nokia Oyj, Nordea Bank Finland Plc., National Board of Education, Ministry of Education, Save the Children Finland, Song Networks Oy, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, TeliaSonera Finland Oyj, TIEKE Finnish Information Society Development Centre, Finnish Federation for Telecommunications and Teleinformatics FiCom ry, Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, Finnish Information Security Association, Information Society Programme Finland and Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority.