A Worldwide Internet Security Campaign has been organized and launched by the Internet Users Association and Panda Software, with sponsors from over 50 countries aiming to do as the campaign slogan says: "Ridding the Planet of Viruses."
Running through July 31, the campaign is aimed at giving Netizens training, information, and potential solutions to the growing virus problem, available now in the eight most broadly-used languages in cyberspace: English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, Frnech, Portugese, and Italian, organizers said announcing the campaign.
"Our objective," said Internet Users Association president Victor Domingo, "is to reach as many Internet users as possible and help them form part of a secure community." Panda Software vice president for international expansion Jose Maria Hernandez said the company's participation was in the interest of the field they know best, virus and intrusion prevention, "in a drive to make society safer and more productive through this initiative open to all Internet users around the world."
Netizens, companies, or groups can join and contribute, with anyone having a Website getting resources to spread the word at the Worldwide Internet Security Campaign Website. You can also clean your computers of viruses and other intruders with free tools made available at the site – including full versions with free services, exclusive to site visitors. And, you can get a direct line to security experts through a forum set up to post any questions you have on Internet security issues.
The problem has become acute with an estimated 729.2 million Netizens, over 86 percent of whom speak one of those eight broadly-used languages, and an estimated 76,000 or more viruses now circulating in cyberspace, according to Panda, which also said as many as one hundred new bugs can turn up every day and six hundred new bugs every month.
"The combination of these situations along with other types of threats, such as hackers, spam, spyware, etc., create a feeling of insecurity about the Internet among users and make them feel vulnerable," campaign organizers said. "This feeling is made worse still by worldwide epidemics like those caused by the Netsky, Bagle, and Mydoom in 2004. The 1st Worldwide Internet Security Campaign had been set up to provide an answer to this situation."
