Netsafe
Encyclopedia
NetSafe, the programme of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's Internet Safety Group (ISG), promotes and supports the confident, safe and responsible use of the internet and electronic communication technology, for all New Zealanders.

Membership

The Internet Safety Group and its programme NetSafe is an independent non-profit organisation whose members represent:
  • The New Zealand Police
  • The Police Youth Education Service
  • Educators from primary through university level
  • The Judiciary
  • The Department of Internal Affairs
  • New Zealand Customs Service
  • The Ministry of Education
  • Community organisations
  • Businesses
  • Boards of trustees
  • Parents, Caregivers, and students.

History

Founded in 1998, NetSafe brings together the numbeous sectors required to support New Zealand's digital citizens. As a non-profit organisation, it is supported by sponsors, including the primary sponsor the Ministry of Education.

Organisational structure

The Internet Safety Group is now managed by a six member Board of Directors and a full-time Executive Director Martin Cocker.

At a Distance - A Short Film about Cyberbullying

In 2009 NetSafe recognised the need to address issues of cyberbullying and cyber-harassment for late primary school students (aged 8 to 12 years). Following consultation and collaboration with the Primary sector, NetSafe produced a short film At a Distance for schools and families to use discuss the issues of cyberbullying and harassment with a slightly younger audience.

The film highlights the importance of bystander
Bystander
A bystander a person who, although present at some event, does not take part in it; an observer or spectator.*Bystander effect, a social psychological phenomenon wherein individuals do not offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present...

 action in helping to manage and stop cyberbullying and harassment. The film is hosted on NetSafe's www.cyberbullying.org.nz website, which includes information on what cyberbullying is and how you can support someone being harassed in this way.

International Law Enforcement Cybercrime Award

The NetSafe Programme was recognised in 2002 with the International Law Enforcement Cybercrime Award. This award was shared by ISG and the New Zealand Police and was given by the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace (POLCYB) in British Columbia, Canada. Their membership includes representatives of police forces in Australia, Canada, USA, Britain and Hong Kong. The award recognises innovation and best practices pertaining to the prevention, detection and/or response to cybercrimes. The ISG is grateful for this recognition of what has been achieved here in New Zealand in cybersafety. Police Superintendent (now Police Commissioner) Howard Broad
Howard Broad
Howard George Broad, CNZM was the thirtieth New Zealand Commissioner of Police, serving from 2006 to 2011. He is a former career police officer, working in uniform and as a detective for eighteen years, before moving into senior roles at the Police National Headquarters in Wellington...

, as the principal law enforcement member involved, went to Canada and received the award and trophy.

NetGuide Awards 2003

NetGuide
NetGuide
NetGuide is a monthly New Zealand technology magazine.It was launched in September 1996 by an independent Auckland-based publisher, then owned by Australian Consolidated Press 2003 to 2008 and now is owned by TechDay...

 Magazine donated the proceeds of its NetGuide Web Awards 2003 to the Internet Safety Group. The ISG used this donation to begin the process of animating the ISG character 'Hector Protector'. At the awards evening, NetGuide publisher Phil Ryan also presented ISG Director Liz Butterfield with the 'Living Legend Award' for her (and the ISG's) contribution to the Internet industry.

Education projects

In April 2003, the NetSafe Kit for Schools was sent to every school and library in New Zealand. This comprehensive kit was sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Police, Child, Youth & Family and the JR McKenzie Trust. This kit builds on the great success of the Internet Safety Kit (2000). Like its predecessor, the NetSafe Kit for Schools is considered a model of best practice by the Ministry of Education.

Email Query Service

Queries can be sent by email to the ISG, or people within New Zealand can call the toll-free Helpline (0508 NetSafe). The ISG receives queries about txt bullying, Cyber-bullying
Cyber-bullying
Cyber-bullying is the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it.-Definition:The term...

, online harassment, managing social networking profiles on a social network service
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...

, images of child sexual abuse, spam (electronic)
Spam (electronic)
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...

, cyberstalking
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. It may include false accusations, monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or...

, Internet fraud
Internet fraud
Internet fraud refers to the use of Internet services to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme....

, hacking and the hacker (computer security)
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...

, phishing
Phishing
Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT...

, sex offenders contacting children and much more. The email queries have come from every continent, including Antarctica!

National and International Collaboration on Cybersafety

Although the Internet Safety Group is based in Auckland, key members travel to all parts of New Zealand and overseas to give lectures, seminars and workshops on cybersafety topics. Presentations have also been given at national and international conferences, and for school parent groups, service clubs, community organisations and city councils.

Articles written by members of the ISG or about NetSafe have appeared in almost every major newspaper and educational publication in New Zealand, as well as journals like Social Work Now and the US Journal of School Violence, and magazines like New Zealand Woman's Weekly
New Zealand Woman's Weekly
The New Zealand Woman's Weekly is a weekly New Zealand women's magazine published by APN News & Media. , it has a circulation of 82,040, third by paid sales after TV Guide and New Zealand Woman's Day.-History:...

. Radio, television and print journalists have come to rely on the ISG for comment on a broad range of issues regarding safety with communication technologies.

The Internet Safety Group has pioneered research on Internet risk in New Zealand and also works collaboratively with researchers overseas on projects of international importance.

Net Basics and Computer Security for Home Users

NetSafe also provides advice and information about computer security for home users.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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