|
Press
Release
GOVERNMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVOCACY LEADERS LAUNCH NATIONAL GET
NET SAFE TOUR EDUCATE CONSUMERS ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY
Tour teaches consumers how to protect themselves, their families
and their PCs on the Internet.
|
(Left to Right) Teri Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer, i-SAFE
America Inc. ; Danielle Yates, Press Director, GetNetWise/Internet
Education Foundation; Robert Cresanti, Under Secretary for Technology,
Department of Commerce; Tom Nelson, Chief Operating Office, AARP;
Lorraine Howerton, SVP of Government Relations, Boys & Girls
Club s of America; Rolf Lundberg, Jr., SVP of Congressional and
Public Affairs US Chamber of Commerce; Mike Nash, Corporate Vice
President of the Security Technology Unit, Microsoft; Nat Wood,
Assistant Director for Consumer and Business Education, Federal
Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection; Ernie Allen
, president and CEO, NCMEC; Paula Prahl, Vice President of Public
Affairs, Best Buy: Geek Squad 24-Hour Rapid Response Computer Support
Task Force (Chris Kleponis/Reuters)
|
WASHINGTON — May 16, 2006 — Leading technology,
government and advocacy organizations today launched a nationwide effort
to raise awareness of computing security and Internet safety among PC
users. The Get Net Safe tour will combine the resources of 11
organizations to heighten computer safety awareness in communities across
the country. Participating organizations are AARP, Boys & Girls Clubs
of America, Geek Squad 24 Hour Computer Support Task Force, GetNetWise-Internet
Education Foundation, i-SAFE Inc., Microsoft Corp., the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), National Cyber Security
Alliance (NCSA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Trade Commission’s
OnGuard Online, and the Department of Commerce. The Get Net Safe
tour aims to reach a broad audience.
“The Get Net Safe tour brings together a breadth of leading
consumer advocacy organizations with a common goal of achieving computer
security and Internet safety awareness,” said Mike Nash, corporate
vice president of the Security Technology Unit at Microsoft. “The
tour will help educate parents, students, teachers, people over 50 and
other consumers on best practices for protecting families, PCs and information
online.”
A study conducted by Microsoft and RT Strategies Inc. (http://www.rtstrategies.com)
found that while 74 percent of respondents believe they have the skills
to protect themselves online, more than half (57 percent) are not sure
they fully know enough to effectively protect their information. The Get
Net Safe tour events and activities are designed to provide the resources
for people to understand how to protect themselves, their families and
their PCs online, so that they can realize the full potential of the Internet.
A combination of hands-on activities, expert advice and information
available at http://www.staysafe.org will provide people with the tools
to learn how to stay protected online. From May through December, the
tour will stop in Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Dallas; Detroit; Los
Angeles; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Seattle; and
Washington, D.C. The activities will include the following:
- Local chamber of commerce luncheon
- Elementary, middle- and high-school assemblies and teach-ins
- Boys & Girls Clubs events
- Teacher trainings
- Seminars for Internet users age 50 and up
- Parent nights
- Localized materials
More information about the Get Net Safe tour and the sponsors
participating in the effort is available online at http://www.staysafe.org.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
#########
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United
States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products
mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft® Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information
pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of
publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists
and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other
appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
|
Privacy Policy
