I was really impressed when I came across the ‘The Stay Smart Online Alert Service’ a free subscription based service that provides home users and small to medium enterprises with information on the latest computer network threats and vulnerabilities. In a world where, to be fair, governments mainly make the news due to corruption and failings such a proactive stance is truly refreshing.
The service provides up to date information on the latest online threats and vulnerabilities within an Australian context and possible solutions to address them! (One very very minor criticism is the lack of info in relation to ‘cloud security’, the big buzz at the moment and our own baby 
but the general commitment to citizen protection online cannot be faulted.)
The Stay Smart Online website is a key part of the Government’s awareness-raising initiatives in addition to their renowned Cyber Security Awareness Week
Former Communications Minister, Senator Helen Coonan introduced National E-Security Awareness Week and its ‘StaySmartOnline’ government Website in October 2006 and current Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is furthering and developing the cause! Big cheer please! 
Mr. Conroy also caught my eye in May past, as I browsed through the latest articles in the Telegraph online and was drawn in by the statement,
The Australian communications minister has labeled internet search giant Google “creepy”
What a quote.
The statement followed Google’s announced earlier in the month that it had discovered the roving cars it uses to create its online mapping services were inadvertently gathering data on people’s website use over unsecured wireless networks. Google did apologise straight off, but privacy fears worldwide were already heightened.
The UK Information Commissioner reportedly asked Google to delete information gathered on British citizens as soon as possible and the Telegraph reported that Mr. Conroy, told a senate committee that “Google deliberately decided to collect the private information.” When speaking about Google’s C.E.O. Mr Conroy said,
“I think the approach taken by Mr Schmidt is a bit creepy frankly,”
Conroy goes on in the telegraph article to suggest that ‘Google considered themselves above the government.’ Heated! That’s all I’m saying!
It is good however to see someone in the public eye, particularly in Government, who’s willing to go against the grain for what he believes in!
After all nobody believes more in online security than your old friends here at Maildistiiler 
