A major UK campaign to raise public awareness of internet security was officially announced today. Project Endurance was launched at the CBI Conference in Birmingham by Mike O’Brien MP, ecommerce Minister, and Digby Jones, Director General of the CBI.

The scheme - supported by business, law enforcement and government agencies - is geared towards helping small businesses and consumers protect themselves from internet security threats. The consumer awareness initiative will draw on the resources of various organisations, which have formed the Project Endurance Steering Group. These include the DTI, Home Office, National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU), the Central Sponsor for Information Assurance, the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC), the CBI and banking industry group APACS. Corporate sponsors and steering group members include LloydsTSB, eBay and Microsoft.

Project Endurance's public launch is scheduled for the spring 2005 and will be backed by a one-stop-shop website on IT security issues. As reported last month, Project Endurance will offer internet users and small businesses information on installing tools such as firewalls and updating anti-virus software, as well as raise awareness of new threats, such as adware and spyware. ®

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