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News

National Cybersecurity Awareness Week is an Australian Government initiative, held annually in partnership with industry, community and consumer groups and state and territory governments.

Internet service providers sign up to icode

Australian ISPs have embraced the new industry code of practice on cybersecurity—the icode—with 26 providers, covering 90 per cent of Australia’s internet users, signing up to help inform, educate and protect customers in relation to cybersecurity matters.

The icode is a voluntary code of practice which aims to improve cybersecurity for all Australians and promote a better cybersecurity culture within ISPs. It was developed by the Internet Industry Association (IIA) in conjunction with the Australian Government.

The icode adds to existing educational efforts, such as the ACMA’s Australian Internet Security Initiative, to combat the growth in ‘zombies’ on the internet. Zombies are computers which have been compromised by malicious software so they can be remotely controlled by cyber criminals. They are often used to spread spam email or launch denial of service attacks, usually without the knowledge of the owner. Under the icode, ISPs are encouraged to identify zombie computers on their networks and inform customers if their computers are infected.

The icode is a major priority of the government’s Cyber Security Strategy. Its development is based on the unique position that ISPs occupy at the gateway to Australians’ access to the internet.

The icode provides a consistent approach to help ISPs inform, educate and protect their customers in relation to cybersecurity issues. The IIA’s icode website provides self-help tools and advice for users who suspect their computers are compromised.

The icode and self-help tools are available from the IIA’s icode website.

The following ISPs have signed icode compliance declarations:

  • AAPT
  • Albury Local Internet
  • APEX Internet
  • BarNet
  • BKB Internet
  • DCS Internet
  • Dreamtilt
  • Earthwave
  • ECN
  • Edith Cowan University
  • Enterprise IT
  • Highway 1
  • Isage Internet
  • iiNet
  • Internode
  • ISP One
  • Montimedia
  • Netspeed Internet
  • Nextep Broadband
  • Optus Internet
  • Spin
  • Telstra Bigpond
  • The Galaxy Gateway Computer System
  • Unwired
  • Vividwireless
  • Velocity Internet