Today, 8 February 2011, is Safer Internet Day, an international event which is organised each year on the second day of the second week of the second month, by the European Internet Safety Network (INSAFE), a European network of Awareness Centres promoting safe, responsible use of the Internet and mobile devices to young people.
This year's event focuses on virtual lives, with the slogan "It's more than a game, it's your life", seeking to encourage children and young people to keep safe when using social networks or playing online games.
To this end, the European Union's official office of statistics, Eurostat, has released data on Internet use in Europe which shows that in 2010 almost a third of individuals (31%) caught a computer virus or other computer infection resulting in loss of data or time (37% of Portuguese users). The report also shows that 2% of Portuguese of internet users (3% of European users) have suffered financial loss due to phishing or pharming attacks or fraudulent payment card use.
As in previous years, Safer Internet Day will be marked in 65 countries, with local, national and international events. In Portugal, the Safer Internet Project is coordinated by UMIC - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (Knowledge Society Agency), with 500 events taking place between 7 and 18 February.
Further information:
- ''Internet is more than a game, it's your life!'' - 8 February 2011 http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/events/day/index_en.htm
- Safer Internet Day 2012, 7 February - Insafe http://www.saferinternet.org/web/guest/safer-internet-day
- Nearly one third of internet users in the EU27 caught a computer virus http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/4-07022011-AP/EN/4-07022011-AP-EN.PDF
- Lista de actividades promovidas em Portugal pelo Projecto Internet Segura http://www.internetsegura.pt/pt-PT/Noticias/actualidades/ContentDetail.aspx?id=304
