Cyber Attacks & Scams Awareness Campaign – tips for citizens

Project facts

Project promoter:
OWASP Association(SI)
Project Number:
SI-ACTIVECITIZENS-0035
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€4,985
Final project cost:
€4,985
Programme:

More information

Description

Recently, we have detected several cases of similar phishing attacks and online scams on Slovenian users. Official data shows that at the time of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, both the volume of work from home and online shopping increased, with a higher number of attempted scams and cyber attacks. Technology is advancing rapidly; that is why cyber attackers often take advantage of the weakest link, this is unconscious active users of the World Wide Web & web applications and/or employees in companies. Elderly persons are the most at risk as they are not so skilled in using on-line tools and are sometimes too naive.
With the Awareness Campaign on Cyber Attacks & Scams - Tips for Citizens, we will respond to current cyber-attacks and threats they pose for users in Slovenia and make the public aware of what is happening, to contribute to preventing possible abuse. The project will bring together experts in the field of cybersecurity, who will jointly research current events that threaten users and how cyber fraud takes place, with an emphasis on up-to-date monitoring and reporting. Based on the conducted research, we will prepare reports and present the findings to the public, among others to organizations that are particularly important for the well-being of citizens, as well as citizens who are active users of the Internet. Tips for Citizens will enable people to up-grade their own security and give them guidelines to conduct basic checks to make distinction between scams and real offers/email.
 

Summary of project results

During Covid-19 pandemic people spent more time on the internet which has given a cyber-scammer more possiblities for frauds. The project brought ogether experts in the field of cyber security, who had conducted a research on current events that threaten internet users and on how cyber-scams take place. The emphasis was on up-to-date monitoring of current cyber-scams and attacks and informing web users about what is happening. Based on the research conducted, they had prepared reports and presented the findings to the public. Special attention was given on active internet users, young people, and small and medium-sized enterprises, which often have huge amounts of personal data from both customers and employees, but do not have sufficient capacity to put cyber security first. As part of the communication campaign they had established a common platform for people to stay connected and sharing information on potential new scams.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.