Serious about safeguarding internet users from growing cyber threats, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) joined forces with Microsoft India. The national incident response Centre for major computer security incidents, CERT teamed up with Microsoft India to handle computer security incidents and internet security in India. In collaboration with Microsoft India, the CERT India on Wednesday started an informative website "secureyourpc. in".

The website secureyourpc. in is aimed to provide valuable information on online safety and security to diverse audiences including especially children, women and businessmen who are at greater risk from internet threats. The website is meant to develop internet security awareness among internet users. Its objective is to offer comprehensive info on how to stay safe online.

In its press release, CERT India stated that India has largest number of teenage internet users who use internet without any security protection. In the current environment, where more that 97 percent of e-mail messages sent over the Internet are unwanted - are with malicious attachments, are phishing attacks, or are spam, the "secureyourpc. in" is going to be an important tool to address computer - internet security issues, and to provide pieces of advice and guidelines on computer - internet security. The website will offer regular updated info safety and security, internet downloads, internet viruses, bugs, worms, malicious programs or attacks, good-to-use tips, and suggestions.

Speaking on the launch of the website "secureyourpc. in," the Director General, CERT- India, Dr Gulshan Rai said, "The issue of online security and safety is becoming increasingly pivotal. The website 'secureyourpc. in' empowers the technology users with knowledge and information related with the various facets of online security."

According to CERT- India, without proper security measures, the personal data, business data and other secret information is not safe on internet; such info can be easily accessed by hacker/attackers from the database servers. The internet users are dramatically growing India, and thus it is important for internet users to know everything about computer internet security. Hence, the website 'secureyourpc. in' has a great role to play in the present as well as future times.

R. Chandrashekhar, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Information Technology, said, "The more you use cyberspace, the more you become vulnerable to online threats."

Commenting the significance of the website 'secureyourpc. in', Shyamal Ghosh, the Chairman of the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) said, "Several recent cases, related to instances of data theft, hacking and harassment of internet users, are a problem that is growing day by day. www. secureyourpc. in would help use internet in a safer environment."

According to Microsoft India, even the most sophisticated and tech savvy internet users are not completely free from cyber threats in the current times when there is growing prevalence of rogue security software.

The secureyourpc. in is designed to broadcast specific information on online safety and security to women, parents, teachers, children, or even SMBs. The best thing about the website is that it can be viewed in four different languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi and Tamil.

Karan Bajwa, General Manager, Public Sector, Microsoft India, said, "As a company, Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to online safety. Our partnerships with the Government organizations such as CERT-IN, associations, education and NGO sectors coupled with capacity building support for Law Enforcement Agencies underpin everything we do."

He added that the secureyourpc. in will fetch significant and real benefits to the computer and Internet users in India. The website will keep dynamically evolving to respond to the dynamic needs.