As the largest growing crime, cybercrime is forecast to reach a global cost of US$ 2 trillion by 2019.
With a view to alerting businesses and residents and making them more aware what steps can be taken to minimise the risk, crime prevention association Safe Communities Portugal organised the seminar which brought together leading speakers on the matter.
It was an unprecedented and packed get-together that took place in the Cascais Auditorium on Tuesday, 26 January.
Around 100 people attended the two-hour event, among them the newly appointed National Director of SEF Luisa Maria Goncalves, Major General Piers da Silva of the GNR police force, representatives from the Ministries of Justice and Internal Administration, and Superintendent Jorge Mauricio, Commander of Lisbon Metropolitan Police (PSP).
The event, held in English, was opened by Dr. Maria do Céu Garcia, Deputy to the Mayor of Cascais, who gave an overview of the threat of cybercrime and the importance of addressing this issue.
With four expert speakers representing the Judicial Police, PSP, GNR and Safe Communities Algarve, “innovation” was the keyword in terms of new initiatives announced in tackling cybercrime.
The threat of Cybercrime was explained by Chief Inspector Rodrigues Bravo, of the Judicial Police, who outlined the importance of prevention and educating the young in dealing with this global problem, as well as strengthening the laws to help law enforcement.
GNR Lieutenant- Coronel Paulo Jorge Soares Dos Santos, Chief of the Cybersecurity Taskforce in the operational command of the GNR, announced a number of new initiatives aimed at educating the young.
He highlighted the importance of creating partnerships between all sectors in tackling cybercrime through the GNR Safer Internet Project, aimed at enhancing awareness among young people, through engaging cooperation and collaboration between institutions.
He also announced a new programme of awareness in schools, involving a “Cyber Challenge 2016” (www.ciber-challenge.pt) through competitions aimed at promoting relationships between different generations as well as the creation of a ‘Trust Network’ involving knowledge-sharing with opportunities for businesses in joining such networks to help bring this to fruition, through participation in education and training awards supply of equipment and other logistics.
This innovative programme of cyber prevention was designed and is planned by GNR and the ICT Centre of Competences of ‘Mar e Serra’.
Safe Communities Portugal is a collaborating partner in this venture. Businesses who wish to know more should contact equipa@ccems.pt.
Inspector Carlos Correia covered the PSP strategy concerning the education of citizens, in particular their programmes aimed at the elderly who are often targeted with various scams. This was based on the PSP close proximity model of anticipating problems and working towards a solution.
Jim Litchko a computer security analyst with over 30 years’ experience and a Board member of Safe Communities Portugal gave a presentation concerning a practical approach to computer security, with simple examples of how this can be achieved. This was followed by a panel discussion.
The event was hailed a success by the international audience, which included representatives from various Embassies, governments, businesses and residents.