CSA Launches Fifth National Cybersecurity Campaign and Releases List of Recommended Anti-Virus Apps

1              The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) launched the fifth edition of the national cybersecurity campaign today. Focusing on the “Unseen Enemy”, the campaign highlights the unseen, yet pervasive nature of cyber threats and scams in our daily lives, and the need for everyone to be vigilant against these threats. Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, officially launched the campaign on 30th September at the Suntec City Convention Centre Atrium.

2              The campaign continues CSA’s push to raise awareness and drive adoption of good cyber hygiene practices with CSA’s four refreshed Cyber Tips. They are:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Use Strong Passphrases 

2. Beware of Phishing Scams 

3. Update Software Promptly 

4. Add ScamShield and Anti-Virus (AV) Apps

3              CSA will use a mix of out-of-home and digital platforms to drive home these messages. Kicking off the campaign is a two-day roadshow, Home in on Cybersecurity, which was set up to mirror a home setting. The space will be demarcated into four zones, with each zone showcasing one Cyber Tip. Visitors will get to play an online game, Phishing Wars, where they have to spot signs of phishing in emails and messages to gain points. They can also go on an augmented reality journey and attempt to stop a cybercriminal. The Infocomm Media Development Authority’s SG Digital Office, the Singapore Police Force and the National Crime Prevention Council will have dedicated booths at the event. For more details of the campaign and event, please see Annex A. 

4              Supporting the campaign are partners from the public and private sectors including members of the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance, e-commerce platform Lazada and online content creators who will leverage their networks to amplify the message to adopt good cyber habits. 

5              To help the public identify suitable AV apps to download to secure their mobile devices, CSA has curated a list of seven AV apps for Android and iOS devices. These apps have key features such as malware and phishing detection capabilities to protect users against mobile security threats. The list includes both paid and free versions for the public to choose according to what best suit their budget and needs. For more details, please see Annex B.

6              Mr David Koh, Chief Executive of CSA, said, “Since young, we were taught to practise certain good habits – lock our doors, look both ways when we cross the road and don’t leave our valuables unattended. These practices have become instinctive to us. Likewise, in this digital age, we should also develop good cyber hygiene habits in our daily lives. Cybercriminals are getting better, so we need to do our part to protect ourselves from online dangers.” 

7              Mr Yuezhong Bao, Chief Information Security Officer of Lazada Group, said, “As we navigate the fast-evolving eCommerce landscape, protecting the interests of our users, sellers, and brand partners is a key priority for Lazada. We are proud to strengthen our ongoing partnership with CSA and to contribute to the fight against cyber threats and scams with the latest national cybersecurity campaign. We are constantly working to safeguard our community from digital threats by educating our customers with online shopping safety knowledge and ensuring that their online shopping experience is secure and worry-free." 

About the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore 

Established in 2015, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) seeks to keep Singapore’s cyberspace safe and secure to underpin our Nation Security, power a Digital Economy and protect our Digital Way of Life. It maintains an oversight of national cybersecurity functions and works with sector leads to protect Singapore’s Critical Information Infrastructure. CSA also engages with various stakeholders to heighten cyber security awareness, build a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem supported by a robust workforce, pursue international partnerships and drive regional cybersecurity capacity building programmes. CSA is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Communications and Information. For more news and information, please visit www.csa.gov.sg. 

About the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance

The Alliance comprises representatives from the government, private enterprises, trade associations and non-profit organisations. As a collaborative body, the Alliance amalgamates efforts from its members by bringing together different strengths and resources. The aim of the Alliance is to promote and enhance awareness and adoption of good cybersecurity practices amongst members of the public and enterprises in Singapore.