Press release: ISPA to Launch Consumer Protection iCode at iWeek 2012

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Already a must-attend for the Internet industry, the news that the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) will launch its iCode at this year’s iWeek conference adds more sizzle to an already packed agenda. The iCode is a voluntary code for the Internet industry and aims to provide South African Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with a consistent approach to educating their customers about safe and secure use of the Internet.

The iCode is a direct response to the growing number and complexity of cyber security threats facing South African Internet users, particularly the challenges raised at both consumer and national security levels by “botnets” or “zombie” computers which have been hijacked and can be used for identity theft, fraud, spam as well as international espionage and cyberterrorism. The iCode seeks to address these by building a cyber security culture amongst both ISPs and users.

“This is an extremely important milestone as the South African Internet industry matures. We are thrilled that Rosey Sekese, the Director-General of the Department of Communications, will mark it by delivering a keynote address on cyber security just before we launch the iCode,” says Jaap Scholten, co-chair of ISPA.

The cyber security keynote and iCode launch on Thursday, 12 September, are just two highlights of what promises to be a packed week for the Internet industry. The involvement of the .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), the South African chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC-ZA) and the Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) has enriched the content at this year’s conference enormously.

Other highlights include presentations and panel discussions from ZADNA and UniForum looking at global and local developments in the domain name space; workshops on “Internet Freedom in South Africa” and “Next Generation Internet”; and a wireless track. In SpamJam VII, Advocate Annamart Nieman will speak about ISPA’s Hall of Shame. This is a resource for tracking unsolicited email originating in South Africa.

Sponsors of this year’s iWeek conference include Neotel (Tuesday Platinum sponsor), Switch Telecom (Wednesday Gold sponsor), MTN Business (Wednesday Bronze sponsor and Thursday Platinum sponsor) and MWEB Business (Friday Platinum sponsor).

iWeek runs for the week of 10-14 September at Crystal Towers in Cape Town. Register now or learn more by visiting www.iweek.org.za.

Further Information

For further information, please contact the ISPA secretariat on the Contact ISPA page.