PRIORITY ACTION 1
Build capability to address cybercrime
Preventing harm to New Zealanders means that increasing capability and awareness must be at
the heart of any response to cybercrime, giving New Zealanders the incentives and tools to change
their online behaviour. This should result in New Zealanders being alert to social engineering and
other cybercrime techniques, and actively taking practical steps to protect themselves online.
Law enforcement agencies will also have the capability to undertake search and evidence recovery
when a crime has been committed. Success will be measured when New Zealanders know where
to go for assistance and cybercrime rates reduce.
This is closely linked to the Cyber Capability goal in New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy.
Connect Smart (www.connectsmart.govt.nz) was launched in
2014 to provide an ongoing, positive approach to cyber security,
supported by a wide range of partners from across the public,
private and NGO sectors.
Protect yourself online
Connect Smart is aimed at raising awareness of security and
promoting ways for New Zealanders to protect themselves online.
USING THE CONNECT SMART BRAND TO PREVENT CYBERCRIME
We will continue to use the Connect Smart brand, website and partner channels to raise
awareness of the cybercrime threat and promote behavioural change. Providing up-to-date
alerts and information around current scams and attack vectors will help ensure New Zealanders
understand the threat. Creating a clear understanding of the challenges will underpin active
behavioural change by New Zealanders and foster a culture of cyber security. This will also align
with initiatives like NetSafe’s work with schools to ‘grow digital citizens’ and significant work by the
Ministry of Education on digital literacy.
We will continue to provide advice, through Connect Smart, about simple tools and
techniques to prevent cybercrime. It is critical that individuals and small-to-medium enterprises
have up-to-date, trusted advice about what action they can take. We will work with partners to
develop and distribute this advice through a range of channels, including the Connect Smart
website and social media. We will also integrate Connect Smart messaging into crime-prevention
initiatives and community liaison roles (such as Police community liaison officers).
DEVELOPING GOVERNMENT CYBERCRIME CAPABILITY
The Strategy sets out the need to develop a cyber security professional workforce and the difficulty
in both attracting and retaining highly skilled people. This also applies to law enforcement.
Electronic evidence is increasingly a part of many criminal investigations. New Zealand must ensure
its capability keeps up with demand for these skills and emerging technologies. All front line
Police officers and other investigators need, as a minimum, to be able to identify cybercrime and
cyber-enabled crime. Investigators will need to be able to identify lines of enquiry and evidential
material, and specialist units must have the capability to provide assistance in more complex and
sophisticated cases. There must be enough skilled investigators to keep up with the rising demand
for electronic evidence.
Agencies will continue to share experience, skills, knowledge and resources through the
Electronic Combined Law Agency Group (e-CLAG). E-CLAG sits within the broader Combined
Law Agency Group – a group of intelligence, enforcement and compliance professionals who
National Plan to Address Cybercrime 2015
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