Information Technology MAY 2007

Australian Information Technology MAY 2007 Meet Tracey Fellows It’s a great privilege for me to introduce myself and talk about some of the priorities Microsoft shares with government – priorities that are demonstrated not only in our products, but also in our ethical framework and in our involvement with industry and the wider community that we all serve. In this newsletter you’ll find lots of information about what we call the ‘IT ecosystem’ – a way of describing the less tangible benefits of our involvement in the economy and community life – and you’ll get a better feel for how innovation in technology can prompt major waves of prosperity for the whole nation as well as assist the underserved in our community. I am pleased to be able to update you on how Microsoft Australia is working to make technology more accessible and build digital inclusion through our Unlimited Potential Community Technology Learning Centres, how Windows Vista™ is empowering people with disabilities to use technology to help reach their potential, and how we are working to help bring about a safe and secure computing experience, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community – our children. Tracey Fellows I hope that you enjoy reading this newsletter and that your engagement with Microsoft is always a positive one. Managing Director, Microsoft Australia Yours sincerely, Tracey Fellows More about Tracey Tracey Fellows has come a long way since emigrating to Australia from Canada during her high school years. Before her recent appointment as Managing Director for Microsoft Australia, she held senior positions at Microsoft, Dell and IBM, giving her deep experience in the Asia-Pacific IT industry. Tracey is proud to lead a team of more than 850 people, all with a common goal: to meet the needs of Microsoft customers, including governments, businesses and consumers. And she’s also excited at the prospect of working with the 14,000 partners and independent software vendors producing leading edge technology solutions for Australian businesses based on the Microsoft platform. What is Windows Vista™? Windows Vista has a Windows Vista is Microsoft’s new operating system, the successor stunning new interface to the widely used Windows® XP. Five years and $30 billion designed to make it in development, it provides essential software and security easier than ever before enhancements to get things done more efficiently, protect data to find, use, manage and stay connected. And with the parallel release of the 2007 and share information. Microsoft® Office system, governments, businesses and consumers are set to benefit even more, with powerful new capabilities built into the software they use every day. The launch of Windows Vista has created a remarkable wave of interest from customers and partners Australia-wide. Dozens of independent software vendors, including MYOB, Quicken, Kodak and BigPond, have applied to partner with Microsoft on new product development, spurring growth in the local economy. • Meet Tracey Fellows 1 • Local jobs, local economies, local growth 5 • What is Windows Vista? • Gadget connects CityLink • Increasing security increases potential 2 • Empowering people with disabilities to use technology 6 • Giving people with a disability a voice • Fighting scams with SCAMwatch 3 • Meals on Wheels rolls out new database • Help constituents and their families stay safe online • Partnering to broaden digital inclusion 7 • Software for worker productivity 4 • New open standard for interoperable documents • The Windows principles 8 Security matters As viruses, spyware and phishing scams proliferate online, it’s never been more critical to protect PCs against malicious activity. That said, I believe we’ve made some very important steps down the road to secure and enable trustworthy computing. With the investment, collaboration and firm resolve of industry, government and law enforcement, we’re starting to turn the tide against cybercrims, making it harder for them to attack everyday citizens as they go about their business online. For example, Microsoft’s new Windows Vista™ operating system is our safest yet, as outlined on this page. We’ve also launched a new product called Windows Live OneCare, which handles essential PC care behind the scenes so our customers don’t have to worry about it. And at the same time, government organisations such as SCAMwatch are building community awareness about how to avoid and respond to digital rip-off merchants. All these initiatives contribute to safer, more secure computing, so you and your constituents can surf, blog or simply send an email, confident that your privacy is better protected. Peter Watson Chief Security Adviser, Microsoft Australia Increasing security increases potential “ In just one week, More secure computing sure data stays in the right hands. For example, Phishing Filter Few revolutions have been so warmly embraced by Windows Rights Management Services protects people across the world as the digital revolution. information through embedded usage policies, and blocked more than Indeed, the move to all things digital is accelerating BitLocker™ Drive Encryption safeguards data if a a million attempts across every aspect of daily life, but as the doorway computer is lost or stolen. to progress widens, so too does our need for to entice people improved security. Providing a safer online experience for children The new Parental Control feature of Windows Vista to phishing sites.” Windows Vista is specifically designed to provide that means parents can feel more confident that their security. Built from the ground up using the most Peter Watson children can surf the net safely, through individualised stringent privacy standards for software development, Chief Security Adviser, accounts that control the Web sites, programs and it incorporates a host of new features that make it Microsoft Australia games each family member can access. Parents can easier to protect data and private information, giving use activity reports to guide meaningful conversations businesses peace of mind and helping families reap with children about computer use. the benefits of an online world without inadvertently inviting danger into their homes. Protecting privacy Taken together, all these features provide Shut the door on malware, viruses, worms, unprecedented protection for private data. Add to spyware and unwanted software that Windows CardSpace™, which gives people control With Windows Vista, users are prompted if dangerous of how they store and use their digital identities. This software tries to access and change their computers. means they can be more confident their personal Continuous scanning by Windows Defender helps information is safe when sharing it on the Web – and protect computers against spyware and other that people asking for digital identities are who they unwanted software, and the Phishing Filter in the latest say they are. Internet Explorer® helps stop malicious emails arriving in people’s inboxes. Even if people mistakenly visit a Increasing security in the wider community suspicious Web site, they’ll be warned. Recognising that the fight for greater security cannot be limited to our technology, Microsoft also works Recognise when a PC is vulnerable globally with governments, community organisations The Windows Security Centre in Windows Vista and industry partners to create a safer online works full time on security so that people don’t environment for everybody to enjoy. have to. It provides all the guidance and control people need to identify security alerts – and can be individualised to user’s particular needs and computing environment. Securing sensitive data New technologies built into some versions of Windows Vista make it much easier for organisations to make 2 Security matters Fighting scams with SCAMwatch Help constituents and their families Internet scams are on the increase. Who hasn’t experienced those exciting stay safe online offers of free holidays, amazing share offers and false notices from ‘the bank’? Whether communicating, As scammers become more savvy and scams harder to recognise, more banking or shopping and more Australians are falling victim to the cost and frustrations they inflict. online, a connected Enter SCAMwatch. lifestyle brings with it the SCAMwatch is a government Web site designed to help people recognise, risk of infected software, report and protect themselves from scams. Created by the Australian identity theft and other Competition and Consumer Commission, it provides information about current predatory conduct. scams and collects data about new ones. Now available in soft copy, this guide lets Scams awareness month people know what to During March 2007, Microsoft participated in the Australasian Consumer look out for, how to Fraud Taskforce’s scams awareness month, a four-week community awareness safeguard computers, campaign to educate people about how they can protect themselves from scams. the actions and organisations to contact for help and how to educate children about the dangers. Each week of the campaign, education efforts focused on one of the four SCAMwatch focal areas for consumer protection: money, phone, computer and identity. Why not make this valuable resource available as a community service to your constituents? Money You can do this in three ways: Working from home schemes, advance fee fraud, lottery and money transfer scams have been around for a long time. Unfortunately they’re now more • sending it as an email attachment

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