How vulnerable is today’s Information Society?

Network hacking, phishing, Computer viruses and other purposeful manipulations: The Information Society is exposed to various attacks. Organized crime also targets the Internet for its specific aims. Even if greater security awareness in e-banking increases, dangers are often played down. Whoever does not want to become a victim must learn the tricks of the crooks. Therefore, the first conference in the series of «Vulnerability of the Information Society», organized by Empa and the Risk Dialogue Foundation will address topic of Internet crime. «In business and in our private lives, we already depend as much on the internet and our cellular phones as we do on electrical current supply. In a slowly creeping process, digital networks create new critical infrastructures which increasingly become targets for attacks by criminals», says Empa-researcher Lorenz Hilty, co-organizer of the conference series. «We want to achieve with these conferences a greater awareness and prompt discussions in our society of the dangers arising from the interdependence of Internet and personal computers – that is before greater damages occur. In addition to criminal attacks, technological susceptibility and the almost irreversible spread of personal or false information on the Internet are also among the risks to be considered».

The opening session will take place on Thursday March 6, 2008 from 6.15 pm to 9.15 pm in the Audimax of the ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, in co-operation with Information Security Society Switzerland (ISSS) and supported by ZISC and Swiss Security Day. At the further five meetings between March and November 2008, well known experts will e.g. shed some light on such questions as the impact on our culture of creating digital archives, examine the limits of data protection and data security and point out chances and risks of future intelligence implants.

The conference series is directed to the broad public as well as to specialists and the media who are interested in the subject of chances and risks of the Information Society. The attendees are invited to present questions and comments throughout the conferences.
The evenings will be rounded off with an Apero and an opportunity for further detailed discussions and forming new contacts. Free entry, but because of the limited space reservations are required. Registration and further information see under http://www.risiko-dialog.ch/Overview%20in%20English. The series is financially supported by Zurich Schweiz, and followed in the media by Netzwoche.

Further information
Prof. Dr. Lorenz M. Hilty, Empa, Technology and Society Lab, Tel +41 71 274 73 45; lorenz.hilty@empa.ch

Matthias Holenstein, Stiftung Risiko-Dialog, Tel. +41 52 262 76 16,

Thomas C. Maurer & Partner, Medienstelle informatica08, Tel. +41 31 380 81 11 / +41 79 380 81 00,