Hanoi (VNA) - President Tran Dai Quang has called on thenation to be aware of the threat of cyber crime and the importance of ensuringnetwork safety and security as the country embarks on the Fourth IndustrialRevolution.

In a message released on the occasion of the72nd anniversary of the Vietnamese Police Day, which falls on August 19, thePresident stressed that cyber space has become an integral part of people’slife and plays a very important role in building an information-based societyand knowledge-based economy.

“In addition to the tremendous benefits thatcyberspace brings, countries also face risks like cyber war, cyber spying,cyber attacks, cyber criminals and many more complex issues,” he said, addingthat in the case of Vietnam, for several years now, hostile forces and cybercriminals have increased network attacks to collect information, State secrets,domestic secrets, and to hijack and sabotage the information network system.

“They have used the Internet, especially socialnetworking sites, with sophisticated methods and tricks to create internaldissension, infringe the nation’s interests and undermine national security,”he said.

President Quang commended efforts made by theParty, the Government and the people to ensure network safety and security bothin actions and policies.

He noted in particular the 2013 issuance of Directive No 28-CT/TW by the PartyCentral Committee on enhancing information security and the Prime Minister’sDirective No 15/CT-TTg dated June 17, 2014, on ensuring network security andsafety in the new situation.

However, the President also cautioned thatnetwork information was unsafe in some places and securing it was a“complicated” task because the legal framework was inadequate andimplementation was not effective.

“The State management of safety and security hasloopholes and has not kept up with the pace of development and application ofinformation technology, especially online newspapers, social networks, onlinegames, prepaid cellular, telecommunications services and the Internet,” hesaid.

He said this underscored “an urgent need tocreate a profound change in the awareness of the Party committees, authoritiesas well as mass organisations from the central to local levels on theimportance of ensuring network safety and security,” he said, saying everyoneshould consider it an important, urgent, regular and long-term task.

He called for resistance to propaganda, distortions and provocations by hostileforces.

"This requires close coordination amongministries, committees and mass organisations at all levels and continuousbuilding and perfecting of policies and laws on network safety andsecurity," he said.

The President also called for more focus onbuilding and issuing the National Network Security Strategy, the Law on NetworkSecurity and guiding documents that specify safety standards and procedures forappraising plans and measures to protect safety and security of importantinformation systems.

“Important national security information systemsmust be regularly inspected and evaluated from the perspective of networksecurity from the design stage to when they become operational,” he said.

He also said it was necessary to develop humanresources, build up a network of elite network security forces and adoptmechanisms to mobilise, support and promote organisations and individuals inensuring network safety and security.

International cooperation in network safety andsecurity should be stepped up by joining international conventions andagreements on cyber crime prevention, he said.

“It is necessary to step up cooperation withhi-tech countries, organisations and economic groups in the development ofinformation technology in order to train human resources, acquire newtechnologies and experience in ensuring network safety and security,” he said.-VNA