National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) launches National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) approved ‘plain English’ guide to keeping your online accounts secure

Images of the launch are available upon request from the Department of Justice Press Office

The NCSC and NALA have today announced the launch of a new plain English guide designed to make the often complex and confusing information around keeping online accounts secure more accessible to the public. This guide, available now at https://ncsc.gov.ie/pdfs/NCSC-Online-Account-Security-FA.pdf, provides clear, concise explanations of cyber security topics, empowering citizens to take control of their online accounts, and keep their personal information secure.

The guide addresses a growing need for easily comprehended information, particularly in the area of cyber security, which plays such a significant role in keeping citizen’s personal information secure.

The guide utilises plain language principles, including short sentences, simple vocabulary and an active voice to ensure it is accessible to all citizens throughout the country, and will provide the tools they require to feel confident that their online life is as secure as can be.

This resource is valuable for members of the public, and will help them keep their online accounts safe. Where specialist words are used, a handy glossary is included to explain them in easy-to-understand terms.

For example, the guide explains what steps to take to make sure a password is as strong as possible, and also explains new developments such as Passkeys.

Speaking at the launch, CEO of the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) Colleen Dube stated:

Also speaking as the guide was launched, Richard Browne, Director of the NCSC remarked:

Visit NCSC: Guidance Documents to learn more, and access the guide in English and Irish.

Notes to Editors:

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC):

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was founded in 2011 and is an operational cyber security unit within the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs.

The NCSC has three main roles. These are:

· To defend the State, including Government and critical infrastructure, against cyber-security risks by monitoring, detecting and responding to cyber-security incidents, including large scale cyber security incident response.

· To build resilience across the State and society by providing guidance and advice to citizens and businesses on major cyber-security incidents, by applying a series of requirements on vendors, critical infrastructure operators and public bodies.

· Developing and maintaining strong international relationships in the global cyber-security community for the purposes of information sharing and incident response coordination.

National Adult Literacy Agency

The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) is a registered charity and membership based organisation committed to making sure people with unmet literacy and numeracy needs have access to learning opportunities and can fully take part in society. Our vision is an Ireland where adult literacy is a human right, where everyone can develop their literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, and where individuals can take part fully in society.

We do this by:

· raising awareness of the importance of literacy;

· doing research and sharing good practice;

· providing online learning courses and a tutoring service;

· providing a Freephone support line 1 800 20 20 65; and

· working in partnership with government departments, state agencies and others.