“Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld” Tram Promotion Officially Launches HKCERT Urges the Public to Beware of Cyber Attacks and Promotes Cybersecurity

(Hong Kong, 2 September 2024) The Tram Promotion - "Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld" ("The Promotion") has been jointly launched by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT), the Digital Policy Office (DPO), and the Hong Kong Police Force at the Whitty Street Tram Depot. The Promotion, in responding to China Cybersecurity Week, aims to raise public awareness and adaptability regarding cybersecurity. Three trams featuring the winning designs from the "Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld" tram body design contest will tour along tram routes on Hong Kong Island, calling on all sectors of society to strengthen their awareness of cybersecurity.

The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and its applications has brought cybersecurity risks into the spotlight. Data from HKCERT indicates that the number of single cybersecurity incidents in Hong Kong reached 3,058 cases in the second quarter of this year, marking a 27% increase from the previous quarter. Notably, phishing attacks accounted for nearly 60% of these cases, surpassing other common cyberattacks such as malware (7%) and botnets (23%). Hackers are employing more sophisticated methods beyond traditional email and text message scams. They leverage AI deepfake technology to create convincing fake videos and impersonate identities. Additionally, some hackers set up fake brand pages on social media platforms to gain victims' trust and even commit financial fraud. The "weaponisation" of AI has emerged as one of the top five information security risks in 2024. The application of AI in programming has significantly lowered the technical barriers to hacking, enabling hackers to utilise generative AI to produce malicious code and orchestrate large-scale cyberattacks with unprecedented ease. Moreover, AI is being used to generate fraudulent data, compromising the output of other AI systems and potentially paralysing cybersecurity measures.

HKCERT has also observed that cybercrime is becoming more organised, with attacks increasingly targeting smart devices and exploiting vulnerabilities associated with third-party services. In response, HKCERT has introduced new cybersecurity risk alerts that use AI to analyse and assess trends in phishing, malware, and botnet attacks targeting Hong Kong. These alerts aim to inform the public of potential threats and provide defensive measures to encourage early prevention.

At the event, Professor SUN Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, noted that cyberattacks are on the rise with different defrauding tricks employed by scammers. Everyone must enhance their awareness of cybersecurity to protect personal information and avoid financial losses. The HKSAR Government has been working closely with various professional organisations and industry groups to organise a variety of activities aimed at strengthening cybersecurity awareness across society. Together, we aim to spread the message of safeguarding cybersecurity so as to establish an efficient and secure online environment.

Mr Emil YU, Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), said, “HKCERT has consistently collaborated closely with the HKSAR Government to raise public awareness of cybersecurity and strengthen the community’s resilience to cybersecurity incidents and offences through a multi-pronged measure, including the provision of incident response services and practical guidelines; On the other hand, publicity and education campaigns have been launched to remind the industry and the public to reinforce cybersecurity, protect information system and data against cyberattacks and fraudulent messages.”

The Tram Body Design Contest, themed "Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld", featured three main categories: Open, Secondary School, and Primary School. Special awards were also given for the Most Active Participating School and the Most Creative Design. The contest received over 2,500 entries. The winning designs from the Open category will be featured as promotional advertisements on tram body, touring alone Hong Kong Island for four consecutive weeks from today until 29 September 2024. The champion design employs a striking combination of vibrant colors and engaging cartoon characters to illustrate recent high-profile scam cases. This approach effectively emphasises the critical importance of cybersecurity while raising public awareness. The first runner-up design uses a cohesive and colorful theme across all four sides of the tram and incorporates multiple "Cybersecurity Buddy" cartoon characters to encourage everyone to become a "Cybersecurity Buddy" and join hands to protect cybersecurity. The second runner-up design depicts various "cyber intruders" attempting to infiltrate the city's computer and mobile networks. This design underscores the power of citywide cooperation in effectively defending against various cyberattacks. The contest aims to capture public attention through creative illustrations, making cybersecurity issues more engaging and increasing public awareness.

Additionally, Hong Kong residents have an opportunity to win supermarket vouchers from today until 14 September 2024. To participate, individuals must like the HKCERT Facebook page and locate promotional codes displayed on the advertisement billboards of the Cybersecurity Week 2024 quiz game at the tram stop on Tonnochy Road Tram Stop (47E) or other tram stops across Hong Kong Island. Participants should then follow the instructions on the event page to enter the contest. For more details, please visit the HKCERT quiz game event page.

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