Written Answers. - Departmental E-mail System. Tuesday, 30 January 2001

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 529 No. 1 Page of 877

  972.  Mr. Durkan      asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands      the number of occasions on which viruses occurred in incoming e-mails in her Department in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2545/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):    My Department installed Department-wide internet e-mail facilities in June 2000. Since the introduction of the new e-mail, there have been three instances of virus infection within the Department.

As part of the introduction of e-mail throughout the Department, the issue of virus-protection was examined. Anti-virus software was installed at the same time as the new e-mail system. The virus detection software is proprietary software, and is a standard in most Departments. PCs in the Department also have separate anti-virus software installed and this is regularly updated.

  973.  Mr. Durkan      asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands      the number of occasions on which hackers have attempted to breach her Department's e-mail security in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2560/01]

[612]Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):    To date there have been no breaches or attempted breaches to my Department's e-mail security.

As part of the introduction of internet e-mail throughout the Department, the issue of security was examined. Intrusion detection software was installed at the same time as the new e-mail system and has worked successfully since then. The software is proprietary third party industry standard intrusion detection software.

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Last Updated: 11/09/2010 00:11:11

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