We now face new challenges from the digital domain that have no physical boundaries or battlefields. Cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and fake news are some of the ways that can now be used to divide and weaken us. We have thus added a sixth pillar of Digital Defence to the existing five pillars of Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defence that explain the actions we can take to help us deal with the spectrum of military and non-military threats.https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/about.html

From government.coDigita Defence is the new sixth pillar of Total Defence. The other five pillars of Total Defence are Military, Civil, Economic, Social and Psychological Defence. The heightened awareness of defence in the digital domain is critical for Singapore and Singaporeans in view of the increasing pace of global digitalisation.
 
Digital Defence – Be Secure, Alert, and Responsible Online– is a whole-of-nation effort to protect and defend ourselves and our nation online. It requires Singaporeans to a) practise good cybersecurity habits, b) guard against fake news and disinformation, and c) consider the impact of our actions on the community. For elaborations on the initiatives, please refer to ANNEX A.

In the fight against threats from the digital domain, prevention is key and everyone has a part to play. Singaporeans should keep a lookout for and proactively protect themselves from threats such as phishing and attempted intrusions. They should be aware of ongoing cybersecurity issues and learn how to take personal actions to counter these threats. For example, use strong passwords and ensure that their passwords and user IDs are not based on personally identifiable information such as names and birthdates; upgrade their antivirus software regularly, and; do not put personal financial information in the online public space. They should also practise good cybersecurity habits such as exercising caution and checking for signs of phishing before clicking on unknown links or attachments in suspicious emails, as well as enable automatic software updates and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for online transactions.

Singaporeans can learn to discern hallmarks of fake or sensationalised reports by checking against credible sources of information such as those of government agencies and official sources. They can also make use of available resources such as Factually (https://www.gov.sg/factually) to verify news. It is important to develop an understanding of how and why fake news is created and spread, and to report fake news to stop it from spreading. 

Singaporeans should recognise that our individual actions have an impact on others in the community. We need to build our digital literacy as individuals and as a community. We can also help friends and family members who need further help to learn to use technology safely and confidently. Singaporeans can also actively participate in digital literacy resources and activities, encourage friends and family to use digital literacy resources, and share with their families and friends how to use technology safely and responsibly.

With Digital Defence as the sixth pillar of Total Defence, a Digital Defence campaign logo has also been launched on 15 February 2019. Digital Defence – Be Secure, Alert, and Responsible Online – can only be successful if every Singaporean is on board with Digital Defence efforts. It takes only one weak link for a strong digital defence to be breached. Hence, it is important that Singaporeans understand the role they play in Digital Defence, and to take action to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to guard against threats from the digital domain. 

The Digital Defence campaign logo acts as a visual unifier with other related campaigns. The logo consists of a prominent ‘D' in the style of a Mobius strip, which recalls the multi-faceted, complex nature of the cyber landscape, as well as how closely intertwined our physical and online selves are. The portal in the centre of the ‘D' reminds us of the networked world that everyone is connected to, and that stepping in will lead to both risks and opportunities. 

Figure 1: Digital Defence Campaign Logo 

ANNEX A

Privacy Awareness Week

The Personal Data Protection Commission's (PDPC) Privacy Awareness Week (PAW), which is held in May every year, promotes awareness of issues relating to personal data protection. The theme for PAW 2018 was "Data Protection: From Principles to Practice". Resources on data protection, such as a guide on printing processes for organisations, posters to remind employees to cultivate good data protection practices, and a screensaver adaptation, were promoted during the campaign. The public was also engaged with information nuggets, quizzes, and a meme contest on PDPC's social media platforms. 

National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) launched its second National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign in May 2018. The campaign, titled "Cyber Tips 4 You", raises Singaporeans' awareness and adoption of essential cybersecurity tips such as using anti-virus software, strong passwords, use of 2FA and spotting signs of phishing.

An expansion of the "Cyber Tips 4 You" campaign, the Cyber Savvy Machine Pop-Up, a CSA initiative in collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), which seeks to heighten awareness of the importance of cybersecurity through a fun and interactive platform. The Pop-Up display, comprising a Cyber Savvy Machine, four information panels and a brochure stand, will travel island-wide to a different library each month for a period of one year. Participants can test their cybersecurity knowledge at the Cyber Savvy Machine and stand to win a small prize for correct answers. One Saturday a month, students from Nanyang Polytechnic will engage library-goers with their Cyber Savvy Game. The students also conduct a non-intrusive mobile phone health check for interested library-goers

Better Internet Campaign

The Media Literacy Council (MLC) spearheads the Better Internet Campaign which aims to promote safe and responsible online behaviour. In 2018, the MLC ran five mini campaigns on topics such as discernment of false information, cyber-bullying, and cyber-safety and security, under the tagline "Be Safe, Be Smart and Be Kind Online". Online videos, tip sheets and other resources are tailored to cater to different segments of the population.