President Tran Dai Quang has called on the nation to be aware of the threat of cyber crimes and the importance of ensuring network safety and security as the country embarks on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Vietnamese Police Day, which falls on August 19, Quang stressed that cyber space has become an integral part of people’s life and plays a very important role in building an information-based society and knowledge-based economy.

“In addition to the tremendous benefits that cyberspace brings, countries also face risks like cyber war, cyber spying, cyber attacks, cyber criminals and many more complex issues,” Quang said, adding that in the case of Vietnam, for several years now, hostile forces and cyber criminals 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 social networking sites, with sophisticated methods and tricks to create internal dissension, infringe the nation’s interests and undermine national security,” he said.

Quang commended efforts made by the Party, the Government and the people to ensure network safety and security both in actions and policies.

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

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

“The State management of safety and security has loopholes and has not kept up with the pace of development and application of information technology, especially online newspapers, social networking, online games, prepaid cellular, telecommunications services and Internet,” he said.

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

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

"This requires close co-ordination among ministries, committees and mass organisations at all levels and continuous building and perfecting of policies and laws on network safety and security," he said.

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

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

He also said it was necessary to develop human resources, build up a network of elite network security forces and to adopt mechanisms to mobilise, support and promote organizations and individuals in ensuring network safety and security.

International co-operation in network safety and security should be stepped up by joining international conventions and agreements on cyber crime prevention, he said

“It is necessary to step up co-operation with hi-tech countries, organisations and economic groups in the development of information technology in order to train human resources, acquire new technologies and experience in ensuring network safety and security,” he said.

VNA