Safety and sustainable use of resources
Here, you will find a clear and exemplary description of the partial competences, included in the competence area “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria:
- Protecting devices
- Protecting personal or confidential data and privacy
- Protecting health and wellbeing
- Protecting oneself and others from fraud and consumer rights abuse
- Protecting the environment and sustainably operating IT
Protecting devices
This is the partial competence 4.1 in the competence area 4 “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria
What is it about?
This competence area includes the ability to protect digital devices and content. It also includes knowledge about reliable safeguards and what needs to be considered in terms of privacy protection. Moreover, it covers the understanding of risks and threats in the digital field.
What does it mean in practice?
Protecting devices means making sure that unauthorized persons cannot access them. This also protects the content stored locally on the device. A common example of this is the PIN code used for login on the computer. PINs and passwords should always comply with common security standards. Under no circumstances should passwords be stored directly on the device (e.g. stuck to the laptop with a notepad). In addition, it is advisable to secure devices with your own fingerprint or smartphone screens with a movement pattern. Devices and content must also be protected against unauthorized access via the digital world. For example, an antivirus software helps to keep unwanted malware away. Encryption is used to protect data and connections.
Why is that important?
Digital devices usually contain private data such as photos and contacts. Work equipment may contain internal company information that should not fall into the hands of third parties. In addition to the risk of data misuse, there is a possibility that unauthorized persons may use device functions and thus cause high costs (for example, by making long international calls via a smartphone or by shopping online with stored access data).
Where can I continue learning?
On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.
Protecting personal or confidential data and privacy
This is the partial competence 4.2 in the competence area 4 “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.
What is it about?
Protecting personal data and privacy means being able to assess the importance of personal data in digital environments. Furthermore, the competence area includes the ability to protect sensitive data of yourself and others.
What does it mean in practice?
Digitally competent people carefully handle their own and other people’s data on the internet. On the one hand, they do this in order to avoid misuse and, on the other hand, because they are aware of the socio-political and legal issues relating to data protection and privacy. They know, for example, that online companies such as Facebook can use personal data of users for analysis and advertising purposes and can sell them to third parties at high prices. People with appropriate digital skills also know about opportunities to restrict or prohibit the use of data by online companies and can adjust privacy settings accordingly.
Why is that important?
Personal data is used by companies to carry out analyses. The main purpose of these analyses is to provide personalized advertising. Thus, people provide a free contribution to the advertising industry, that can turn it into high profits. In addition, users are vulnerable to the uncontrolled dissemination of their data, especially when it comes to health data or other sensitive private information.
Where can I continue learning?
On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.
Protecting health and wellbeing
This is the partial competence 4.3 in the competence area 4 “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.
What is it about?
Protecting health and well-being by means of digital competence means recognizing and avoiding physical and mental risks that digital technologies can cause. You can also protect yourself and others from dangers in digital environments. This involves actively promoting social well-being and social inclusion.
What does it mean in practice?
You can recognise processes and mechanisms in digital environments that harm your mental and physical well-being or that of others. An example of this is cyberbullying, which is the long-term insulting, threatening and exposing of people via digital media. Digitally competent people may protect themselves and others from such attacks on the internet and via digital services, or are aware of appropriate bodies providing support in these cases.
Why is that important?
Medical and psychological findings confirm: not everything that comes with digitalisation is free of risks. That is why it is necessary to consciously use digital technologies to protect the physical and mental well-being.
Where can I continue learning?
On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.
Protecting oneself and others from fraud and consumer rights abuse
This is the partial competence 4.4 in the competence area 4 “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.
What is it about?
The competence area includes the ability to recognise dubious online shops as well as knowledge about the most important legal provisions on consumer law. This also includes being able to apply measures of consumer rights and to make price comparisons.
What does it mean in practice?
Digitally competent people can assess whether they are dealing with a reputable online store or a fraudulent site. They know the factors that distinguish trustworthy providers from dubious ones, know warning signs that indicate fraud and data misuse and can protect themselves from the latter. They also know their rights when buying online, know how to enforce them and who to contact in case of doubt. Protecting yourself against fraud also involves being able to compare prices in order to assess the adequacy of an online offer.
Why is that important?
More and more purchases are carried out on the internet. Sensitive data such as passwords or payment details have to be disclosed. Therefore, reputable online providers encrypt their pages and offer customers secure payment methods. People with fraudulent intentions try to access these passwords and account data. They ask for sensitive information in different ways and use it for personal gain. It is therefore essential for users to be able to identify the signs of attempted fraud and protect themselves accordingly.
Where can I continue learning?
On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.
Protecting the environment and sustainably operating IT
This is the partial competence 4.5 in the competence area 4 “Safety and sustainable use of resources” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.
What is it about?
The competence area refers to the ability of people to be aware of the environmental impact of digital technologies and their use. This also includes protecting the environment by means of a conscious and sustainable use of technology.
What does it mean in practice?
Sustainable use of resources can be supported by digital technologies. Digitally optimised supply chains in industry, for example, can help to reduce resource consumption. In manufacturing, digital technologies can help reduce industrial CO2 emissions. Smart devices can be used in many ways to save electricity in the household. Furthermore, online meetings can contribute to reducing travel costs. Digitally competent people are aware of such possibilities and can also apply them in their field of activity.
On the other hand, digital technologies consume resources themselves, and these need to be used thoughtfully and sustainably. Here is an example: a smartphone contains many different raw materials that are extracted from nature. Among them are valuable materials such as gold, silver, platinum or copper, which can be preserved through proper recycling. In addition, long-term negative environmental impacts can be avoided or at least contained through the sustainable extraction of raw materials. However, smartphones usually contain harmful substances such as lead, bromine or chromium. Therefore, they must not end up in household waste. Digitally competent people know this and can dispose of smartphones, laptops, etc. in an environmentally friendly way. They can also understand and reflect on the environmental consequences of manufacturing technical devices and make sustainable purchasing decisions.
Why is that important?
All kinds of resources are always subject to costs and are only available to a limited extent, both globally and nationally. Austria is committed to implementing the United Nations' 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); climate protection measures and responsible consumption and production processes play an important role in this context. Each and every individual can also contribute to the implementation with digital tools, for example by attending meetings online in order to save a trip, or by using smart devices in the household. When purchasing digital devices, everyone is also called upon to consider the entire life cycle of digital products.
Here is an example: Those who do not dispose of smartphones and other digital devices properly risk endangering people and the environment. In addition, you should be aware that the raw materials for smartphones are often not obtained in Austria, but sometimes in countries with less stringent environmental regulations. A conscious purchasing decision for sustainably and fairly produced electrical devices can help minimise negative aspects of device production. Overall, it is therefore important to think about the production and disposal of devices and to avoid negative environmental impacts within the scope of one’s own opportunities.
Where can I continue learning?
On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.