After a week of harrowing city-level cyber-attacks, New York’s administration decided to launch new public tools to protect residents against hacking activities, particularly on mobile devices, the German news agency reported. While the timing is coincidental, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio just announced that the city will introduce the first tools in its suite of cyber-security offerings to protect residents against malicious online activity, particularly on mobile devices. When it launches this summer, New York residents will be able to download a free app called NYC Secure. The app will alert smartphone users to potential threats on their devices and offer tips for how to stay secure, such as disconnecting from a malicious Wi-Fi network, navigating away from a compromised website or uninstalling a malicious app. The app will take no active steps on its own, so it will be up to users to heed the advice presented to them. NYC Secure will not collect or transmit any personal identifying information or private data, reported the Techcrunch website. The city will also beef up security over its public Wi-Fi networks, a notorious target for malicious actors looking to snoop on private information as it passes by unencrypted. The city will implement a protection system through a service called Quad9, a free public cyber-security product out of the partnership between Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), IBM and Packet Clearing House. Geoff Brown, Citywide chief information security officer, said: “In order to stay a step ahead of cyber-criminals that are continuously finding new ways to hack devices, we must invest in the safety of the digital lives of our residents.” “While no individual is immune to cyber-security threats, this program will add an extra layer of security to personal devices that often house a huge amount of sensitive data.”