Internet Security AlertsNational Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)’s mission is to empower and support digital citizens to use the InternetG securely and safely, protecting themselves and the cyber infrastructure.
NCSA, a 501 c (3) founded in 2001, is the pre-eminent public private partnership, working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), corporate sponsors(Symantec, CISCO, Microsoft, SAIC, EMC, McAfee), and nonprofit collaborators to promote cyber security awareness for home users, small and medium size businesses, and primary and secondary education.
-
NIST to hold conference on cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is emerging as a issue of national concern and the community of interested organizations, agencies, and individuals is growing. The Federal government has also expanded its efforts. One of the most significant changes to date has been the designation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as the coordinator of the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE). As the coordinator of the NICE initiative, NIST works closely with the lead agencies on specific elements of the program. The tracks and lead agencies are as follow:
• Track 1: National Cybersecurity Awareness – Lead by DHS
• Track 2: Formal Cybersecurity Education - Lead by DoED and OSTP
• Track 3: Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Structure – Lead by OPM
• Track 4: Cybersecurity Workforce Training and Professional Development - Lead by DoD, ODNI, and DHSNIST will be holding a conference and workshops on August 11 and 12 at its headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD to discuss the works going on in these tracks. This will be an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in any of the above tracks to learn about efforts underway, current and future plans, and of course network with like-minded people in the field. Registration information can be found here.
See you there!
SSO (stay safe online),
Michael -
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month portal launched; time to get involved
After months of preparing materials and updating content, the National Cyber Security Alliance is excited to announce our site portal launch for National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2010! What are you doing to educate your students, co-workers, employees, friends and family?
-
Fighting SLAPP suits to protect and empower a new generation of consumer advocates
In recent weeks, unfair SLAPP lawsuits – in which businesses sue individuals for posting critical comments on consumer review websites – have taken center stage. The latest news is that one woman is being sued by a local Chicago concrete company for complaining
-
Online Safety and Technology Working Group delivers report to Congress
After a year of meetings and deliberations the Online Safety and Technology Working Group sent to Congress the report Youth Safety on a Living Internet: Report of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group. Representing NCSA, I served on the working group and the subcommittee on education. As background, the OSTWG was established by the Broadband Data Improvement Act
-
Four Tips on How to Use Consumer Reviews Safely
An astounding 70% (2008 survey by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates) of US consumers consult reviews or consumer ratings before making purchases. Whether you’re buying a new digital camera, finding a new dentist, or researching an online pharmacy, user reviews can be a powerful tool to make better choices about which products and services to buy and from whom. However, reviews also have pitfalls. Below are four tips to safely and effectively use online reviews.
-
NSCA to present on critical infrastructure protection
This week Michael Kaiser, NCSA's Executive Director will be speaking at an InfraGard event. If you don't know about InfraGard, you should. Infraguard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector Infraguard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States.
Michael will be presenting on critical infrastructure and other cybersecurity issues.
SSO (stay safe online),
Michael
-
At One-Year Anniversary of White House Cyberspace Policy Review, What’s Next for Our Nation?
Saturday, May 29, marks the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s Cyberspace Policy Review and his major address on cybersecurity, the first ever by a head of state. The address and the accompanying report did a great deal to pave the way for the government, the public and private sectors to work together to make the U.S a more cyber-secure nation. While tremendous progress has been made in the last year, much work remains. If you haven’t seen the video of the President’s remarks, you should. He lays out the critical importance of cybersecurity to our nation’s economic and national security with a forward-looking vision of what we need accomplish.
-
Cyber Education: Achieving Obama’s Vision
This Op-ed by NCSA Executive Director Michael Kaiser was originally published in Education Week – May 21, 2010
President Barack Obama has said that America faces “few more urgent challenges than preparing our children to compete in a global economy.” Being able to understand and make use of the world’s vast telecommunications infrastructure is certainly part of that preparation. So it was no surprise when the White House issued its Cyberspace Policy Review last May that the document contained a call for the nation to “initiate a K-12 cybersecurity education program for digital safety, ethics, and security; expand university curricula; and set the conditions to create a competent workforce for the digital age.”
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the president’s...
-
The cyber defenders of tomorrow
Critical to our success in protecting our digital assets is ensuring that young people consider and seek careers in cybersecurity. We need to build out our math and science curriculum in the K-12 years to ensure that high school graduates have the basic knowledge to build in college.
In addition to providing the academic training, we need to spark and inspire young people about the possibilities of careers in cybersecurity. One the best ways we have of doing that is through cyber challenges, competitions where young people engage in simulations to defend networks from attackers.
One such effort was developed and implemented by SAIC (an NCSA Board member Company). Using the online gaming platform they developed for schools across the country, SAIC recently launched a special competition in San Diego. With the help of Mayor Sanders, they launched the San Diego Mayor's Cyber Cup San Diego. Young people rom several high schools and middle schools were involved. In the end the four best teams competed for the cup. Learn more about the program and see a video of the kids in action at SAIC’s page devoted to the program. Watch the video the completion. It will give you hope for our cyber future.
This combination of schools, private industry, and local government are the essential ingredients for succss.
SSO (stay safe online),
Michael
-
Massachusetts takes a step forward in addressing cyber bullying
Massachusetts Governor Patrick signed a sweeping new anti-bullying bill (today that was developed in the wake of the suicide of Phoebe Prince, 15, who was the subject of continuous victimization at South Hadley High School. Nine students have been arrested in the case and await their fate in the criminal justice system. The new law is fairly comprehensive and lays out a definition of bullying that includes
