DHS Official Tells State Dept. Employees: Individuals Can Help Prevent Cyber Attacks

State Dept. employees explore computer security solutions at Cyber Security Awareness Month vendor fair, Sept. 28, 2006.

Individual computer users can help prevent cyber attacks against others by being aware of cyber threats and following some basic good practices, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told an audience of State Department employees.

"By protecting yourself on the Internet, you also are protecting others," Liesyl Franz, deputy director for outreach and awareness at DHS’ National Cyber Security Division, stated while addressing U.S. Department of State employees in Washington, D.C.

DHS Deputy Director for Cyber Security Outreach and Awareness Liesyl Franz (l.) discusses cyber threats with Diplomatic Security's Director of the Office of Computer Security Mary Stone Holland (r.), Sept. 28, 2006.

Speaking at the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Sept. 28 kickoff event for the 2nd Annual Cyber Security Awareness Month, Franz emphasized that — thanks to the Internet — individual computer users often can have a significant impact on others if they do not maintain the security of their equipment.

"Our computers can be used to impact other computers," said Franz.

Not protecting your computer leaves not only your own machine vulnerable, but also creates the possibility that potential threats — such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and other malicious computer code — can be transmitted to other computers and networks that come in contact with your e-mail, files, and other digital data emanating from your unprotected computer, she explained.

Diplomatic Security's Director of the Office of Computer Security Mary Stone Holland (l.) watches as DS Logistics Specialist Natarsha Randolph cuts the ceremonial cake at Cyber Security Awareness Month kickoff, Sept. 28, 2006.

Franz urged employees to practice what she called the three core cyber security practices:

• Install security applications, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, on your computer and update them when patches re released by the manufacturers.
• Install a firewall – either a software application or a hardware appliance – to any computer connected to the Internet.
• Regularly install updates for your operating system as they become available.

Many of these applications automatically seek and download manufacturers’ updates and patches, she said.

She suggested computer users improve their awareness of current cyber threats by signing up to receive free e-mail cyber security alerts issued by DHS’ U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)

She also said computer users could play a role in fighting back against cyber threats by reporting spam, online scams, viruses, and other cyber offenses to US-CERT.

Franz emphasized that ensuring the nation’s cyber health is the collective responsibility of all computer users, both individuals and enterprises.

"Cyber security is a shared societal responsibility that cannot be managed by the federal government alone," she said.

About DS and Cyber Security Awareness Month Franz’s keynote address was the first in Diplomatic Security’s month-long series of events aimed at raising State Department employees’ awareness of cyber security issues and urging them to adopt computer security best practices both at work and at home. DS’ Office of Computer Security works to ensure the security of the Department of State's global information systems and assets, and assesses emerging cyber threats and security technologies. Throughout the month of October, government agencies and organizations nationwide are holding events to raise cyber security awareness among their employees and members. Other topics covered in the DS series include "Protecting Children Online," "Phishing/Pharming," "Home Security for Virtually Nothing," "Catching Hackers," and "Federal Cyber Security Issues." For More Information: National Cyber Security Division Awareness Month Portal In honor of national Cyber Security Awareness Month, this DHS site provides a collection of useful links and information on cyber security. www.dhs.gov/cybersecurityawarenessmonth US-CERT A partnership between DHS, the public sector, and private entities, US-CERT coordinates defense against and responses to cyber attacks across the nation. www.uscert.gov National Cyber Security Alliance NCSA focuses on home users, small businesses, kindergarten through high school plus university students. www.staysafeonline.org/ Avoid ID Theft This Federal trade Commission Web site provides useful news updates and information on what to do if your personal identity data has been stolen. http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

Oct. 3, 2006