Press Release - Governor Rendell Announces Pennsylvania's New Cyber Security Web Site
Press Release - Governor Rendell Announces Pennsylvania's New Cyber Security Web Site
WEBSITE PROVIDES CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR STAYING SAFE ON THE INTERNET
HARRISBURG Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced a new cyber security Web site that provides people with timely, accurate and reliable information to protect their children and help Internet users stay safe and secure.
"Many people use the Internet to communicate with family and friends as well as manage their finances and buy goods and services," Governor Rendell said. "Businesses and many industries rely on the Internet to reach customers and manage their operations.
"These information systems and networks play an important role in our day-to-day lives. That's why it is important to protect ourselves and our information from attack by viruses and those who want to invade our privacy," the Governor said.
Kristen Miller, the state's chief information officer, said, "This innovative new Web site gives people critical, yet easy-to-understand, information about how to stay safe online. Cyber security is everyone's responsibility. We all should understand and apply basic principals to protect ourselves while using a computer."
The newly created Web site is located at www.cybersecurity.state.pa.us. The commonwealth's Office for Information Technology collaborated with national and state organizations to develop the site and will update it frequently.
The Web site features online safety information applicable to employees, students, parents and children as well as small businesses and local governments. It includes current cyber threat advisories, resources and tips for staying safe online, security awareness tools for people of all ages and the latest computer security news.
Also available on the Web site are public service announcements that can be used by local television stations, schools and community organizations. The video announcements are targeted to elementary school children and feature a real and attention-grabbing mouse to teach kids how to stay safe on the computer.
Highlighted on the site are six basic tips for computer safety:
* Take extra steps to help keep kids safe online and teach them not to reveal personal information.
* Keep a computer's defenses strong by using firewalls and current anti-virus software.
* Use strong passwords with at least eight characters and protect and change them regularly.
* Think first, click later
carefully consider the contents of every email message attachment before opening it.
* Be protective of personal information, like a Social Security number, and never provide it via an email, instant message or pop-up window.
* Make sure Web sites protect personal information and read the privacy statement before you give out any personal data or download software.
For more details on these and other security tips, visit the best practices section of the cyber security Web site at www.cybersecurity.state.pa.us.
The site also provides critical news from the Pennsylvania Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The center is responsible for raising the level of cyber security readiness and response throughout the state and assists local governments in combating cyber threats, which can be any object or activity that compromises the security of a computer system. Such threats most often comes as email attachments containing harmful code.
http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=457593