Just in case you haven’t heard the economy has been in a bit of a rough patch. Everyone has been tightening their belts. Well, here’s a ray of sunshine. The Department of Homeland Security has been authorized by the Obama administration to hire as many as 1,000 IT security professionals over the next 3 years. Areas they will be hiring include vulnerability detection, cyber risk and strategic analysis, network and systems engineering, and much more.
Cyber Security Dream Team is the goal
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano made the announcement October 1 during remarks tied to the start of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month:
“Effective cyber-security requires all partners—individuals, communities, government entities and the private sector—to work together to protect our networks and strengthen our cyber-resiliency,” Napolitano said. “This new hiring authority will enable DHS to recruit the best cyber-analysts, developers and engineers in the world to serve their country by leading the nation’s defenses against cyber-threats.”
Join ranks soldier
So whether you’re out of work or just want a new job, update your resume, pay all your back taxes, and apply for one of these new government slots ASAP! Now, since I was kind of enough to give you a lead on your new job all I’ll ask is that you put in a good word with your rich Uncle Sam for Mailprotector’s award winning email security and Hosted Exchange 2007 services. We’ll make you look like a rock star when you show him the reports of all the spam, viruses, Trojans and other email-borne malware we’re stopping. He may even give you some of that bailout money as a bonus for doing such a great job. Now that’s kick-starting the economy!
Happy National Cyber Security Awareness Month!
According to a recent GAO report NASA suffered hundreds of security incidents in 2007 and 2008, including malware infections, data breaches, stolen laptops and bot nets. NASA was affected by more malware than any other federal agency and reported 1,120 security incidents during this two year span. Some of the laptops that were stolen contained unencrypted data for the prototype hypersonic jet (the X-51 scramjet) and test plans related to a space telescope and lunar orbiter. 82 agency computers became part of a Ukraine-based bot net after they were infected with rootkits.
Situation is improved, but gaps in security remain
The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team urged the space agency to implement more effective patching and to better train employees regarding cyber security. Despite the warning NASA still found a number of machines infected with the Coreflood Trojan. It can steal user credentials then communicate with a hostile command and control server. NASA has taken steps to address incident response and improve cyber security practices. The GAO still cites gaps. “”NASA remains vulnerable to similar incidents going forward,” the report finds. “Control vulnerabilities and program shortfalls make it possible for intruders, as well as government and contractor employees, to bypass or disable computer access controls and undertake a wide variety of inappropriate or malicious acts.”
Security should continue to tighten
The GAO made numerous recommendations. NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver agreed with them. “Deficiencies with IT security are often a result of systemic issues in the management of IT,” she said. “To this end, NASA continues to implement improvements in IT management, adhering to [a] previously developed strategy for providing an integrated, secure, and efficient IT environment that supports the NASA mission.”
User awareness key to any effective cyber security program
People need to understand the risks of opening spam attachments or visiting links embedded in spam. Mailprotector’s services help to mitigate these types of events. Our email security services protect users from Trojans, viruses, phishing, and other email-borne malware. Mailprotector is easy – you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use it.
Happy National Cyber Security Awareness Month!
gaps
The “balloon boy” story is a testament to keeping your guard up against hoaxes that some are willing to perpetrate to get past your defenses.
Media frenzy
Reports indicated that 6 year old Falcon Heene had climbed into a box attached to a home-made high altitude balloon. Media outlets piled onto the story – CNN, FOX, DRUDGE Report and others all had headlines indicating the balloon was adrift but the box was no longer intact. America was anxiously awaiting to learn the fate of the small child.
Emergency services scrambled
The balloon floated for approximately 50 miles. Emergency responders rushed to the scene as the balloon touched down to search for the young boy. Once they did not find him they activated other teams to expand the search. All this effort was for naught because the child was safely on the ground the entire time.
The joke’s on us
As this story continued to unfold it became apparent that it was a hoax. As details have emerged it has been learned that the parents concocted this scheme for self-promotional purposes. Law enforcement officials are still investigating the case. Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County along with other authorities have indicated that charges may be forthcoming against the parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene:
“Charges have not been filed, but authorities expect to recommend felony charges including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and attempting to influence a public servant, Alderden said. They also plan to recommend a charge of filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor.”
Sherriff Alderden said it is unlikely that someone convicted of these charges would face jail time.
Their plan was pretty much a success
Based on the Sherriff’s comments it appears that the Heene’s have accomplished their goal to heavily promote themselves for another reality show without actually getting into a bunch of trouble. They previously appeared on ABC’s “Wife Swap” and had approached other outlets in the past few months about doing another reality show. Based on all the media reports it’s apparent these folks crave the spotlight and were willing to perpetrate this hoax to create the buzz for a new “reality show.”
News such as this can create an “in” for cyber villians
Spammers and cyber-thieves have a way of using these types of news events to push spam out to unsuspecting recipients. Be wary of phishing emails with headline grabbing subjects. Many times there are links that will direct you to an infected site that will infect your computer with a bot net virus, password stealing Trojan, key logger Trojan, or other malware. Don’t fall for these tricks.
Don’t be fooled again
The Heenes may have been able to pull off their hoax with seemingly little consequence. However, you’ll find that if you fall for the spammers bait then the consequences may be quite harmful. Continue to educate your users against the perils of opening spam and Implement Mailprotector’s award winning email security to protect against cyber hoaxes.
In celebration of National Cyber Security Awareness Month I’ve adopted one of Lou Holtz’s little stories. Lou has a special way of delivering a message. I recently caught this nugget:
The organization had just experienced a severe data breach. Everybody, Anybody, Somebody, and Nobody – they were all given an important task.
“Everybody was to do it. Everybody felt sure that Somebody would do it, because Anybody could do it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got mad because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody felt that because Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Somebody didn’t do it.
In the end Everybody got mad at Somebody because Nobody did what Anybody could do.”
-L.Holtz
It’s a funny delivery but with a serious message. Admins and users need to stay aware of what’s happening with their email. Reveiw your current email usage policies and security posture to make sure you don’t have any vulnerable areas. You can implement one of Mailprotector’s award winning services to help mitigate email-borne threats: spam, Trojans, viruses, etc. Don’t fall prey to the cyber tricksters! Happy National Cyber Security Awareness Month!
There have been a slew of cyber-security related news events as of late. Robert Mueller, the FBI director, told an audience that he was nearly hooked in a phishing scam . Google’s Wave created a spike of spear-phishing attempts. Botnets continue to plague the web, and spam has not been eradicated by 2006 as Bill Gates had predicted in 2004.
Well, here’s another item you need a heads-up about – GIANT SNAKES!
The giant snakes aren’t on the Internet. They’re in Florida, Texas and the southern US. There have been numerous reports about large non-native snake species being let loose in the wild by their previous owners. I’ve never understood why someone would want a python, anaconda, boa constrictor or other large snake as a pet. They won’t chase a ball, they won’t fetch the paper and slippers, and I sure don’t want to find one snuggled up to me on the couch or in the bed. I like snakes but only if I’m bigger and not seen as a meal by them. Snakes have always been fascinating to me. My kids have even been able to handle large constrictors at our local science center. Of course, the handlers are always on hand supervising. These large constrictors can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh over 200 lbs. Could you imagine encountering one of these beasts in the wild? You better be a track star or packing heat if you want to tell that story to your buddies.
We’ll handle your email, you handle the snakes
Mailprotector can’t really help you with large, hungry constrictors you may meet in the wild. We’ll be glad to keep you safe with our award winning email security. We’ll put the squeeze on cyber-crooks so they don’t put the squeeze on you. You’re on your own with the snakes, though.
Happy National Cyber Security Awareness Month!
