You may remember McGruff the Crime Dog made famous by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), with its trademarked slogan, “Take a bite out of crime”. McGruff is alive and well still fighting crime, but now with an emphasis on cybercrime. The National Crime Prevention Council, in partnership with the Forum to Advance the Mobile Experience (FAME), and the Chief Marketing Office Council (CMO Council), have reintroduced McGruff in an attempt to unite computer users in the battle against cybercrime. Specifically, “The campaign is empowering and rallying millions of computer and digital device users in the battle against the continually growing plague of computer viruses, worms, spam, spyware, phishing, identity theft and online predators.”

According to McGruff’s new website, www.bytecrime.org, 81 percent of home computers lack some core protective measures (statistic according to the National Cyber Security Alliance), and over 100 million people have had their data compromised over the past 18 months (source: NCPC). The CMO Council has reported that Americans are more worried about identity theft and fraud than about personal safety and terrorist attack. McGruff also cited the FBI estimate that cybercrime costs us $67 billion a year.

With the help of such technological powerhouses as CNET, Comcast, Intel, McAfee, and VeriSign, McGruff is now barking at “… viruses, worms, spam, spyware, phishing, identity theft and online predators.” To help home users take a bite out of cybercrime, McGruff is encouraging a “Mass Immunization” (www.bytecrime.org/programs/mass_immunization) of computers with antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, anti-spam, and firewall software to “lock the door” against virtual intruders, just as he has encouraged us to lock the doors to our homes.

McGruff is encouraging our children to get involved with computer security, as they are often significant users of our new digital technologies. To help children to become involved with cyber safety, he has a program “Junior CyberGuards”. The stated goals of the Junior CyberGuards effort is to mobilize our children to help close security breaches in their homes and communities; “lead the charge” to have every home computer protected against viruses, spyware, other forms of malware, and security threats; and to engage in discussions with peers about cyber security issues and solutions. The information on this website would be an excellent resource for teachers to utilize in class, as well as for assemblies, technology days, and other events for students and parents alike.

The Crime Dog has made a variety of information available both through the website, and booklets available for free download. One booklet, the 38 page ”Mind What You Do Online” is available for free download here. This booklet is an excellent though non-technical resource for home users, commercial and educational users, and others. Topics include wireless networking security, telecommuting safety, stopping malware, dealing with identity theft, and other cyber safety topics.

Sometimes we just need a little help in securing our computers, and McGruff obliges by providing us with a series of free tip sheets here. These tip sheets, are explicitly for general home users, home users with kids, business users, and users of mobile devices. Each tip sheet can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file and printed. These tip sheets include easy to follow and understand directions on computing safety and security, and how to deal with incidents when they occur. The tip sheet for home users with kids includes basic information on internet child safety, a very important topic especially in today’s environment. The mobile device tip sheet coverless wireless networking security, public network safety, physical safety, Bluetooth, password security, and safety for children when using mobile devices.

Sadly, despite McGruff’s best attempts, some of us will fall victim to some form of cybercrime. For those of us unfortunate enough to be victimized, McGruff provides us with links to law enforcement and other agencies, as well as other information on reporting cybercrimes. For those who may have been identity theft or phishing victims, the dog has provided links to contact the three major credit bureaus.

McGruff has created a question and answer website where common issues and computer questions are asked and answered. This comprehensive listing can be found online here.

As he has done in the past, McGruff will be quite vocal in getting the word out about cyber safety. McGruff will be featured in public service announcements on radio, TV, print media, and the internet. He is planning on distributing up to 500,000 copies of ”Mind What You Do Online”, both digitally and in hard-copy formats. McGruff plans on mobilizing the students at 5000 schools to spread the word on computing safety. McGruff will be featured in professional ice hockey, basketball, and soccer events with his “Guard Your HomeNet with McGruff” cyber safety programs. The “Junior CyberGuards” program is scheduled as an educational outreach program in middle schools in 2007.

The National Crime Prevention Council and its partners and sponsors are to be commended for their efforts in promoting McGruff as a “spokes dog” for computer safety and security. Maybe this time we will listen and learn.

For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here