Sunday, October 26, is another "National Cyber Security Day" where we all should perform a series of quick and easy security checks on our computer. Sadly all too many of us painfully learned the hazards of using insecure computers. Witness the havoc caused since the last "National Cyber Security Day" by such attacks as the infamous Blaster worm that shut down countless millions of computers, and the assault by the Sobig-F worm that paralyzed the email services which many users depended on for commercial and personal communications. Possibly even more damaging was the millions of victims of identity theft who suffered financial losses and embarrassment when perpetrators planted backdoor Trojans which captured our personal information, or hackers who easily broke into our computers while we blissfully cruised the net, unaware that our personal files were being compromised to our detriment. What is so especially painful was that almost all of this damage and heartache would have been so easily preventable if only more of us would have performed the security steps suggested on the previous Cyber Security days.

A consortium of private organizations and public agencies has again come together to promote computer security by sponsoring the National Cyber Security Alliance. With sponsors consisting of a veritable "Who's Who" of computing, ranging from corporations such as AOL, AT&T, Cisco, EDS, Microsoft, and other easily recognizable corporations, to public agencies from the FTC and the GSA to the Department of Homeland Security, this Alliance is committed to encourage all of us to secure our computers. The Alliance has created a website at www.staysafeonline.info (note that it ends in ".info") where tips, hints, and instructions on personal computer security are available. Specific materials are available on the site for children, with the emphasis on the site placed on home users.

The key to securing our computers is the "Top Ten Security Tips" listen on the site. Readers of this column will well recognize these tips, as I have been harping on them ever since I started writing this column several years ago. To reiterate the "Top Ten" thing we all must periodically review and comply with are:

1. Use antivirus software and keep it up to date.

2. Don't open email from unknown sources. (NOTE: Many of the current email borne viruses and worms use names hijacked from the address book on an infected computer and will often come from known sources!)

3. Use hard-to-guess passwords.

4. Use a firewall to help protect your computer from intruders.

5. Don't share access to your computers with strangers. Learn about file sharing risks. (This includes such services as KazAa, Morpheus, Grokster, and other similar programs)

6. Disconnect from the Internet when not in use. (Many broadband users incorrectly think that "always on" services mean that they can simple leave their computers connected to the net while they are not using the net; these users are easy targets for hackers and have a fair chance at becoming a victim)

7. Back up your computer data.

8. Regularly download security protection updates (windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

9. Check your security on a regular basis. When you change your clocks for daylight-savings time, reevaluate your computer security.

10. Make sure your family members and/or your employees know what to do if their computers become infected.

Detailed instructions on accomplishing these tasks are on the staysafeonline.info website.

Other helpful information on this site includes a series of free online "Tech Talks" which cover such topics as "The CyberSmart! Curriculum" which is a guide to online child safety, and responsibility. Another available presentation is "Security Fundamentals: Intro, Dangers/Defenses, Viruses, Passwords, and Wrap-up"; this presentation is intended to make the home and institutional computer user aware of security issues. Another presentation is "Protect Your Computer, Protect Your Country's Cyber-Infrastructure" which describes how securing our personal computers against terrorism will also promote national security. It also explains how our private computers can be hijacked and used in a coordinated attack on our national infrastructure.

For those wanting to learn more about computing security issues there is a link for "Security Fundamentals" which offers information on the basics of online security. For home users there is a section devoted to the special security issues facing broadband users, as well as tips on securing home networks, which have become very popular. There is also a section geared to the cyber security needs of the small and midsize business user.

Since there is an abundance of reliable and easy-to-use information available on securing our personal computers, there should be few excuses for becoming a victim of some form of cyber terrorism.

Please, when you change your clocks, also remember to check your computer security. This should not just be a twice yearly function, but a daily duty we all share.

For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here