Business911 International, Inc.

Four Signs of an Easy Victim on Social Networks

What makes cyber criminals target you in a social network scam? Sophos' recent study identifies the signs of a soft target online.  See interesting article from CSO with common sense preventive measures.

 

NIST issues second draft on Smart Grid Cyber Security

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the second draft of its Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements, which now identifies more than 120 interfaces that will link diverse devices, systems, and organizations engaged in two-way flows of electricity and information and classifies these connections according to the risks posed by a potential security breach.

DHS/FEMA State Cybersecurity Training

Online training opportunity addressing cyber security released by TEEX part of the Texas A&M system.

DHS/FEMA State Cybersecurity Training

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Intel Chief: U.S. at Risk of Crippling Cyber Attack

FOXNews.com

The United States is at risk of a crippling cyber attack that could "wreak havoc" on the country because the "technological balance" makes it much easier to launch a cyber strike than defend against it, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Tuesday. See article for details:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/03/intel-chief-risk-crippling-cyber-attack/

Is social media really that big a deal?

You, or people you know are actively using social media.  I'm often asked why I believe those in infra-structure protection, IT security, and people in general should even be using the technology.  I simply respond it's just one more tool in the toobox, but you should have in the box, and ready to go.

Unless you've been living under a rock, there is no deying the power of such tools.  As we saw in Iran, and we are seeing in Haiti, the use of this technology brings critical information to the airwaves from eye witnesses on the scene.  We have heard stories of applications like Twitter being used to locate hostages, find people trapped in rubble, and we now use Twitter to provide on the ground observations of seismic activity (the USGS TED system).

I'm not saying that there aren't risks of using social media, but they are managable.  Just like I wouldn't put my utility knive back in the tool box with the blade exposed, I shouldn't take unessarry risks using social media.

Ask any Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) person the difficulty of locating people who may be trapped or injured, by "searching" with limited technology and dogs, and compare it to knowing where someone is specifically trapped and the job becomes more rescue than search.

Understanding not eveyone will have cell phones, nor will cellular/texting services always be available we should encourage our public sector agencies to adopt a means to communciate with the citizens during a mass casualty event, in order to reduce the "search" timeline and provide more time for rescue.

Here is link to a blog that describes "Social Media’s True Impact on Haiti, China, and the World"

Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones

Disturbing report on data security.  While many are looking for a mushroom cloud, the terrorists are using simplle tools to gain access, to cause or potentially cause disruption to our lives and critical infrastructures.  See this article from the Wall St. Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126102247889095011.html

Texas A&M Cyber Project Fosters Internet Security Awareness, Skills

Small businesses face many challenges, yet some small business owners remain unaware of the real threat posed by hackers, who can break into computer networks to obtain sensitive information vital to these businesses, notes a Texas A&M University professor who heads a project focusing on cyber security.
http://epsy.tamu.edu/articles/texas_a_m_cyber_project_fosters_internet_security_awareness__skills

SCADA vulnerabilities - Sabotaging the System

Very good 60 minutes clip on Cyber Security provides insight into current threats.  Could hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world's infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation's military arsenal? See clip: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5578986n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

Infrastructure protection

InfraGard is an information sharing and analysis effort serving the interests and combining the knowledge base of a wide range of members. At its most basic level, InfraGard is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. Re: http://www.infragard.net

Information protection solutions

Business911 provides a cost effective, common sense approach to information protection.  Our services include:

Information Technology Governance

Cyber Security

 

Business Process Controls

 

Regulatory Compliance and Audit

 

Organizational Resiliency