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Computer Security Day
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We join with those who mourn the loss of life, the injuries, and the disruption of lives caused by the attacks against Washington, DC, and New York, N.Y. All those effected -- the brave people who helped in rescue efforts, those involved in America's response to terror and in the war with Iraq-- are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Aerospace Corporation
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Once again, the final business day of November is International Computer Security Day. This event began in 1988 when the Washington, D. C., chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Security, Audit & Control decided to bring extra attention to the issues of computer security.
Computer Security Day occurs where you live and work, not at a remote conference or meeting. Over the years, the ACSD has obtained official proclamations from many local and national governments. This year, over 1,000 businesses and professional computer groups in 52 countries are cooperating to remind us that everyone who uses a computer should take appropriate actions to protect their computer, computer programs and data.
What are some of the things you or your people can do?
*** Change your password. Make sure it is a strong one (uses both upper case & lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols, and is at least seven characters long)
*** Enable the password feature on your screensaver. AF policy stipulates it should activate after inactivity of 15 minutes or less.
*** Make sure your computer passwords are not left unsecured (under your keyboard, in a desk drawer, etc.). If you must write it down, carry it in your wallet until you memorize it.
*** Make sure the virus definitions for your anti-virus software are up to date, and scan all the files on all your hard drives for viruses.
*** Vacuum your computer’s immediate area.
*** Clean the heads on your disk drives or other magnetic media drives.
*** Back up your data (after being certain that it is virus-free). Help a computer novice with this task.
*** Delete unneeded files.
*** Write-protect all your diskettes that are not to be written to.
*** Verify the inventory of your computer applications. If you have any unauthorized ones (pirated copies, shareware that you haven’t registered), delete them or pay for authorized copies.
*** Install and inspect the power surge protection as appropriate.
*** Display your International Computer Security Day 2000 poster.
*** If you are not already registered for 2001, send a note on your organization’s letterhead to: Association for Computer Security Day, P. O. Box 39110, Washington, DC 20016.
The Association for Computer Security Day (ACSD) has established a web site for the event. For more information, point your browser to http://www.geocities.com/a4csd/ or to http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/computersecurityday
[Webmaster's Note: This article was originally written for the November 2000 issue of the Channel Islands NCMS Newsletter.]