Viruses and Online Chat
Good computer security means being extremely careful about accepting programs or other files during on-line chat sessions: this seems to be one of the more common means that people wind up with virus or Trojan horse information security problems. And if any other family members (especially younger ones) use the computer, make sure they know not to accept any files while using chat.
Computer Security Organizations
The National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) is part of the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection in the Department of Homeland Security. NCSD is charged with coordinating the implementation of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and serves as the national single point of contact for the public and private sectors regarding computer security, information security and internet security issues. NCSD is also charged with identifying, analyzing, and reducing cyber threats and vulnerabilities; disseminating warning information about threats; coordinating incident response; and providing technical assistance in continuity of operations and recovery planning.
Hackers and Computer Security
Prior to the advent of the personal computer, hacking was limited to the activity of phreaking or to those who had access to mainframe computers. As a result, internet security issues related to hacking were not a widespread phenomenon. In the early eighties, however, PCs finally made their entry into some homes in North America and Europe. The Commodore 64 was one of the more popular models and many hackers started their hacking careers on these machines. For a new generation of teenage boys, computers, games and hacking became a way of life.