E-CommerceALERT.com is part of the Bennett Gold LLP web site network.
LINK TO: Bennett Gold LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, home page.
LINK TO: E-CommerceALERT.com Home Page.
CLICK to GO BACK to Main Page.

Research and retrieval of news articles by:
Bennett Gold LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants


SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL VISITORS:
Effective December 31 2012, articles are no longer being updated on this web site.
The site is now maintained as an historical archive, covering notable e-commerce news articles from the period 1999 to 2012.


MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND CYBER THREATS, SAYS FORMER DHS CHIEF

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Posted on December 20, 2012

Michael Chertoff, who ran the Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, says there's a reason that computer security isn't up to the threat posed by cyber criminals: Doing it right is too complicated for most people.

A large part of the problem "is that the solution is inaccessible to the average consumer," Mr. Chertoff said in an interview at the RSA conference in San Francisco. While it's generally possible to secure a computer and protect one's personal information. often those measures require technical expertise beyond the grasp of the typical computer owner, he said. Not only that, the problem itself is hard to understand: There isn't much dialogue about cyber issues that shine a light on the nature of the threat, and attempts to describe it often get bogged down in tech jargon. The result is a natural inclination by most people to ignore cyber threats.

The solution isn't just to educate people, Mr. Chertoff said. "You have to offer people solutions that they are comfortable with," he said.

Getting there probably requires changes by the government, the private sector, and individuals. The government can start by talking more openly about cyber issues, thus raising awareness of the dangers that exist, he said. The private sector needs to develop security systems that are easier to use and don't require people to remember 20 different passwords. Biometric devices that recognize a person fingerprint are a step in the right direction, Mr. Chertoff said.

Individuals need to take responsibility, too, of course. The first step is to recognize the value of personal data and other digital information. All too often people are willing to share details about themselves in exchange for some kind of service. This gets people in "the habit of viewing your personal information as something cheap," Mr. Chertoff said. That's an attitude that people can fix right away while waiting for easier-to-use security products, he said.




CLICK to GO BACK to Main Page.

E-Commerce Alerts are issued by Bennett Gold LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as situations develop. Bookmark this site and check back often. Our e-mail address is: info@BennettGold.ca

In accordance with United States Code, Title 17, Section 107 and Article 10 of The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, the news clippings on this web site are made available without profit for research and educational purposes.


ALERT
ARCHIVES
Final Entries
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999


LINK TO: Bennett Gold, Chartered Professional Accountants: A Licensed Provider of WebTrust Services.

WebTrust Is Your
Best Defense
Against
Privacy Breaches.

Get WebTrust
Working For
Your Site.