Looking Back at the 2011 Cyber Security Year

It wouldn’t have surprised me if TIME Magazine had chosen the anonymous face of the hacker as their Person of the Year for 2011. From government agencies to electronics giants, hackers and attackers fought their way into personal information systems and websites, sometimes to make a point for a higher cause, and sometimes for a lesser cause to just steal valuable personal information.

For example, in the latest attack against Strategic Forecasting Inc. (or STRATFOR), a confidential client list was stolen, as were thousands of the clients’ credit card numbers. And some clients have reported fraudulent charges on their accounts.

However, it’s difficult to determine if the overall number of cyber incidents in 2011 was more or less significant than previous years, since the severity of such attacks is so subjective and often information is limited due to the reluctance of companies or agencies to report details. Yet the sheer volume of high-profile incidents covered heavily by news media outlets seemed significant, while at the same time, a large number of hacks were quite sophisticated and alarming from a national security perspective.

At least 58 highly-publicized hacking attacks occurred in 2011, with victim organizations worldwide ranging from law enforcement agencies, Fortune 500 companies and governments to defense agencies and military contractors.

While some highly reported hacks were ultimately deemed relatively trivial – briefly knocking the public website of the Central Intelligence Agency out of commission, for instance – such attacks were still part of a 2011 wave that showed many major government institutions seemingly quite vulnerable.

Additionally, at least two dozen major corporations were hit, from Apple, Sony and Citigroup to Research in Motion and Google. Media outlets like NBC, FOX and PBS were hit, too. Organizations like the European Union’s carbon trading market and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange were hacked by cybercriminals, while the International Monetary Fund was hit by cyber spies looking for a leg up on global negotiations. The goal of a hack of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce seemed to be to glean tidbits of information that might help the hackers target and infiltrate U.S. companies.

Now add to those attacks a number of far more serious cyber espionage infiltrations of strategically important U.S. companies, such as RSA, a major security vendor, and Lockheed Martin, a key defense contractor. Defense ministries in Australia, the U.S., Japan, Norway and NATO were hacked too. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which houses many U.S. nuclear secrets, was broken into as well.

Despite the existence of a global cyber-security industry whose cumulative worth is estimated to be $80 billion, the advantage is clearly with the attackers. The modern Internet was created for scientists and researchers to share information without security features. Nobody could have predicted that this Cold War technology of autonomous networks would become the singular backbone of international commerce and data exchange. Commercial enterprises and governments latched on and soared – but have never made their users accountable or identifiable. Plus, there are many ways to mask computer access. The result: near total anonymity for sophisticated hackers.

Traditional cyber defenses need to be greatly improved, because attackers in the coming years will not only increase the anonymous and virulent nature of their wares, but also improve on precision targeting that will be difficult to counter. Mobile technology, cloud computing and outsourcing all contribute to making cyber defense more complex than ever.

The one theme that pulls all this together is that Cyber Security is a very human problem, and this human bandwidth can best be addressed with effective training and education. Tackling the human side of cyber security is the first step in improving information risk management.

Note:  Online Cyber Security training is available at no charge through TEEX’s National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) under a National Homeland Security Training Grant. 

Other resources for training and information include:

http://ciastraining.com/

https://www.facebook.com/teexcyber

http://msisac.cisecurity.org/resources/videos/

Author:  Tim Thorson is the Training Coordinator for the Cyber Security Program at the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), part of The Texas A&M University System.  He assists public and private enterprises to ensure that the privacy, reliability, and integrity of the information systems that power our global economy remain intact and secure.  He has developed new cyber security training and technical assistance programs for various business and government sectors. 

For winter driving: Be prepared and keep your cool

With winter driving, there are a lot of things that you can do before you hit the road to ensure a safe trip. And with more people driving these days instead of flying, you can bet that you won't be the only car on the highway this holiday season. So, before you buckle up and take off, here are some tips from Kyle McNew at TEEX's Public Safety & Security Division to help make it a smooth ride!

Before you leave
Some things to do before you open the car door:

• Check the road conditions on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) website or call (800) 452-9292.

• For those traveling outside the state of Texas, the U.S. DOT Federal Highway Association has nationwide highway closure information.

• Stay tuned to local broadcasts about the weather as well as road conditions. Check the weather where you're going as well!

• Put the Texas Department of Public Safety's Stranded Motorist Hotline number in your phone's contacts: 1-800-525-5555.

• As always, it's a good idea to have your car tools in good shape and available to use: spare tire, tire jack, and booster cables in case of battery failure.

• The TxDOT website recommends you check your vehicle before making a long trip in winter weather, including the:
• Ignition
• Battery
• Headlights and taillights
• Brakes
• Wiper blades
• Antifreeze level
• Fuel and exhaust systems
• Heater/defroster
• Tires

• Make sure there is adequate water containing windshield antifreeze in the windshield washer reservoir. A lot of people forget to use a windshield washer fluid that does not freeze when it's 32 degrees and below.

• Bring a good ice scraper. Running a wiper across a frozen window destroys the wiper, and it doesn't really get the ice off.

Consider what you will do should your vehicle break down. Do you have a charged cell phone available to make a call for help? Are you able to keep warm while you're waiting? It's always a good idea to have these things on hand:
• A spare blanket in the trunk.
• Non-perishable food items or snacks.
• Water.
• Your First-Aid kit, a must-have for any vehicle.
• A flashlight, with extra batteries, is also recommended for any long trips in the car.
• If there is the possibility of snow and/or iced roads, a bag of sand or kitty litter is helpful to keep in the trunk, along with a hand shovel, to help gain traction in icy road conditions
• Flares are a great idea, as well as either a lighter or matches.

On the road

When you are traveling in sub-freezing temperatures, there is the potential for ice on the roads. Be aware of the environmental conditions. McNew offers this advice:

• Wear your seat belts! And if you have children in the car, make sure you are using the appropriate child restraint system for their size and age. Seat belts save lives.
• Accelerate slowly and Stop sooner. Speed is always a major issue when there are freezing conditions outside. In icy conditions, stopping distance greatly increases, and the effectiveness of the brakes greatly decreases. So increase the amount of room between your vehicle and others (following distance), be cautious, and plan well ahead for times when you need to slow down and stop. Brake gently in slow, steady strokes to see how much traction you have, and begin braking early when approaching intersections or stops. If you step on your brakes and the car starts to slide, the best thing to do is to release some of that brake pressure so that those tires will start rolling again. One of the biggest reasons that people get into trouble in winter conditions is that they forget about the fact that the car just isn't going to stop as fast as they are used to.
• Be careful on bridges and overpasses. We all know that bridges and overpasses tend to ice up before the roadway itself does, so it's important to approach any bridge or overpass with a constant speed. Don't try to accelerate or decelerate while on the bridge—you want to hold a constant speed across it. Accelerating and/or decelerating on the ice can upset the stability of the car, making it veer in some other direction than where we want it to go.
• Use skid control rules. If you do find yourself skidding on ice, all the same rules of skid control apply. Take your foot off the accelerator or brakes, whichever one you happen to be on, and turn into the direction of the skid. Once you get the car straight again, you can try to bring it to a stop using a minimum amount of brake pressure so that you don't slide again. Unfortunately, it's hard to regain control when your vehicle slides, and you can quickly do a lot of damage.
• Remember you will need traction. If you have to start your vehicle while it's on an icy surface, all the gas in the world isn't going to make it go. The tires need something to provide traction, whether it's pea gravel, sand, salt, kitty litter, etc. That's why it is a good idea to have a bag of any of these in your vehicle in case this happens.
• Stay home. If it's icy outside and you don't have to absolutely go, don't go! That's the best plan with winter driving.
• Don't drive drowsy. It's never a good idea to drive during your normal bedtime hours. Coffee does not make an awake driver, it makes a caffeinated driver that's still sleepy, and you are a danger to yourself and others. You should get out of the car, and give yourself the time to rest. Drowsy drivers are as much of a danger as texting drivers and intoxicated drivers.
• Be PATIENT. During the holidays, forget about the holiday rush. Not only are there more people on the road, there are also more intoxicated drivers out there. You might be the best driver in the world, but you still have to worry about the other drivers. Plan ahead, leave in plenty of time, and expect the unexpected. But most of all, have some patience. Make room for the car that is changing lanes, and give yourself plenty of room so that you can react to what the other vehicles are doing. Keeping your cool during winter driving will help you arrive safely.

Click the links below for more information:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/#trff

http://www.intellicast.com/Travel/Driving/Highways.aspx

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/GIS/HCRS_main/viewer.htm

Kyle McNew is a Training Manager and Instructor for courses including Police Emergency Driving, Emergency Vehicle Operations, and Traffic Accident Avoidance at TEEX.

Growing Green Communities - Austin Rural Sustainability Conference

Learn how sustainable technologies and business practices can save money, make money and create jobs

It’s no secret that Texas has experienced not only the hottest summer on record, but one of the worst wildfire seasons in memory. Hundreds of homes were lost as friends and neighbors scrambled to simply survive the long, hot summer. Unfortunately, as we move into the fall, meteorologists predict a second year of the La Nina weather pattern which is believed to have caused our hot, dry weather. Though we can’t change the weather, on November 14-16, Texans can help mitigate next year’s heat as well as learn how to rebuild “green.” Register today for the fourth Texas Rural Sustainability Conference in Austin, conducted by Growing Green Communities.

The Growing Green Communities Rural Sustainability Conference is for anyone interested in hearing and seeing real-life examples from people who have saved money, made money and created jobs by adopting sustainable technologies and business practices.

Need more reasons to attend?

• Learn practical, real-world examples of sustainable business practices.
• Meet representatives and gain insights on programs from state and federal agencies.
• Learn about funding sources, incentives and other resources available for sustainable business development.
• Network with peers and service providers.
• Earn Continuing Education Units.

Sustainability is not a new concept for rural communities, whose roots in agriculture have ensured a long history of interest in resource management. The very nature of rural life demands an entrepreneurial, independent spirit and close attention to the bottom line. The Growing Green conference series brings information and resources about sustainable technologies and business practices to rural areas, shortening the distance to rural communities and presenting real opportunities to diversify rural economies and create jobs.

Speakers and Green Tracks

Our keynote speakers in Austin include Texas State Sen. Steve Ogden and Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith. Other speakers include representatives from business, finance, industry and government.

You can find information on our entire slate of speakers on the Austin conference speaker’s page on GrowingGreenCommunities.com.

While there, check out our Growing Green conference tracks:

• Financing and Incentives for Growing Green
• Growing Green with Renewable Energy and Sustainable Practices
• Progressive Practices by Texas Utilities
• Green Workforce Development
• Building and Managing Sustainable Facilities

Please visit GrowingGreenCommunities.com for a complete green conference program.

Growing Green Awards
Plan to attend the opening session on Nov. 14, from 2 – 4 p.m., where we will announce our first-ever Growing Green Awards. The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) will honor 10 outstanding initiatives that have created economic value and opportunity through environmental stewardship, energy conservation and sustainable practices in Texas rural communities. The awards program will recognize individuals, businesses, communities and organizations in five categories:

• School Districts, including Private Schools
• Rural Communities
• Electric Cooperatives and Municipal Electric Utilities
• Businesses
• Elected Officials

The criteria for evaluation for all categories include the degree to which the effort saved money, made money or created jobs as a result of an activity or initiative dedicated to energy efficiency, renewable energy solutions, creating sustainable communities or clean energy technologies.

For more information, please visit the Growing Green Awards page on the Growing Green Communities website.

Sponsors
The Growing Green conference series and website are produced by the Texas Engineering Extension Service’s Knowledge Engineering Division under a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The grant, “Communicating, Collaborating and Innovating towards Sustainable Development,” will bring sustainable economic development opportunities to rural communities through conferences and other means of information sharing.

Texans are tough, and we’ll recover from whatever nature throws at us. Texans are also smart and know that rebuilding sustainably is a key to saving money, making money and creating jobs for the 21st century.

Sam White is a communications specialist for the Texas Engineering Extension Service and Internet marketing manager for the Growing Green Communities conference series. We welcome your comments on our blog, or you may write to me at sam.white@tamu.edu.

NOTE: A variety of exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are available to help you find the most effective way to promote your business to our attendees. For further information on exhibiting or sponsoring our Rural Sustainability Conference in Austin or our upcoming April conference in Rockwall, Texas, please visit the sponsor and exhibitor page on GrowingGreenCommunities.com, or contact Ann Lauter at 979-458-8723.

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