Co-Founder, Marc Maiffret is back as CTO of eEye. The CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, talked about the value of Marc’s new perspective that he is bringing back to eEye after several years of contributing to the industry elsewhere.

Marc understands that modern societies will become increasingly dependent on technology, not just as something nice to have, but as a foundation for a way of life. However, along with the technology dependency, people like Marc who understand the vulnerabilities individuals and societies are facing, are the defenders of our personal and national security. Personal, corporate, national, and international entities are all subject to cyber threats, exposing our children, families, and businesses while making them vulnerable to the digital threats from cybercriminals.

Marc Maiffret On CHWradio

The truth is we have no choice…The Internet is here and it is so much a part of our daily lives that there is no disconnect, plug to pull, or switch to turn it off. The CyberHood Watch appreciates individuals like Marc who are tireless defenders of our cyber security.

We have laid the golden egg…The Internet. Unfortunately, everyone and every entity connected to the Internet are its treasures and valuable resources. Each entity connected to the Internet provides nefarious organizations  potential access to personal information, and financial wealth. In addition there are many who are concerned about the security of the nation form those who seek world domination or the destruction of nations.

Too often, I have stated as well as heard, “we are always a step and a half behind the hacker”. Good news, according to Marc, understanding the aspects of the life cycle of attacks, allows us to get a jump ahead of the bad guys. The nefarious entities are all scrambling to find the vulnerabilities in the systems or a way to socially engineer individuals to trigger a behavioral response. However, if we focus on the basic commonalities in penetrating a system, and find it first, we have a chance of staying ahead of the hackers allowing Marc, to patch and deny access to hackers with bad intentions. One thing is for sure; it is a never ending battle 24/7, 365 days a year. As Marc said, “It is a continuous sprint with no finish line in sight”.

Thank you Marc Maiffret, as well as all our guests we have had on CHWradio who strive to make the digital age safe for all children, families, and businesses.

I Love An Intellectual Challenge - Lets Match Wits

Marc loves the intellectual challenge and matching wits with the nefarious hackers. However; be mindful there are the counterparts to Marc, who are well funded by criminal organizations, racing Marc to discover the same vulnerabilities in the system.

Graham Cluley, from Sophos, raised the question in his blog post about hiring hackers who have turned good, one of whom was appointed to Homeland Security. The concern is we might be sending a message of approval for individuals, in order to obtain a position of importance; you have to become a notable hacker of the system to prove your worthiness.

The concern is we are approving the negative behavior of hackers to catch a hacker, likened to hiring a notorious bank robber to guard the bank. Probably the reason, as Marc pointed out, that large reputable companies shy away from public association with their employed white hat hackers…It takes one to one.

Here is a tip from Marc regarding new types of hacks currently occurring, and that is if you maintain a balance on your iTunes account or similar account – Don’t, hackers have recently penetrated iTunes, and are draining those accounts balances.

Some believe it is dramatic and too much of a noble claim when you say you are fighting for a way of life. Consider how technology is becoming embedded in our lives, automobiles, smart grid, smart phones, etc., and you begin to understand how individuals like Marc are fighting for our way of life. Be sure to listen to Marc’s story about penetrating a water plant and the implications that presents to all our municipality’s safety.

Be sure to download the entire interview, Marc shares a great deal of insight to what is necessary to maintain a safe presence in the digital age. Moreover, the landscape has changed and what were simple recommendations to stay safe (and still applicable) on the Internet have been expanded to identify the risks you have no control over.

Allow me to leave you with this thought from Marc regarding the “The Explosion”. The explosion is when the access and the data come together for the smart phone, and it becomes the complete replacement for the wallet. The smart phone replaces your driver’s license, replaces your credit card, ID card, payment options, etc. When this happens, it all becomes very worthwhile for the hacker. A previous guest, Winn Schwartau, sees it as the “perfect storm” in 2013, when there will be approximately four billion connections to the Internet, the majority of which will be the smart phone, and in the hands of children.

Thanks again Marc, for sharing your time with Dave & Bill on CHWradio.

david c ballard

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So what is it you would like to see as a result of National Cyber Security Awareness Month?

Enjoying The Internet Safely?

National, that’s a good idea, lets involve every State. Unfortunately, I have lived long enough to see how events are sensationalized and then peter out for the next big awareness newsworthy event, whether we want it or not, which then becomes the next flavor of the month.

Cyber… I like that word. It’s such a universal word. Think of any word, now mix it up with Cyber and presto you have got yourself a new concept. Cyber is“far-out”.

So far, we have announced that every State should be aware for next 31 days about Security. Security is not a new word, we all have a good feeling of what security means to each of us. You like feeling secure? So, what would it feel like knowing you were not secure, how would that feel?

What would make a child feel… insecure in their home? What about abusive behavior acted out towards them? What would make the mother feel insecure in her home? The aggressive behavior of an individual trying to break in to harm her or her child, would certainly make her feel insecure?

How about adolescents and/or teens that are faced everyday at school by aggressive behavior from his or her peers. I would imagine these kids would feel insecure. What would allow them to feel secure? How about behavioral modification of the aggressive teens.

I realize that we deal with many new technologies and they are fascinating and I am one of their biggest fans. The Internet is not some obscure place in space. It is a unique tool and an integrated part of our everyday lives. Just as the automobile was unique when it first appeared, today it is common, even with its advanced technologies.

The Only Road Rage Back Then - Was Not Seeing The Pot Hole

Interesting though, I find it hard to imagine “road rage” as an exhibited behavior of the early drivers. I feel the excitement of those early drivers similar to the excitement of the early users of the first home computers. There was no concern for security issues, especially not from nefarious individuals purposely out to cause harm. However, inappropriate behavior behind the wheel or behind the keyboard is a systematic problem in both venues.

Whether you were one of the first to master the technology of operating a vehicle driving cross-country or one of the first to command the keyboard and surf the Internet – the rules of civility apply to both technologies. There are so many of the common sense golden rules that should be carried into the Digital Age but seem to be overlooked. What happened to etiquette and good manners?

Do not end up becoming technophobic or another digital immigrant because change frightens you and you end up with your head in the sand. Too many parents are ignoring the digital age out of a false fear of the unknown and permitting their children to go it alone thinking the schools or some other institution will provide children the technical skills to protect themselves. You have missed the point, children are just that – children. It is not more technology to keep them safe, it is behavior modification. It is the wisdom and learning that comes with life, and that is what contributes to the digital divide. Parents need to be the adults and build that bridge by making the effort to cross over and become more tech savvy, so they can meet their children to share that wisdom and civility.

It is time to join “Cyber” with “Security” and presto “Cyber Security” and my question is what should we be focusing on, cyber security, or the behavioral change of those on the Internet?

We the common people are the majority and the backbone of the Internet. So, instead of being reactive chasing the cybercriminals, organized crime, predators, pedophiles, who are consistently a step-and-a-half ahead of us, why not be proactive starting with our children and empower them and the majority with what is considered proper behavior; civility. Things like courteous, ethics, being kind, and understanding what it means to be a “Responsible CyberCitizen” and anonymity is not permission to be uncivil.

Good behavior coupled with good security technology, as we develop Responsible CyberCitizens, will not only allow for a healthy Internet, but a healthy community.

Every State should have a community of Responsible CyberCitizens advocating acceptable behavior and standards for our children to follow.

The CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, hope to contribute to this way of thinking: “Enjoying The Internet Safely”.

david c ballard

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Technorati Tags: Abusive Behavior, Adolescents, Aggressive Behavior, Automobile, Awareness Month, Behavioral Modification, Break, Cyber Security, Everyday Lives, Excitement, Flavor Of The Month, National Security, Newsworthy Event, Obscure Place, Peers, Place In Space, Pot Hole, Presto, Road Rage, Security Awareness, Security Security, Teens, Universal Word