With more shoppers than ever hitting the websites instead of the malls, many are wondering how safe online financial transactions really are.
Cyber security may seem like a complex subject, but with a little foresight, customers can enjoy all of the great online deals with confidence these holidays.

The first step to cyber security is also the easiest: only use a trusted personal computer. It may seem like a good idea to get in a few gifts at work or on a public computer, but these can be stalking grounds for criminals. Using a password protected home computer with a password protected Wifi connection will instantly stop a majority of crimes.

The next step is to be aware of are the online stores themselves. It is generally a good idea to steer clear of any offers that are sent directly to one’s emails unless they personally requested them. Another good habit to form is double checking the URL of a website. Any addresses that begin with https sends and receives only secured packets of information.

If the address appears to be odd for any reason, such as the company name being misspelled, it could be a false storefront used to phish for customers’ personal and banking information.

For lesser known stores or companies, it is always best to check with institutions such as the Better Business Bureau before giving away any personal information.

The easiest prey for online cyber criminals are the customers that use simplistic or easy to guess passwords and usernames. A recent leak of thousands of Yahoo email accounts show that as many as 40% of people stick to 12345 or similar sequences as their password. Using a mixture of at least 9 numbers and letters in a random order makes for the most secure passwords.

For those that are afraid of forgetting such complex names and passwords, many companies offer very secure devices to save all of this data in a single place. There are password managers available that offer a portable memory key that will house all personal information in one of the most secure computer chips available. Owners simply need to remember one pin number, much like an ATM, to access all of their information.

Online deals are getting better each and every year, but no amount of savings is worth losing one’s personal information. Even with the most basic of data, criminals can wreak havoc on credit scores, credit cards, bank accounts, and more. Keep these few hints in mind and purchase your holiday gifts with confidence this winter.

We would like to thank our guest writers on The CHW Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in our CyberHood, we all live in…
help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

Learn IT, DO IT, Teach IT, Share IT, BE IT

Your CyberHood Watch® Partners

Dave Ballard & Bill Wardell

Radio Security Journalists

© 2006 – 2011 CyberHood Watch®

Ever wonder how badly our information highway could be damaged from a security breach? Internet threats are always evolving, but here are five cyber security disasters from the past that hint at what we might face later on:

First Worm

In 1988, a graduate student designed a self-replicating worm and sent it forth to determine the “size of the internet.”

His creation did its job too well and replicated with a vengeance, causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage to thousands of computers and inspiring the creation of CERT, or the Computer Emergency Response Team. Though he claimed the damage was accidental, Morris was charged with Computer Fraud and fined $10,000.

Melissa

In 1999, a computer virus named “Melissa” (supposedly after a stripper) was launched from a stolen AOL account nested in a list of passwords to members-only pornography sites posted on an adult message board. One version of the virus would email itself to the first 40 email addresses it found in Microsoft Outlook. Eventually the virus clogged email traffic to the point that email servers at such places as Microsoft and Lockheed Martin were shut down. Melissa and her variants infected over one million personal computers and caused an estimated 80 million dollars’ worth of damage.

The UFO Hacker

Gary McKinnon, a Scots systems administrator and hacker, achieved the “biggest military hack” in history according to U.S. Prosecutors. McKinnon claimed he was looking for evidence of UFO cover-ups by the U.S. Government when he broke in to 97 NASA computers between 2001 and 2002. While he was there, he deleted source files that caused several hundred NASA computers to shut down during the added workload on 9/11. He erased NASA logs, copied key information onto his own hard drive and then left cryptic graffiti on the system using the handle “Solo”. Officials estimated the damage to be around $700, 000

Wikileaks

Wikileaks is now world-famous, but the organization has been around since 2006. It’s been suggested that Wikileaks developed its protocol while spying on Chinese hackers on the Tor Network, a volunteer system of network servers that wash the origin of Internet packets until they are virtually “anonymous.” While it is not their only published exploit; the Iraq War Diaries document collection, published October 2010, was considered by the Pentagon to be largest intelligence leak in U.S. military history.

The Aurora Hack

Operation Aurora was a persistent attack on U.S. information-dependent resources that began and continued throughout 2009. The goal of the attacks was to locate and edit the source code of important American business, computer and government resources. First to publicize the attack was Google, who found their source code had been compromised and announced their suspicion that the attacks were originating from China.

The Chinese government reacted to the accusations by claiming that it was the victim of an anti-Chinese conspiracy.

Other targets included Adobe Systems, Yahoo, Symantec, Northrop Grumman, Morgan Stanley and Dow Chemical.

The Aurora Hack is now considered to be the largest cyberattack on American information assets to date.

George Gallagher is a blogger for many topics including education, technology, and private student loans.

We would like to thank our guest writers on The CHW Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in our CyberHood, we all live in…
help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

Learn IT, DO IT, Teach IT, Share IT, BE IT

Your CyberHood Watch® Partners

Dave Ballard & Bill Wardell

Radio Security Journalists

© 2006 – 2011 CyberHood Watch®

Live on CHWR – Gregory Evans shares his knowledge, wisdom and expertise with you our listening audience! Cyber Security Expert Gregory Evans believes in continually reaching out to the community to bring awareness to students and families of the risks associated with cyber bullying. Statistics show that the affect this abuse has on victims can be devastating.

Evans provided parenting tips on how to minimize the chances of their children becoming victims of cyber-bullying, and provides them with expert advice on what to do if their children are currently victims. Get more info about author and Cyber Security Expert Gregory D. Evans

Once again Gregory shares from the heart… listen to this fantastic interview:

Recent Highlights for Gregory….

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive the 2010 National Sales Network Humanitarian Award,” commented Cyber Security Expert, Gregory Evans. “It is very important for people to understand that I give back to the community, not for recognition, but because it needs to be done.” Read more

Facts About The No. 1 Security Expert!

In the movie “Catch Me If You Can,” staring Leonardo Dicaprio, it was displayed that it takes a thief to catch a thief. This should be the same philosophy we adopt to fight cyber crime, “It Takes A Hacker To Catch A Hacker.”

Fact 1 – Gregory Evans was ordered to pay back $10 million to AT&T, MCI and other fortune 500 companies due to computer hacking.
Fact 2 – According to Nielsen Audience, 3,043,600 people listened to Gregory Evans speak in 2010 on national television and radio stations.
Fact 3 – The State Bar in California, Nevada, and Georgia has authorized Gregory Evans to teach Continuing Legal Education to attorneys.
Fact 4 – Gregory Evans invented the worlds first device to track a computer anywhere in the world.
Fact 5 – Gregory Evans wrote 8 books on computer security and identity theft.
Fact 6 – Greg Evans wrote the only book in the world dedicated to laptop security.
Fact 7 – LocatePC is the most downloaded computer tracking software in the world.
Fact 8 – Gregory Evans is the founder of 3 publicly traded companies. Mr. Evans sold The Cyber Group Network and the other 2 are currently trading under the stock symbol LGTT and SPFM.
Fact 9 – Gregory Evans owns the 2nd largest caller ID spoofing services in the world.
Fact 10 – Gregory Evans has taught over 5 different Cyber Security courses on college campus such as, Santa Monica City College, Irvine Valley College, California State University, Los Angeles, San Marcos College, Pepperdine University, Anaheim City College, Rancho Santiago College, and ITT in Duluth, GA.
Fact 11 – Cyber Group Network and LIGATT Security are the only computer security companies in history to be the Official Cyber Security company for the NBA and the NHL, including teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, and the Thrashers.

We would like to thank Gregory for his time today and especialy for spending the full hour sharing with us, we wish him well in all his future endeavors – keep fighting the good fright…

Learn IT, DO IT, Teach IT, Share IT, BE IT

Your CyberHood Watch Partner

Bill Wardell

Radio Security Journalist

© 2006 – 2011 CyberHood Watch

Shawn Edgington Joins Dave & Bil on CHWradio

Shawn shared a great deal of personal insight when it comes to cyberbullying and/or text assaults against a family member. Having lived through, and surviving the cyberbullying ordeal, Shawn now, as we would say in the CyberHood Watch, provides “communication & awareness” as an advocate for the safety & security of children and their families.

There is nothing more obvious regarding the verification of an individual’s disconnect, and that he or she is oblivious to a child’s well-being than the blanket comment, “What’s the big deal”, or “You need to toughen-up”. Unfortunately, those comments are uttered too often when summarizing the solutions needed to address the emotional well-being of a cyberbullying victim.

We have either all witnessed it or participated in the act of “rubber-necking…Got to stop, slow down, and look as you pass by the accident. Surprisingly, the same event occurred with Shawn’s cyber bullied family member…a need to stop, slowdown, and look at the mean comments being said about the victim. Who knows the reason why, that is for another topic? Suffice it to say, do not be caught up in the curiosity of what others are saying, it only adds fuel to the fire.

I mention this because of the insight of what Shawn and her family member discovered. If you are constantly reading all the negative and hurtful posts about him or herself, you begin to question your own validity. Shawn Edgington used the example that if you told your child every day that he or she was fat and ugly that eventually the child believes it to be true. Maybe the same will hold true if we consistently preach “communication & awareness” between parents and children about the safety and security of his or her digital life.

Shawn shared a favorite recommendation for a child’s site… IMBEE. The CyberHood Watch would like to add a couple more that we recommend… YourSphere, Flink12, and MiniMonos.

Be sure to download the show and empower your children with some great personal insights shared with our audience and readers of The CyberHood Watch.

Your CyberHood Watch Partner,

david c ballard

Radio Security Journalist

Joyce Brocaglia on CHWR

Joyce Brocaglia is the CEO of Alpha Associates, Inc. a recruiting firm that specializes in information security, IT risk management, and privacy that Joyce started twenty-five years ago.

Joyce is a New Jersey girl that grew up on Wall Street, spent much of her career as the only woman in the room, and was witness as more women took on leadership roles as security officers, risk officers, and privacy officers. As a leader herself, Joyce decided to develop an organization in which all these amazing women could come together. Therefore, about ten years ago Joyce developed the Executive Women’s’ Forum surrounding information security, privacy, and risk management that now numbers about seven hundred leading experts. Executive Women’s Forum now provides scholarships and support for women who chose careers in the security fields.

Both CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, are excited to hear about Joyce’s involvement in reaching out and educating kids regarding best practices for living a safe digital life. It is so refreshing to see industry leaders (thinking like parents) who are engaged in the Enterprise world collaborating to empower our children with the knowledge and understanding on becoming responsible cybercitizens and practicing digital civility.

Like any great initiative and/or inspired advocates, the Executive Women’s Forum, received such positive reactions, they decided to reach out even further, and solicit the support of professional colleagues to participate in creating an online school to empower anyone who desires how to live a safe and secure digital life.

Joyce Brocaglia reached out to the community and formed alliances with Carnegie Mellon University, The National Cyber Security Alliance, IFC², and a good friend Linda McCarthy, author of “Own Your Space”, and together support the site called, “The Cyber Security School Challenge”.

What is unique about The Cyber Security School Challenge is that anyone who would like to do something about keeping our kids safe in the digital age can download the material and effectively teach a lesson to a class of students, an organization, or your family. The site enriches its readers, and empowers its visitors to pay it forward.

Joyce points out that parents should be mindful about the fact that many young children may be technically savvy, however; it does not equate to the wisdom and maturity level necessary to navigate the web safely, and making sound informed decisions.

Joyce discussed using the 3 W’s and the three C’s to help kids to stop and ask themselves questions before clicking:

Whom do you click?

What would you click on?

Why would you click on it?

Cyber Safety is in terms of having responsible rules and behavior to keep you safe when connected online.

Cyber Ethics defined in terms of an informal code of having positive contact when communicating online.

Cyber Security defined as having the right protection of information, computer systems, and networks.

Take the challenge, visit The Cyber Security School Challenge, and click on one of the three steps, and together we can make a difference in the future well-being of our children.

CHW Meets The Cyber Security School Challenge

At least 40% of children are opening social networking profiles and gaming accounts under the age of thirteen. Which only emphasizes the need for parents to take an active role in his or her child’s digital life?

“We’re the people who understand it the most, we’re the people that can actually make a difference, and are sophisticated to answer the questions these little kids are asking. It’s pretty amazing how bright these kids are”, said Joyce.  Sites like the Executive Women’s Forum and The Cyber Security School Challenge are the “golden nuggets” The CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, enjoy discovering for our visitors, frequent and loyal readers.

Joyce’s comment about industry leaders’ involvement, like The Executive Women’s Forum, is getting behind the STOP | THINK | CONNECT government initiative. The later mentioned activities are setting a corner stone to help support future generations with continued communication and awareness for living a safe and secure digital life.

Be sure to listen to full interview with Joyce Brocaglia, CEO of Alpha Associates, Inc. We interviewed Joyce, while attending the RSA 2011 conference, where she announced the new website; The Cyber Security School Challenge.

Joyce combines Enterprise expertise with parental perspective that encompasses a proactive approach – getting to the kids before something happens to them.

Your CyberHood Watch Partner,

david c ballard

Radio Security Journalist

PS: A shift in thinking: “Security can be a competitive edge”.

PSS: Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts?

Related articles

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What Should You Do If You Think Your Child Is Being Cyberbullied?

The answer comes to us via one of our most favorite & influential guests to be on CHWR in the past 3 years… Vanessa Van Petten…

Cyberbullying is a major problem for teens and kids. In this video Vanessa explains what parents can do if they think their child is being cyberbullied. Great advice for parents everywhere!

Vanessa Van Petten, youthologist and teen author of the parenting book “You’re Grounded!,” manages RadicalParenting.com, a parenting blog written by 119 teen writers, ages 12-20 to help parents and adults get an honest and open view into the world and mind of youth. Van Petten’s work and blog have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, CNN, Fox News, Real Housewives of Orange County and much more! She won the Moms Choice Award in 2009 and her work is read by over 300,000 adults. get more info…

Vanessa talks the talk and walks the walk… make sure to get her 2 books and make them a part of your families education of the internet issues (Cyber Security) facing your children, and also raising children in this new (Digital Age) 21st century generation gap

More great articles and resources for: CyberBullying

Learn IT, DO IT, Teach IT, Share IT, BE IT

Your CyberHood Watch Partner

Bill Wardell

Radio Security Journalist

We Are Tireless Advocates For The Safety & Security Of Children, Families, & Businesses In The Digital Age…Through Communication & Awareness.

Communication & Awareness are two cornerstones of The CyberHood Watch. Both concepts surfaced throughout the hundreds of interviews with authorities worldwide on CHWR as two positive and proactive methods to help curb nefarious activities from invading our digital lives.

October being the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, “Awareness” being one of the keywords, again illustrates the importance of knowing your digital surroundings.

Staying safe and secure in the digital age is your responsibility. Fortunately, it not rocket science and some unattainable goal. There are two ingredients that you should be familiar with, the right tools and the right behaviors. How would you attack someone on the Internet? First, you would implement some technology, a Trojan, key logger, virus, phishing, or malware application. Secondly, you would want to solicit a behavior in response to your technology.

Although, it may be a never-ending battle defending yourself against the constant threats from cyber criminals, be assured there are many industry leaders, Trend Micro, InfoSafe, Immunet, PC Pandora, Avast, etc. on a constant vigilance to keep you safe. Your defense against malware technology is available, and it is your responsibility to make sure you are using the first line of defense by using current technologies.

Now That You Are "Aware" - You Need To "Communicate".

The second line of defense is not a technology issue and it all happens between your ears. Civility and common sense are powerful antidotes against many of the troubling issues (cyberbullying, sexting, Sextortion, human trafficking, etc.) surrounding our digital lives, and many of the tragedies we see occurring among our children. Parents more than ever need to instill in his or her son or daughter the moral values that we learned as children and carry them over into to his or her digital life. Again, it is not rocket science, it is the act of being courteous, kind, and respectful of all those characteristics we learned as kids growing up. Standing when an adult walks into the room or opening a door for a young girl or woman. It all sounds old fashion but it is something to mindful about.

When it comes to common sense for example, if a stranger walked up to you and asked you for your name, Social Security Number, driver license number, birth date, your home address, and phone number, what would you say or do? Many sites including social networking sites ask for information that is not always pertinent or needed. The CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, suggest that kids use a non-descript name and not to use any personally identifiable information.

Heroes In The CyberHood Watch Community...Our Kids

Businesses who store Personally Identifiable Information (PII) need to be mindful of the State and Federal laws that protect consumers’ information. Any business whose database is compromised needs to know the mandatory procedures necessary to follow when said breech occurs. Not being compliant with State and Federal regulations can carry serious fines and penalties. Moreover, the loss of a business’s good name and reputation may be irrevocable.

Anyone doing business today online or offline should be familiar with the “Red Flag Rules” and if they apply to your business. Failure to be compliant carries considerable fines and penalties if a breech occurs.

Regardless of the fines or penalties, ultimately you are responsible for your safety and security in the digital age. The CyberHood Watch continues to provide solutions for living a safe & secure digital life for you, your children, your families, and your business.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month; now “communicate” what you read to others.

Your CyberHood Watch Partner,

david c ballard

Radio Security Journalist

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The CyberHood Watch Community's Future Just Got Safer With Jeanine Swatton

A vivacious engineer with a passion for cyber security and keeping kids, parents, and families safe while living his or her digital life.

Imagine your sixteen again and enjoying your time away from school at the MIT summer program while others were away at camp. Do you think Jeanine Swatton recognized her academic interest early in her quest. All the while thinking how she could best serve the innocence of the new digital generation of kids.

Jeanine comes well prepared academically (Masters – NLP -), technically (Computer Science – Cyber Security), and personably with a passion for the safety and security of kids. The virtual world has become their reality, said Jeanine Swatton.

The CyberHood Watch Community Connecting Children Safely & Securly...

Included in Jeanine’s digital life are the relationships she has befriended on the social networks. Jeanine mentions a few adolescent girls, in their early teens who are programmers, each eager to contribute her skills helping develop Jeanine’s program. In turn, Jeanine mentors the girls with their engineering, programming, and coding.

It is exciting to see the entrepreneurial spirit embedded within such a capable mind and wrapped up in a cause to better the quality of the Internet and its children. Jeanine has a keen sense for cyber security and understanding the vulnerability of kids surrounded by mature adults, and masters of deceit.  Jeanine is focused on developing tools and educational programs to empower parents and children. However, what I feel will be unique is the level of input and involvement from the kids that Jeanine has envisioned.

For example, Jeanine Swatton believes the best advocates to stop cyber bulling are the children; it gives them a greater sense and empowers them more. The kids will experience a contribution to a greater good.

Everyone who listens to the interview is looking forward to meeting CyberSwatton and her trusted dog, GigaByte. When that day happens, The CyberHood Watch partners, Dave & Bill, will introduce you to Digital Dave, MegaByte Bill, & CyberHood WatchDog.

During the show, we had a grandmother in the chat room who was concerned about adult family members involved in cyber bullying. That sparked a few comments, one of which was last Thursday’s guest, Michelle Bart, Soroptimist International and the Northwest Conference Against Trafficking (NWCAT). One important suggestion among others, for grandma, was if any of the illegal activity occurred on her computer, she is liable. When it comes to the digital age, you are guilty until proven innocent. You are responsible for the contents of your computer.

Your CyberHood Watch Partner,

david c ballard

Radio Security Journalist

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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

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