In Support of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, SCIPP Family Pak® Educates Home Users on Secure Computing
SCIPP International, a global non-profit organization dedicated to providing world-class security awareness training and certification for end-users, is supporting National Cyber Security Awareness Month with the launch of the SCIPP Family Pak® – a free resource designed specifically for home computer users to educate them about safe online practices to reduce threats to their families.
Supported by the U.S. Congress and coordinated by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), the goal of National Cyber Security Awareness Month is to heighten public awareness of the critical role each citizen plays in protecting information assets. The theme of this year’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month is “Identity Theft 2.0” and will highlight what measures consumers can take to protect themselves. A kick-off event is being held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. today.
The SCIPP Family Pak includes a 10-minute “Introduction to Home Security Awareness” course, an informative slide show with voice narration featuring a “Top 10” checklist of security best practices for home users, a security awareness screen saver and three posters for printing, an online bookstore of recommended books on home security, and links to additional relevant sites. The SCIPP Family Pak is available for review by anyone at http://www.scippinternational.org.
Over the coming weeks, SCIPP will add additional security awareness materials sponsored by leading industry organizations and a “Secure Your Family” forum and blog for further information and discussion. In addition, SCIPP is linking to (ISC)²®’s Cyber Security Awareness Resource Center, a free online hub of security awareness and education tools provided by (ISC)²-certified information security experts from around the world. (ISC)² is the non-profit global leader in educating and certifying information security professionals throughout their careers.
“Few home users realize the importance of sensible, easy-to-do security best practices and the potentially devastating impact unsafe behaviors can have on their lives,” said Winn Schwartau, founder of SCIPP International and a pioneer in understanding the critical security role of end-users. “With the increasing frequency, complexity and severity of cyber threats, the SCIPP Family Pak can provide the basic information for home and family users to learn how to stay safe in today’s online world.”
Schwartau, the author of several popular books on information security, including Internet & Computer Ethics for Kids: (and Parents & Teachers Who Haven’t Got a Clue) in 2001, says children are particularly at risk. Recent studies indicate that 20 percent of children under the age of 18 have received an online sexual solicitation. Also of concern are issues such as ‘cyber bullying,’ defined as harassment using an electronic medium to threaten or harm others, which have increased dramatically.
“Children need to be educated on how to deal with online threats as much as they need to be educated on the dangers of drugs or talking with strangers in the physical world,” said Schwartau. “Cyber security awareness has become a necessity for everyone.”
For more information about the SCIPP Family Pak or SCIPP security awareness training and certificate programs for corporations, governments and academia, visit www.SCIPPinternational.org.
About SCIPP International
SCIPP International is a global non-profit organization dedicated to solving information security problems where they need to be solved – at the human level. Based in Vienna, Virginia, USA, with offices in Tennessee, London, and Hong Kong, SCIPP delivers information security awareness training and certificate programs for end-users and consumers throughout the world based upon the SCIPP GAP® – the common body of knowledge describing SCIPP’s 10 generally accepted best practice areas. Its mission is supported by an illustrious board of information security advisors from around the world. More information is available at www.SCIPPinternational.org.