LANSING ? Michigan, with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has rolled out a new web site to provide government workers and other citizens of the state with the latest cyber security news, information and PC tools.
The new site, Michigan.Gov/Cybersecurity, went live two weeks ago. It is the brainchild of Dan Lohrmann, Michigan Chief Information Security Officer, and
Director of the Office of Enterprise Security.
?It is a resource for home users, for state of Michigan users, for any one in the state or other states to help them understand how they can protect themselves online,?? Lohrmann said Monday. ?We have a variety of topics posted there, raning from credit card security, to social engineering to how to protect against spyware.?
Lohrmann said his staff has been working on the cyber security site for the past six months, but it was been in discussion for more than a year. The site was built with a $70,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
Some of the cutting edge material posted there includes issues around federal and Michigan laws, such as how to deal with one of the biggest Internet threats today, phishing ? the attempt by hackers to steal personal financial information. Once that information is pilfered, the hacker can steal a person?s financial identity and apply for loans and credit cards in that person?s name.
Other information posted includes links to anti-virus software, firewalls, issues around password management and even how to maintain back ups of your computers at work and home.
?We believe that a big part of good online security is awareness and training,? he said. ?Some computer magazines say spend 50 percent on awareness and training. We say spend 75 percent of your Security dollars on it. Because how people use their PC at home effects how they use them at work.?
One of the bigger issues facing computer users is which web sites to trust for information, Lohrmann said. Since the state?s cyber security site is under the Michigan.Gov URL, users know the information is accurate and safe to use.
