Cyber Security for the Digital District
CoSN Newsletter, Summer 2007
Welcome to the Summer '07 edition of the Cyber Security for the Digital District newsletter. We hope this information is helpful to you and we welcome your suggestions for future editions. Contact linda@cosn.org.
Website News
If you access the Cyber Security for the Digital District website www.securedistrict.org you may notice that we have made some updates to the site and added information about Student Safety on the Internet. While the primary purpose of the initiative is cyber security, we feel that issues impacting students and social networking are critical for educators to understand. Therefore, we have added a link on the Cyber Security web site that focuses on the news, issues, suggestions and available tools for schools as they deal with students and social networking.
In addition to the web site refresh we will be working on updating all the tools and rubrics that are available on the site. We encourage you to provide input and suggestions that will make the resources even more valuable.
CoSN Compendium Article
CoSN member institutions by now have received a copy of the 2007 Compendium, an annual collection of monographs on the key issues facing K-12 education technology leaders. Included in this year's Compendium is "Safety and Learning in the Era of Social Networking". I would like to thank Harold Rowe, Jeff Hunt, David Warlick, Nancy Willard, Ron Txeiria and Judy Salpeter for their contributions on this informative and timely article.
Security Reminder
While PC users are familiar with security issues and attacks, Macintosh users have been enjoyed relative safety. This is changing. Programs have been written by that were designed to spread themselves to other Macs through Apple's iChat instant-messaging software and Bluetooth wireless-communications capability. Also Macs, like Microsoft's Windows software, contain potentially worrisome security holes. A German graduate student discovered a vulnerability in OS X that could let a hacker install potentially damaging code on a Mac through the system's Safari web browser. The security issues are a warning that Mac users, too, must keep antivirus software up to date.
Web Resources
Below are a list of web sites that provide material, suggestions and information that will help as you deal with cyber security and safety in your district.
- http://www.staysafeonline.info/
The National Cyber Alert System was created by US-CERT and the Department of Homeland Security to help you protect your computer. One of US-CERT's overarching goals is to ensure that you have access to timely information about security topics and events. You can subscribe to two ways to increase your own awareness of cyber security issues.
Security Alerts provide timely information about current security problems so that you can protect your home or small business computer.
Security Tips provide advice on common security topics, such as privacy, email spam, and wireless protection.- http://www.staysafeonline.info/practices/index.html
The National Cyber Security Alliance's Top Eight Cyber Security Practices are practical steps you can take to stay safe online and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, identity theft, or cyber crime. In addition October is again designated as National Cyber Security Month. Please watch for lesson plans, suggestions and resources for your use as you help parents educate students on safe practices while online.
- http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=193401932
- 10 Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online School
CIO recently published an article by Dark Reading that is designed to help users understand security issue, why IT Departments institute internet safety procedures and rules, and the reason why it is important to follow those rules. The list of "The Ten Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online," along with some explanation of the risks - and solutions - associated with each is well documented in the article. This list was generated directly from input we've received from IT people, and is arranged in descending order of danger, based on votes received from the experts and analysts who make up Dark Reading's editorial advisory board.
- http://www.ciconline.org/threshold
- The Summer 2007 issue of Threshold Magazine offers a good article and a discussion forum focusing on social networking and safety issue related to it.
Digital Ethics: A Threshold Forum
Education leaders talk about the challenges of shaping student behavior in a world of e-based interaction.
Rules for the Social Web - What policies to schools need to set to help young people prevent putting themselves at risk on the web.
Are you in Compliance?
In December, 2006, the US Supreme Court required that all schools, businesses and other organizations must keep tabs on all email, instant messages and other digital communications produced by all their employees. According to a poll by conducted by eSchool News, 80% of those questioned were unclear about their district's policy for retention of electronically stored information. Schools need to evaluate how they are storing and securing the information, as well as how they will be able to retrieve it if requested. Is this in your districts plans as you focus on cyber security?
Share stories and resources
May 21, 2007 - In one of the worst security breaches ever in a public K-12 school system, confidential data for thousands of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) students--including, in some cases, medical information and Social Security numbers--were accidentally posted online.
We realize that schools and school leaders learn best from each other. We invite you to share your stories, concerns, and ideas with others. If you would prefer to be anonymous, that is acceptable. None of us want to be the next headline, and by sharing security issues you have discovered, lived through, and solved, you could definitely help another district. Please submit your stories to be posted on the CoSN Cyber Security for the Digital District web site. The Cyber Security site will soon host a blog that will make sharing your information quick and easy. Please watch for the blog to begin later in the summer. We want to start the new school year with resources that will help you be more effective as you deal with your district’s security issues.
About CoSN's Cyber Security for the Digital District Initiative
The Cyber Security for the Digital District Project is a leadership initiative of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), in partnership with Mass Networks Education Partnership (Mass Networks), developed a program to provide schools and school districts with vital information on education networks in order to ensure the privacy and the security of data within their systems.
About CoSN
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national non-profit organization, is the premier voice in education technology leadership. Our mission is to advance the K-12 education community's capacity to effectively use technology to improve learning through advocacy, policy and leadership development. Our members represent school districts, state and local education agencies, nonprofits, companies and individuals who share our vision. To learn how membership in CoSN can make a difference in your district, click on www.cosn.org/join or contact us at either membership@cosn.org or 866/267-8747 x115.
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topic. If you have any questions, please contact:
Linda Sharp
Project Director, Cyber Security for the Digital District
ph: 303-771-1271
linda@cosn.org