King County steps up cyber security after hackers hit city

By GREG ALLMAIN
Federal Way Mirror reporter
October 19, 2012 · Updated 5:10 PM 

With the revelation that approximately $400,000 was stolen from a bank account belonging to the city of Burlington, Wash., in recent weeks, the King County Council’s proclamation of October as Cyber Security Awareness Month seems fitting.

The council’s proclamation is in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance’s declaration of October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Outside of its own internal efforts to increase cyber security, King County is also promoting a national campaign known as “Stop. Think. Connect.” The program is aimed at helping businesses, organizations and individuals increase their cyber security. The campaign offers simple tips on things from increasing password security to learning how to spot an email “phishing” attack and other attack vectors that cyber thieves are known to use.

A pledge is available to those interested in participating in raising cyber security awareness. The pledge is found at https://msisac.cisecurity.org/cyber-pledge. After a pledge is submitted, participants can print a certificate to display and to remember the key points of online security. County employees who are part of the King County Information Technology (KCIT) department will take the pledge as a group Oct. 22.

 

Contact Federal Way Mirror reporter Greg Allmain at gallmain@fedwaymirror.com or 253-925-5565 ext. 5054.

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