From: <MBellwin -at- bentley.edu>
Subject:   Securing the Weak Link in Cyberspace - free forum atBentley on Wed. Nov. 17
Date: Thursday, November 04, 2004 11:19 AM



"Securing the Weak Link in Cyberspace"
November 17, 2004
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wilder Pavilion, Adamian Academic Center 


This morning forum on how to engage consumers in securing their home 
computer systems in order to protect their own information as well as the 
national cyber infrastructure. The forum is sponsored by Bentley College. 
The workshop will present the results of the Bentley Survey on Consumers 
and Internet Security (BSCIS). The Bentley study surveyed 2,952 U.S. 
adults who access the Internet from home. Funded by Symantec Corp., the 
survey provides the first baseline about consumer attitudes toward 
information security, their experiences with security for their home, and 
their preferences for securing their home PC based on a national sample. 
The 2003 National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace identified consumers 
as a growing vulnerability because of the ease of 
attacking their systems. Individuals unknowingly spread viruses or allow 
their computers to be used as a launching pad for attacks on other 
systems, which threatens economic and national security. Users who have 
high-speed access to the Internet potentially represent a greater 
vulnerability than dial-up users because of their "always-on" connections 
to the Internet. The challenge is how we get from this current situation, 
to the ideal reflected in the recommendations where all home systems are 
protected. 
Following the results of the Bentley Survey, the agenda will include two 
panel discussions featuring national experts: 
The first panel will react to the survey results and discuss other efforts 
to promote consumer education and awareness about Internet security
The second panel will discuss the role Internet Service Providers (ISP's) 
and software manufacturers can play in promoting education and awareness 
among their consumer customers. 
The forum is free and open to the public. Because space is limited, 
pre-registration is required. For more details, 
visit: http://www.bentley.edu/events/iscw2004