Jaime Chanaga, CISSP, CISA

Best wishes for you in 2007

Happy holidays and best wishes for a successful New Year!

800,000 Potential ID Theft Victims

Recent news reports that a database system at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has been compromised by data thieves has put the identity of 800,000 people, including students, alumni, and faculty at risk.

Organizations must be more proactive in developing strong privacy protection policies and procedures and maintain constant vigilance with internal audit practices to prevent unfortunate incidents like the UCLA break-in from happening. 

News coverage:

Time Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1569163,00.html

LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-me-ucla16dec16,1,5961417.story?coll=la-headlines-technology

September 11 - A Day of Rememberance

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"
-- Matthew 5:4.

May God be our refuge and comfort to all in this time of national mourning.

Crisis in the Middle East

As the whole world anxiously awaits the end of the current crisis in the middle east, some governments have been quick to act in getting aid and transportation for their citizens to leave the current war zone.  Other governments have been slow to respond. Even though we live in an age of instant communications via telephone, cell phones, e-mail, instant messaging over the Internet, etc. we have seen the inefficiencies created by the lack of proper emergency response plans.  Government embassies are grossly unprepared to handle situations including mass evacuations of their citizens on foreign soil.  Perhaps world governments would do well to plan better for the future in training and developing the citizen assistance services their embassies provide. 

On a personal note, I'd like to pass on my deepest sympathies for the people of Lebanon and Israel.  My heart is with all parties in this current Middle East conflict.  My prayers are with you for a prompt cease fire on all sides.

North Korean Threat

Independence Day - 4th of July.  Yesterday here in the United States we celebrated the anniversary of the birth of democracy when the United States claimed independence from Britain in 1776.  Fast forward to July 4th, 2006.  On the same day we watched our news media report that the isolated dictatorship government of North Korea launched several missiles into the Sea of Japan.  Governments around the world have issued strong condemnation of the North Korean actions.

Politics aside, what can we as leaders and executives learn from current political events?  Always be prepared.  The U.S. Government for weeks has been prepared to monitor and respond appropriately to the possibility of a N. Korean missile launch. 

As business leaders we should review and update our crises management and emergency preparedness plans on a frequent basis.  Better to be prepared than to be caught by surprise.

Consumer Privacy Education

Recently, American consumers have learned that telephone companies have shared vast amounts of data pertaining to telephone call records with the U.S. Federal Government.  Legal or ethical arguments aside, it should not be surprising that the technology exists today to record and easily track our personal tastes, preferences, and lifestyles.  As consumers we need to be better informed about our choices when we elect to share our personal and consumer information.

A resource you may find valuable in terms of personal and consumer privacy education is the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (http://www.privacyrights.org/).

Electronic Crimes & Laws

Many countries are beginning to legislate and enforce stronger laws in terms of dealing with cyber crime, but much more has to be done to address the wider range of electronic crimes. 

For example the focus in recent months within the United States (U.S.) has focused on the issues of online sexual predators, and in a few cases of international hackers accused of breaking into military computer networks.  Although existing U.S. laws can be used to prosecute criminal behavior in these two categories, there still remains much more to be done to more effectively deal with these types of electronic crimes.

Call to action:  As concern citizens, consumers, and business leaders, let's become active in the public policy debates that drive the consideration and creation of new legislation dealing with electronic crimes.

Jaime

Consumers' Responsibilities for Privacy

You don't have to turn very far in today's short news cycles to find news reports on breaches of consumer financial and personal data.  But lacking in the debate of government and industry regulations, is a question I've been asking myself of late. 

Where does my personal responsibility for the protection of my private consumer data and information begin?  As a consumer, am I being proactive and careful in protecting our private financial and personal information?  These are questions consumers should be asking themselves, before expecting government or private industry to provide all the solutions for protecting personal information. 

Take-away:

• Do you have a cross-cut paper shredder at home to destroy old sensitive documents such as utility bills, credit card statements, etc.?
• Do you protect your home computer with a hardware firewall, anti-virus software, and anti-spyware software?
• Are you careful to destroy credit and bank offers you receive via postal mail?

Protection of personal information begins with each of us accepting our own personal responsibility for the protection, use, and management of our private personal and financial information.

Jaime

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Dear Readers:

In the aftermath of the devestation from Hurricane Katrina our hearts have been touched by the extent and profound losses experienced by the vicitims left behind.  As world citizens we have opened our hearts with compassion, love, and sympathy with those most deeply affected by this natural disaster of unprecedented proportions. 

I urge you strongly, to support your favorite charities and relief organizations in this time of great need.  Thank you in advance for your kind generosity.

Sincerely,

Jaime Chanaga, CISSP, CISA
Founder & Chairman
The CSO Board LLC
tel: +1 877 405 6300
http://www.csoboard.com

Organizations Assisting Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org

Feed The Children
http://www.feedthechildren.org

Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org