DHS launches national cyber alert system

Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today announced the launch of a National Cyber Alert System designed to provide home users, businesses and government agencies with timely warnings about new threats as well as tips on how to best secure their computers.
The system is being spearheaded by the DHS's National Cyber Security Division, led by Amit Yoran, a former executive at Symantec Corp. Yoran said the DHS will provide a series of e-mail-based products to disseminate timely information on computer security vulnerabilities, the potential impact of those vulnerabilities, and the action required to mitigate threats. The system will also offer PC security best practices and how-to tips, he said.
The announcement comes only two days after a virus called MyDoom (also known as Shimgapi and Novarg) began taking a toll on Internet performance around the nation (see story).
There are already a number of similar products offered by the private sector. Yoran said the new DHS system, which will be based out of the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), will be "complementary" to those systems and will focus on "information that is appropriate for a national-level alert system."
According to Yoran, such information would cover a vulnerability's potential "impact on infrastructures, impact on homeland and national security, how widespread a particular vulnerability is, and how actively it is being exploited." In addition, the alerts and bulletins that the DHS system will provide will be designed to provide "some sort of perspective for the nation," he said.
All information products are available on a free subscription basis and are delivered via push e-mail. They are available at www.us-cert.gov. Home users can also access cybersecurity tips and alerts from US-CERT affiliates, including StaySafe Online.
The main e-mail products are:

• Cyber Security Tips: Targeted at nontechnical home and corporate computer users, the tips provide information on best computer security practices and how-to information on a biweekly basis.


• Cyber Security Bulletins: Targeted at technical audiences, the bulletins provide biweekly summaries of security issues, new vulnerabilities, potential impact, patches and work-arounds, as well as actions required to mitigate risk.


• Cyber Security Alerts: Available in two forms -- regular, for nontechnical users, and advanced, for technical users -- the alerts provide real-time information about security issues, vulnerabilities and exploits currently occurring. Alerts encourage all users to take rapid action.