The British Department of Trade and Industry has made £4m available for four research projects aimed at reducing the IT risk created by human error.

The program, which is part of its Network Security Innovation Platform, reflects the fact that human error is by far the biggest risk to network security.

It cited the results of a survey it conducted, involving over 1,800 people, on the use of passwords. It found that:

• Just over 30% of users recorded their password or security information by either writing it down or storing it somewhere on their computer.
• About 65% never changed their password
• 20% of people used the same password for non-banking websites as well as their online bank

The projects will use behavioural science in a bid to tackle the human risk element in network security.

Four projects will receive funding under the programme.

• The first is about developing a risk assessment package focused on organisational and human factors.

• The second, named Trust Economics, is aimed at developing a predictive modelling framework that assesses security policies that regulate the interaction between humans and information systems.
• The third is aimed at developing a solution for the analysis of digital communications to identify threats introduced by humans.
• The fourth named CatalysIS, is a tool to improve risk culture and identify human vulnerabilities in network security.

Minister for science and innovation Malcolm Wicks said: "Unfortunately, the weakest link in network security is not usually with the technology, but with the staff and system users. A DTI survey found that a shocking number of people were careless with passwords, unwittingly exposing themselves and their company to fraud and theft.

"Network security is also a major growth area where the UK has a good opportunity to become a global leader if we develop new technology to give us a competitive edge."

This article was originally published at Kablenet 

Source: The Register 

 

Tags: 2007, aim, analysis, arc, art, blog, communication, computer, digital, Fun, global, human, ict, ICT Security, identify, im, industry, interaction, internet, Internet News, Internet World, IT risk, King, lan, network, nomadcom.net, online, password, pet, privacy, project, risk, science, search, security, space, study, survey, technology, the register, threat, uk, user, web, website, wp, www, XP

The spouses, girlfriends and companions of more than 100 gang members of the communes of Pereira decided to initiate a strike of " crossed legs " that implies absolute sexual abstinence to force them to disarm themselves, to subscribe peace accords and to let mistreat them.

Announcement was made by Julio Cesar Gomez, Metropolitan Security Advisory. He said the proposal is based on scientific studies and surveys with the involved ones of which concludes that the refusal to the intimate relations would be an effective way to force them to discard the violence as life form.

Source: Radio Caracol (in spanish)

In some other countries, could the opposite behavior solve or cool down some conflicts ?

 

Tags: blog, card, ces, ia, ict, im, iso, lan, nomadcom.net, Our World, security, space, survey, USA, wp, www

* colombians will understand.

Mobile phones have become "the social glue that connects us" and we're totally useless without them. (Charles Dunston, Car Warehouse CIO)

A survey among 16'500 people in UK highlights some interesting findings : 

• 14% of people have 2 or more phone they use regularly
• We use more mobile phone for SMS than voice calls
• 70% of people replaced their phone during the last 18 months
• Most important factors when choosing a phone: function:31%, price:29%, style :16%).
• 92% of phone uses cannot get through a typical day without using their phone
• Only 20% of people turn off their phone off before sex
• 30% of people still held their old phone at home rather that selling, recycling or giving it away.
• Women feel safer having a phone when alone

  Mobile life 2006 full survey is available online or can be downloaded here

Tags: 24, blog, find, fon, Fun, ia, im, lan, light, mobile, Mobile Communications, mobile phone, nomadcom.net, online, phone, phones, release, safe, sms, social, space, survey, uk, wp, www