Academics

Protect yourself and your business online

Free online Internet security training

Finding a way to reduce your online risk and learn how to take the steps necessary to protect yourself, your family, and your business online is now as simple as a click of the mouse.

The College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) recently introduced IST9001: Personal and Small Business Computer Security to its roster of online courses. Now anyone with an interest in protecting their online resources and understanding the threats that affect small business communities can learn tools for navigating the dynamic field of cybersecurity.

The short, free, noncredit course is offered online and is designed to address the needs of two audiences: the individual user of personal computing devices and the small-business owner, many of whom have limited access to the information and expertise the course offers.

“This training has something for everyone,” said Kent Matsueda, senior instructional designer for IST. “It can benefit a high school student interested in IST topics, folks who want to stay safe online and small business owners and nonprofits who may lack resources or funds.”

”One of the biggest national risks we face is that there are potentially tens of millions of computer users who have inadequate security,” said Gerry Santoro, senior lecturer for IST and course developer for IST9001. “But if my neighbor is more secure, I am more secure as a result.” In fact, 556 million cyber-crimes are reported each year, with new vulnerabilities and threats emerging almost daily.

Which is why, when Santoro was approached to adapt the content of his popular Professor Santoro’s Simple Internet Security Website (http://santorosecurity.weebly.com/) for IST9001, he consented under the condition that the course be free and open to the public.

“The driving factor behind IST9001 is that we wanted to offer a public service to the community and at the same time raise awareness about what we do here at IST,” said  Peter Forster, associate dean for online and professional education and information technology, and senior lecturer for Security and Risk Analysis (SRA).

The course is formatted into four easy-to-follow modules, with topics ranging from anti-malware and firewalls to data backups and encryption, and includes online reading and references. At the conclusion of each module is a simple quiz, which after passing, qualifies the student for a certificate of completion.

Santoro hopes that after completing the course, individuals will implement as many of the suggestions as they can to stay better protected online. But he’s quick to add that there is nothing that can provide 100 percent protection from online threats.

“To use an analogy, wearing a seatbelt will help protect you from harm in the event of an accident, but it cannot prevent the accident from happening,” said Santoro.

For more information about IST9001: Personal and Small Business Computer Security or other Security and Risk Analysis programs at Penn State University, visit www.ist.psu.edu.

 

Last Updated March 2, 2015

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