Seattle.gov Home Page City Services Staff Directory [WEB GRAPHIC] About Seattle.gov City Contacts
Seattle.gov Home Page
 SEARCH: 
Seattle.gov This Department
Link to DoIT Home Page Link to DoIT Home Page Link to DoIT About Us Page Link to DoIT Contact Us Page
We make technology work for the City Bill Schrier, CTO
Information Security Home Page
Chief Information Security Officer
Information Security Bulletins
Information Security Newsletter
Information Systems Security Policy
Spams and Scams
Creating Secure Passwords
Securing Your Laptop
Protecting Your Home Computer
Spyware Solutions
Wireless Network Security Guidelines
Viruses, Worms & Other Pests
Glossary of IT Terms

Welcome to the City of Seattle's Information Security Homepage!

Protecting the city's computing systems, computer networks and the information that these systems host is critical for the successful delivery of city services.

This website is designed to help you as citizens of Seattle or visitors to our site learn what you can do to help protect against the many emerging threats found in today's computer and network environments both in the workplace and at home.

Loading...

Be on the Lookout!
Information Security bulletins about the latest threats to your computer security are now posted on our site.

  We have posted seven special bulletins (added on 12/17/08 and 12/19 and 12/22) and our new newsletter on 12/16/08.

NOTE: We now provide the ability to subscribe to an RSS feed. The summary above is being fed by that RSS system to give you a preview of some of the items in the latest newsletter. Enjoy!

In case you don't know how to subscribe to RSS feeds and missed the tip where I gave instructions on how to do so - I've archived that tip here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

City of Seattle - Your Internet Safety Partner

New Cyber Security Mailing List
Newsletter with tips and stategies to stay safe
The City of Seattle's Office of Information Security (OIS) has setup a computer security mailing list. We will post a periodic newsletter with cyber security tips and strategies to keep you safe on your work and home computers. We'll also send out notices of critical new threats and information on how to protect yourselves.

If you would like to sign up for this new service, please click on the following link and then create a New User account.   
Computer Security Mailing List

New Security Tip O' d'Week!

Here is another great article with tips on safe online banking practices. It comes from the Associated Press and is written by Jordan Robertson

Banking online secure if you follow safety rules

I hear so much about hackers attacking Web sites and stealing people's personal information. Is it safe to bank online?

One of the scariest things about banking online is that you're forced to enter personal information, such as account numbers, that you'd never type anywhere else on the Internet. You're also viewing your most sensitive financial information, and the fear is if you can see it, a skillful hacker might as well.

Getting over that hurdle takes faith in the security of your computer and the banking Web site, but the most paranoid people in the world — computer security specialists — say it's fine to bank online. As long as you guard against the person who is likely your biggest problem: yourself.

Hackers do target banking sites, but it's a hard job. They prefer a much easier way to fool people into coughing up their personal information: fraud spam. Links in those messages direct you to sites that look and feel like real banking sites, but if you enter your account details into them, the hackers take them. If you're banking online, your top priority should be avoid these "phishing" e-mails. Avoiding them is simple: don't click on links in e-mails sent to you purporting to be from your bank. Open up a separate window in your browser and type in the banking Web site address on your own.

***********************************

----------------------------------------
Last Updated: December 22, 2008
Website Contact: David Matthews

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft Watch the Video
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Ivan Orton, Deputy Prosecutor for King County, talks about ways to reduce risks of identity theft and protect personal information.

Community Computer Security Training

The City of Seattle's Office of Information Security has initiated a series of computer safety training classes in communities around the City. Our inaugural class was held on Saturday, July 19th at the beautiful Raineer Community Center.

Our next classes took place:
Wednesday, September 10 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, at the Northgate Branch Library (10548 Fifth Ave NE, Seattle)

AND

Wednesday, September 17, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, at the High Point Branch Library (3411 SW Raymond, Seattle).

We want to thank the folks have taken these classes. We hope you found them of value and will encourage your friends and relations to attend a future session. The materials from the presentation are available here: Home Computer Security Handouts

Stay tuned to this site and/or sign up for our mailing list (see below) for announcements of future classes in your community.

Seattle.gov: Services | Departments | Staff Directory | Mayor | City Council
Copyright © 1995-2008 City of Seattle Questions/Complaints | Privacy & Security Policy