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Secure Computing Gives School Administrators Tips for Keeping Students Safe in the Computer Lab

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:00 CDT

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Secure Computing Corporation , the experts in securing connections between people, applications and networks(TM) today announced that school administrators could soon be faced with more bullying in the computer lab than on the school playground. Over the summer months, numerous online threats have emerged relating to social networking sites such as MySpace, one of the most popular sites on the Internet for students. Social networking sites pose serious legal liabilities and security breach opportunities for school networks.

"Within schools, social networking sites like MySpace put schools at risk from the legal liabilities of kids posting threatening or defamatory information about their classmates or their teachers," said Paul Henry, vice president, Strategic Accounts for Secure Computing. "These networking sites have allowed kids to take threatening behavior to the next level -- basically allowing kids to become cyberbullies from the comfort of their own home or from a computer in the school lab."

Networking sites also pose a serious security risk to networks. Some of the most serious risks include:

* Malware and Spyware * Trojans and Viruses * Ability to access inappropriate content * Personal information on networking sites can be useful in a biographical password/passphrase attack that could lead to a breach in the network. * ID theft from cybercriminals farming personal details

Social networking sites have also become a literal phone directory for cybercriminals and sexual predators. According to an FBI report broadcast by NBC's "Dateline," (http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2006/ag_speech_0604202.html), 50,000 sexual predators are thought to be online at any one time.

"It's important to educate kids about the dangers of networking sites," said Henry. Some common sense things kids and administrators should keep in mind:

* Never post anything that would make it easy for a stranger to locate you: -- Your phone number, address, the town you live in or even your zip code -- School name, school sports team name or place of employment -- Where you go after school or work * People are not always who or what they claim to be: -- Never add strangers to your friends list -- Never agree to meet with anyone that you do not already personally know -- If someone asks you to meet with them, alert an adult you can trust -- If someone you thought you knew on MySpace begins to make inappropriate comments, alert an adult that you can trust * Never write anything on your MySpace page that you would not want your parents, co-workers or other adults to see

Recently, a bill in the House of Representatives called Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) has overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 410 to 15 on July 26. If this bill is enacted into the law, the act will force public schools and libraries to block access to social networking websites and chat rooms. Numerous social networking websites, such as MySpace, could fall under DOPA's policy. If the bill is passed, the Federal Communications Commission will be required to maintain and publish a list of banned Web sites.

About Secure Computing:

Secure Computing has been securing the connections between people and information for over 20 years. Specializing in delivering the world's strongest security appliances/firewalls, identity and access management solutions, content management and filtering solutions, Secure Computing is uniquely qualified to be the global security solutions provider to organizations of all sizes. Our more than 17,000 global customers, supported by a worldwide network of partners, include the majority of the Dow Jones Global 50 Titans and the most prominent organizations in banking, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, public utilities, education and national and local governments. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices worldwide. For more information, see http://www.securecomputing.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to back-to-school online security threats and such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are delays in product development, undetected software errors or bugs, competitive pressures, technical difficulties, changes in customer requirements, general economic conditions and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Secure Computing's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Editorial Contact: Secure Computing Merritt Group Brenda Christensen Tom Rice 925-288-4165 804-864-8827 brenda_christensen@securecomputing.com rice@merrittgrp.com (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060808/LATU027LOGO )

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060808/LATU027LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Secure Computing

CONTACT: Brenda Christensen of Secure Computing, +1-925-288-4165,brenda_christensen@securecomputing.com; or Tom Rice of Merritt Group,+1-804-864-8827, rice@merrittgrp.com, for Secure Computing

Web site: http://www.securecomputing.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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