Education

Stanford University's Information Technology Systems and Services (ITSS) offers a comprehensive Web site that consolidates computer security information into one place. The site offers computer security information for personal computer users; system or network administrators; and administrators, department heads, or principal investigators .

The site's primary target audience is the typical Stanford computer user, which is usually the student. Secure Computing offers information on password security and securing a default operating system installation, as well as many tools to ensure computer security, such as anti-virus software and Stanford's authentication software. There is information dealing with spam and harassing e-mails.

In September 2003, because of the MSBlaster worm outbreak, students who were moving into the residences faced another task on top of their back-to-school worries: Before they could register their in-room network connections, students had to actively download and run an ITSS-written tool to ensure that their computers did not have the MSBlaster worm as well as other worms and backdoors. This unprecedented requirement of ITSS and Residential Computing (ResComp) forced many students to understand at a deeper level the potential damage of viruses and worms. Indirectly, preventative action served as a form of education.

Among the many roles of Residential Computer Coordinators (RCCs), education is among the most important ones. RCCs serve as educators in the dorms. Working with ResComp and the other residential staff, RCCs may hold dorm events and casual talks, and send out periodic e-mails that teach something new about computer use and security.

While it is understandable that a significant number of Stanford computer users only care that they can use the Internet successfully, the events that have taken place over the past year indicate that the importance of computer security education has increased drastically. In residences, the RCC is not enough to help protect the network from infected computers; users themselves are now more responsible for their own computers.

Outside of Stanford, popular and mainstream news sites such as CNN have increased the number of reports on critical computer security issues, such as virus outbreaks and prominent security vulnerabilities. Because many Stanford students obtain their daily news using these news sites, they are effectively learning about computer issues that impact their everyday lives.