Next General Meeting:
Meeting Preview: Hacking Today: Malware, Botnets, Organized Crime and Cyber Spies
Date:Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Location: Danbury Hospital Auditorium,
24 Hospital Ave, Danbury, doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Preview by Chris Furey

They say you have to take the good with the bad, and that may be true since most every benefit in the digital world comes with significant security trade-offs. In the “good old days” not long ago, we suffered through slow and unreliable dialup connections. But at least our PCs remained relatively well protected from the vast forces of evil. 
But the world became considerably less civilized when we made the jump to broadband. When you’re connected to the ‘net 24/7, you’re exposed 24/7. If your connection is working, you are quite simply at risk. This is true whether you connect through DSL or cable, Wi-Fi or WiMax. And, no firewall or antivirus program will protect you 100%.

OK. That’s bad. But how bad is it? Well with well conceived names like spyware, crimeware, malware and badware, the online risk situation is... hmm, how to put it? Bad.

Hacking is a big business. Television ads warn about identity theft. Computer break-ins where hackers steal many thousands of credit cards are in the news along with stories about security breaches that have political implications with Chinese spies breaking into email accounts of Chinese dissidents. Hacking has even become a weapon of war. So what is the danger of cyber war? Is the United States vulnerable to cyber attack? What might be the effects of a cyber war and how long might be required to recover? Good questions all, with no easy answers.

Danbury Area Computer Society (DACS) is a registered nonprofit and has been serving the region since 1990. Members receive an award-winning newsletter, members-only workshops and events, and access to volunteer phone support.

As a reminder, our General Meetings are free and open to the public so invite anyone you know who would be interested in this topic.

DACS meetings are held at the Danbury Hospital auditorium. (Click here for directions.) Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with registration and casual networking. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. with a question and answer period (Ask DACS), followed by announcements and a short break. The featured evening presentation begins at 8:00.

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