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CyLab Aims to Ensure Safety, Privacy for All Computer Users
Advances in computer technology unfortunately come along with security vulnerabilities that can harm everyone from the home computer user to small businesses, large corporations and anyone dependent on the nation's telecommunications and financial systems. To counter that threat, Carnegie Mellon University has launched a security initiative designed to protect all computer users from interference by cyber terrorists and hackers.
"Cybersecurity is a problem for all of us," said Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon at a campus press conference announcing the initiative. "Every time anyone anywhere logs onto a computer, they become part of a network at risk. And, though they are unlikely to be aware of it, they are contributing to that risk."
Cohon said CyLab is designed to work with speed and great efficiency to shore up security breaches that can compromise the Internet-based electronic ties that enhance communications, services and networks.
More than 114,000 incidents of virus attacks and other computer breaches were reported to the CERT Coordination Center during the first nine months of 2003. The problem won't be solved without advances in technology, Pethia said, and CyLab is expected to lead the way in that endeavor.
"We're not getting out of this mess by using today's information technology," Pethia said.
"We want to be secure and private simultaneously," Khosla said.
CyLab's education program will be directed by Carnegie Mellon's Information Networking Institute, which Khosla also heads. Nonprofit organizations, schools and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will assist in disseminating information to the public.
U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-14th District, Pa.) was instrumental in obtaining funding of $2.5 million last year for Carnegie Mellon's cyber security efforts and $6 million this year for CyLab. After Doyle spoke at the press conference, he noted that Carnegie Mellon's outstanding reputation for computer security smooths the way for obtaining funding from Congress. Local and university leaders hope CyLab will spin off jobs in the region.
"Southwestern Pennsylvania is the global center for cyber security because of Carnegie Mellon," Doyle said.
The interdisciplinary team that will make up CyLab includes more than 50 researchers and 80 students from Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering, School of Computer Science, the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management and the CERT Coordination Center. The center, which is part of Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute, is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. The CERT/CC also partners with the Department of Homeland Security in the activities of the US-CERT, a coordination point to prevent, protect from, and respond to Internet attacks.
For more information, visit
http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/031022_newinitiative.html
Ruth Hammond
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