Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Introduces SAFE-Net


PITTSBURGH, PA., November 10, 2009 — Do internet passwords protect personal information from unwanted intrusion? How can you be sure if someone on-line is who they say they are? Does anti-virus software really protect your hard-drive?




“Many Internet users lack an understanding of common threats they may face online,” says Cheryl Begandy, PSC director of education, outreach and training. “Among parents, many lack confidence that their child is safe when using the Internet.”

“Cyber security involves more than small barriers, such as anti-virus software and knowing to delete spam,” says Wiam Younes, training and awareness coordinator with CMU’s Information Security Office, who has collaborated with PSC on SAFE-Net content development and training. “It requires a wall of defenses, and the SAFE-Net program is geared to provide thorough cyber-security education in three areas: cyber ethics, cyber safety, and cyber security.”



As part of PSC’s involvement with TeraGrid, the NSF program for comprehensive distributed cyberinfrastructure, PSC staff have led TeraGrid’s working group on cyber-security, experience that contributed to development of SAFE-Net.



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