The recent STAR convention (for court reporters) in Washington, D.C., had some wonderful seminars.  Co-chairs Lisa DiMonte of Planet Depos and Jan Ballman of Paradigm Reporting, did a fabulous job coming up with some great speakers.  Alan Gregerman, author of the book, “The Necessity of Strangers,” gave a very entertaining and enlightening keynote presentation; however, the one I want to share with you was a session by Steven P. Bucci, Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies.  At the end of this article, I promise I will share with you some VERY IMPORTANT information which some of you may not know.

First, some key points of his speech:

The U.S. faces – and is largely unprepared for – significant cyber security threats that jeopardize America’s critical infrastructure, the freedoms that Americans exercise online, and the economic viability of U.S. business.

Russia, China, and Iran are trying to steal or destroy U.S. digital property to further their power or prestige.  Hamas, Hezbollah, and criminal organizations from around the world have also employed cyber methods.  Cyber espionage is rampant, with U.S. companies losing an estimated $250 billion every year in intellectual property.

Despite the best intentions of those who supported previous cyber legislation, a regulatory basis simply will not work:  It does not improve security and may even lower it by providing a false level of comfort and burdening the private sector with outdated regulations.

Cyberspace’s dynamic nature must be acknowledged and addressed by policies that are equally dynamic.  And, any legislation must provide robust protection for privacy and individual freedoms.

Steven Bucci stressed that no one can totally protect themselves from cybercrime; however, he did share these 6 cybercrime protection tips with the court reporters in attendance:

1. Never do your online banking when using the internet at a public place such as a hotel, Starbuck’s, etc.
2. Passwords:  change them, at a minimum, quarterly.  Use capitals and lower case letters, as well as symbols.  You can also use sentence phrases, such as thecowjumpedoverthemoon.  Never use your private info such as birthdays.
3. When accounts ask for your mother’s maiden name, this is not a test.  Do not use the real maiden name of your mother!  Make something up.  A few court reporters admitted they – and I will confess, the author of this article – have been doing this. 
4. If you travel out of the country, especially to a country such as China, you are better off leaving all of your electronics – computer, iPad, cell phone – at home.  Take none of it with you.
5. If you are ever traveling, especially out of the country, and you are in the bathroom, and the bathroom is all steamed up, but you notice there is a circle area on your mirror which is entirely clear, it means that someone is watching you!  Mr. Bucci was totally serious about this.
6. Legal Shield was mentioned as one form of protection that was thought to be a good product.

Those are my tips of the day.  Make it a great day, and be safe!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Jones is a court reporter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

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