As I’ve mentioned in class, the issues associated with cybersecurity are worse than the average person realizes, and likely to get worse before they get better. It’s not surprising that many students are thinking about careers in the area — it’s interesting work, and the opportunities continue to expand.

Students frequently ask me how they can become more knowledgeable about cybersecurity. Many schools, including NOVA, offer programs. But aside from that, there are a number of free on-line resources which are excellent sources of information. Want to keep up with the crazy world of hackers and malware? These newsletters and blogs, from thought leaders on the subject, are what I rely on to keep up with what’s happening:

• Krebs on Security — a former Washington Post report is often the first to report on major security breaches
•  CSMonitor Passcode — “a modern field guide to security and privacy “
• Bruce Schneier — a prolific writer and cryptographer provides reasoned commentary, helping separate fact from “security theater”
• Risks Forum — a good discussion of technology threats, of interest to all system designers and developers
• SANS Newsbites and SANS Ouch! — good weekly news summaries and monthly advice for non-technical readers