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Former White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt weighs in on the consumer and cyber security.
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Computer security software company Symantec said -- blocked more than five and a half a billion attacks last year that's an increase by the way of more than 80% from the year 2010 so the question is how can you protect yourself.
From cyber thieves -- joining me is a -- top cyber security advisor to President Obama Howard Schmidt mr.
Schmidt.
Thank you for joining you seeing you're just left the White House just two months ago before.
Before we get to the consumer -- on this one what keeps the folks at the White House up at night worrying when it comes to cyber threats.
I think there's there's two pieces to the that the big things that we worry about out their first is that that.
Of intellectual property particularly from defense contractors major US companies.
All those sort of things -- people can actually use that not only as -- as a competitive advantage against -- but also how it affects us from an economic perspective.
The other thing is is the data that -- a lot of the major companies have -- United States on.
You and I and other citizens other customers worldwide stealing that -- -- using it for for things it shouldn't be used for.
Who's the biggest international threat is that China we know famously.
Some of the things they've been getting up to -- that one country that really comes to mind.
That's the one has been brought up and every intelligence report every discussion you mentioned some of the security companies time after time there pointed out is number one their attitude conduct this sort of activity one about domestic threat of those some of those -- out there who.
Somehow managed to break through the very latest cyber security.
Yeah I and that's an interesting piece when you look at the domestic side of it -- often times think of what we refer to as active as those that.
Basically don't like the way companies so -- about policies are they don't like the way the company conducts business.
So breaking into those companies and stealing personal data and publicizing it for embarrassment.
Where even worse doing what they call distributed denial of service attack which means you can't conduct business with them -- -- servers are so busy you can't get in Iraq right.
So what can consumers do -- what's the number one thing they should do right now to make -- there is protected as you -- -- Well I think the number one thing that consumers can do is actually make sure that their systems are updated.
All the time -- security patches including their anti virus anti malware software.
That's one of the things that about the bad guys count on the people don't keep their systems up to date.
But it seems to me -- -- may be wrong here that no matter what you do it seems like some of these hackers whether they're based in Eastern Europe forever.
Just seem to be one step ahead is that paranoia or is that true.
No that's not paranoia is very true because not only do they.
-- -- capitalize on the technical aspects of the technology we use today but they also look at the social thing what we call social engineering.
Listen to that email that says hey -- won this big prize or they'll send you what appears to be their 2013.
Our election results and get you -- open something which -- -- malware which compromises your system.
So bottom line is you could do everything you've set but there's no guarantee is that that someone can get into your accounts.
That's correct that's one of the things we have three -- Chicago -- -- that's why we recommend people check your accounts regularly -- Use a specific credit card for online usage that we can really focus on.
-- if something goes wrong -- be notified right away.
Very good device Howard Schmidt formal White House cyber security advisor how thank you so much for John.
