Commons Ctte wants awareness raised

Awareness should be raised for personal online protection


Summary

As online economic activity increases, the Government must increase public understanding of how to protect themselves against harmful software, 'Malware and Cyber Crime’ (HC 1537) discusses.

The Science and Technology Committee recommends that a campaign to prolong awareness of personal online security be aired on television to gain the widest possible exposure.

Malicious software is designed to infect computers to steal bank details and identity information and poses a growing threat in the UK as more people use the internet.

Routine IT hygiene accounts for 80% of protection against cyber-attack, yet currently there is no single first point of advice and help for consumers and much of the online information about internet security is often technical or jargon-filled.

The Committee recommends that more should be done to promote and resource the existing Government website Get Safe Online. Advice from Get Safe Online should be provided with every device capable of accessing the internet and all Government websites should link to the website and highlight the latest security updates.

The provision of Government services by the 'digital by default' policy will increasingly require those in receipt of Government benefits and services to access these online. The Committee raises concerns that the scheme will be of greater use in protecting the Government against welfare fraud than the individual user against crime.

The Government should investigate the potential for imposing statutory safety standards if the industry cannot demonstrate that voluntary self-regulation can improve security.

1812

I have an internal clock which often causes me to wake up at ungodly hours (about 3-15am is a frequent time when I wake up). Sometimes I will turn the radio or listen to a podcast. Occasionally at the weekend I will use my iPhone app to listen to C-SPAN Radio's live feed. They often put on programmes from their "Book TV". If you are not familiar with this - it's worth a look (and listen). The website is http://www.booktv.org/. Programmes are typically between 40 and 90 minutes - and involve an in-depth look at the subject of a non-fiction book. History, Law & Politics are typical subjects.

This Sunday I listened to an interesting programme about the war of 1812 and its significance. [yes, I know, it was a war with Britain!]. The video of the programme is available at
http://www.booktv.org/Program/13044/1812+The+Navys+War.aspx

The book can be purchased here -

UK Supreme Court

Live broadcasting from the Court in the Assange case is currently available on http://news.sky.com/home/supreme-court

How far to Congress?

While researching my post for last Tuesday, I discovered a website that allows you to calculate the distance between any two places on earth. As the world is round, a straight line on a map is of no use. Instead, for longer distances it is necessary to know the "Great Circle" distance between two points. The calculator is available below -

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators#distance

The Latitude and Longitude for the US Congress is 38°53'23"N , 77°00'27"W
(in decimal format that is Latitude: 38.88972222222 Longitude: -77.0075)

So as I write this, I am 3,636.8 miles or 5,852.912 kilometres from the Capitol Building. I have walked the 25 miles from the Mount Vernon Estate to the steps of the Senate (see these videos - starting here and continuing by pressing 'older posts' ) - but neither my swimming nor walking is up to the full journey from home

Open University

Many Open University courses begin in February. This Saturday I will be meeting my new students for the start of their W200 (Understanding Law) and W201(Law: The Individual & the State) courses. My W200 tutorials are in Birmingham whilst the W201 tutorials are held here in Milton Keynes. This blog will include many posts which are relevant to these courses - in illustrating and expanding upon areas for study - and of course, in preparation for the assessment - which for each course involves six Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs in the OU jargon aka ETMA's "electronic" - but we tutors are not electronic - I am very much flesh and blood - but the TMAs are submitted electronically)  and an Exam.

Of course this blog is not narrowly focused on the two law degree syllabuses (the 'modern' word, but I still cringe). It continues to follow & explain practice and procedure in the UK Parliament; US Congress; European Parliament and French Parlement - and to discuss - well whatever comes to mind! As long term readers of the blog know - I love Jazz and American Football - and have a passion for history.

I've taught on OU courses for the last 15 years. In the last couple of years I have lived only a few miles away from Walton Hall (as a teenager it was the mysterious place that sent lots of study material to my parents (and to which they posted TMAs - not 'e' in those days), both of whom were early OU students). I can cycle down there with ease - the hill by the hospital on the way back is a bit challenging though.

If you are interested in studying with the OU - it is through distance learning - the website is here. For current students - why not take a tour of Walton Hall (online)