[13470] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Library Computer Hacking
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Richard Wayne)
Mon Aug 7 20:28:13 2000
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 14:23:44 -0500
From: Richard Wayne <Richard.Wayne@UTSOUTHWESTERN.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-to: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-id: <s98ec675.089@mednet.swmed.edu>
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Dean,
Libraries may not be as attractive to hackers as say the White House site or the FBI site or even one of the Microsoft sites. However, all hosts that are connected to the Internet should have some level of protection. I am familiar with a number of hack attempts against library systems.
Defense rule number one is to have good backups. Then if your system gets hacked you can fix it. Defense rule number two is good system management. Keeping the OS level current helps a great deal with security issues.
A number of free and commercial products can further protect systems. Many Cisco routers, for example, have accompanying software that can firewall systems.
Regards,
Richard Wayne
UT Southwestern Library
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390-9049
214/648.4755 (v)
214/648.2826 (f)
richard.wayne@email.swmed.edu
>>> driley@HBU.EDU 8/4/00 8:02:35 AM >>>
After all these years, we are finally going to put our library catalog on
the web. That will, of course, mean changes to some of routines --
particularly in regard to network security. I suspect that some of my
colleagues will not agree with my assessment but I believe that libraries
are just as vulnerable to hacking as any other organization and should
therefore be as vigorously protected as possible. I recall one discussion
where one colleague just did not believe that libraries were regular
targets of hackers. I only know of one incident personally but I would
suspect that there are many more. With all the hacking stories we hear in
hear from the media in today's environment, this seems like a silly
question -- but would you all agree with that assessment?
Thanks for your comments and opinions.
Dean Riley
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dean M. Riley Phone: 281-649-3000 x2304
Systems Librarian FAX: 281-649-3489
Houston Baptist University Email: driley@hbu.edu
Moody Library
7502 Fondren
Houston, TX 77074-3298
"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty
'Hi-yo, Silver.' The Lone Ranger."
All expressed opinions are mine and do not necessarily reflect those of
Houston Baptist University.
