US-CERT is the operational arm of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is a public-private partnership.

http://www.us-cert.gov/index.html

Has anyone heard of this before? So many new divisions, departments springing up at all branches of government, figured I'd ask.

dunno

well at least I can sleep better knowing the Dept of Homeland Security has an operational hand

With all these new organizations, new departments springing up like a bad rash, I just wonder. This one supposedly is there to help the DOHS with IT issues? Does that mean that they fired/laid off previous IT techs? Who hired this company? What exactly is a private-public partnership, is it like the emperors new clothes? Is it like lotto, you have to be in it to win it?

Looks like you can get updates on viruses, worms, etc.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
US-CERT is aware of public reports indicating a widespread infection of the Conficker worm, which can infect a Microsoft Windows system from a thumb drive, a network share, or directly across a network. PLEASE READ THE CURRENT ACTIVITY UPDATE for more information about the Conficker worm.

http://www.us-cert.gov/

Ok but have you heard about them prior to today?
Do you know anything about this company, the operational hand of the DOHS?

isn't DOHS what homer simpson says???? I haven't heard of them before. maybe it is just like other companies that bid on the jobs

Don't tell me I invented another working arm/program/company for the Department of Homeland Security (dohs)

DOHS

If'n I wuz a compooooter Geek, I could get more info. It's DHSH and I think I'll avoid them. "specially, since they could probably hack anyone's stuff.

US-Cert has been in operation since 2003!

US-CERT is charged with providing response support and defense against cyber attacks for the Federal Civil Executive Branch (.gov) and information sharing and collaboration with state and local government, industry and international partners.

US-CERT interacts with federal agencies, industry, the research community, state and local governments, and others to disseminate reasoned and actionable cyber security information to the public.

1.Who runs US-CERT?
US-CERT is the operational arm of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is a public-private partnership.

1.Where is US-CERT located?
US-CERT is located in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.

1.What is US-CERT's relationship to NCSD and DHS?
US-CERT is the operational arm of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The NCSD was established by DHS to serve as the federal government's cornerstone for cyber security coordination and preparedness, including implementation of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace .

1.What is the relationship between US-CERT and other groups with "CERT" in their name?
Worldwide, there are more than 250 organizations that use the name "CERT" or a similar name and deal with cyber security response. US-CERT is independent of these groups, though we may coordinate with them on security incidents. The first of these types of organizations is the CERT® Coordination Center (CERT/CC), established at Carnegie Mellon University in 1988. When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created US-CERT, it called upon the CERT/CC to contribute expertise for protecting the nation's information infrastructure by coordinating defense against and response to cyber attacks. Through US-CERT, DHS and the CERT/CC work jointly on these activities.

1.Who are US-CERT's partners?
As it grows, US-CERT will include partnerships with private sector cyber security vendors, academia, federal agencies, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), state and local governments, and domestic and international organizations. Working together, these groups will coordinate national and international efforts to address key cyber security issues.

1.How does the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program work to protect submitted information?
The PCII Program, established in response to the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002 (CII Act), creates a new framework for protecting certain types of information. The PCII program enables members of the private sector to, for the first time, voluntarily submit confidential information regarding the nation's critical infrastructure to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with the assurance that the information will be protected from public disclosure. More details about how information can be protected under the CII Act can be found on the Department of Homeland Security web site.



http://www.us-cert.gov/aboutus.html

so it is a government contractor correct?

Yes!

yep....i'm right again...what did i win?

Actually they are a government entity.

You stay safe!

Partnered with private entities hence the public-private partnership they speak of.

Suppose a cyber terrorist wants to attack the USA.
He could tap into the systems of a Nuclear Reactor or 2, or three, or four, etc and cause them to overheat, close certain valves, open others, and never even step foot on American soil.

Sounds dangerous doesn't it?