Many people don't know that simply browsing the web can create security problems. There are two vulnerabilities that come with nearly every browsing experience: active content and cookies. Yet few people recognize these common hazards.

Web developers often add functionality to their sites by developing scripts that execute programs within a web browser. This "active content" often consists of JavaScript, Java or ActiveX controls that provide functionality such as drop-down menus or splash screens. Unfortunately, they also provide ways for attackers to download or execute malicious code on your computer.

Cookies are bits of information about you that many websites collect during your visit. In most cases, these cookies are collected without your knowledge. It is because cookies are so surreptitious that they are especially dangerous.

The good news is that you can take steps to tighten your browser so that your information is not as vulnerable to malicious outsiders. One good step is to adjust your browser's privacy and security settings that block or limit cookies. More specifically, you can: 1.) only allow cookies for the website you are visiting; 2.) block or limit cookies from a third-party; and 3.) make sure that cookies are disabled to prevent other people from accessing or using your personal information (this applies if you are using a public computer).

You should be aware that blocking or even limiting cookies may make the browsing experience slower and less tailored to you specifically. However, the bigger issue is that the District experiences two or three attempts to breach its security each week, which can slow or even crash our network -- or perhaps even put information about our students, faculty and staff into the wrong hands.

Another step you can take to improve security is to use a browser other than Internet Explorer. The District Technology Standards Committee recommends that you use Mozilla Firefox as your preferred browser. It is more secure and is available via download (if you don't already have it installed -- new computers for approximately the last year have had Firefox pre-installed -- at the Mozilla website). You will still need to use Explorer for sites that are specifically designed for that browser, but we suggest you limit your use of it as much as possible.

For more information about steps you can take to improve security on your computer and help the District combat this growing problem, or to learn more about practicing good "cyber security," visit the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) site.