The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) is part of the National Cyber Security Division of the United States' Department of Homeland Security.[1]
Formed in September 2003, US-CERT is a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the public and private sectors, intended to coordinate the response to security threats from the Internet. As such, it releases information about current security issues, vulnerabilities and exploits via the National Cyber Alert System, and works with software vendors to create patches for security vulnerabilities.
US-CERT has responsibilities as the Federal Incident Management Center for the Federal Government and serves as the focal point for cybersecurity issues in the United States.
Contents |
The National Cyber Alert System is an email and RSS notification service for the United States sent by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). The service was launched in 2004 to provide "computer security vulnerabilities, the potential impact of those vulnerabilities, and the action required to mitigate threats".[1] US-CERT and its partners also write security tips and best practices for personal computer users.[1]
Subscribers may choose some or all of the service's five types of alerts. Technical Cyber Security Alerts are written for system administrators and experienced users, as are the weekly summaries called Cyber Security Bulletins. Cyber Security Alerts and the biweekly Cyber Security Tips are written for nontechnical, home, corporate and new users. Current Activity Updates are sent as they are added to the US-CERT website.[2]