Yes we’ve turned the tables and tomorrow is your chance to interrogate the FBI! Well, nearly.
Ed Gibson, Cyber Security Advisor to Microsoft and ex FBI Special Agent has been invited to give a talk in assembly at Sheldon Heath Community Arts College tomorrow for Safer Internet Day. The talk will not only focus on some of the important issues around online safety and protection of personal information but also give a fascinating insight into the life of an FBI Agent.
The talk will be filmed and put on the internet for you to watch later in the week, but anyone can send in their question for us to put to Ed on the day. Please make sure you get your questions to us by 12 noon tomorrow – 10th February 2009. You can post your question as a comment here or email: digital@servicebirmingham.co.uk or Text ‘DIGITAL’ plus your message to 07786 200403 .
You can also access online eSafety resources and activities to help children be more cyberwise from http://www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk/sid or http://www.bgfl.org/esafety
Hi Ed,
I’ve got an Apple computer at home. It’s a few years old, and I’ve never installed any virus protection software on it because I assume most viruses are for Windows. Is this a bit dangerous, or am I right to risk it?
Question for ED:
If you were to design an ideal social network for kids, one where their safety was built into it yet it didn’t prevent sharing fun stuff what do you think it would look like? Are social networks always unsafe for kids or can safety be designed into them?
Dave
Why did you change your job from being an FBI agent to internet security advisor?
What is the difference between the work of an FBI agent and that of a policeman?
Year 8 pupil
Were you allowed to carry a gun on a plane?
Year 10 pupil
How do you become an FBI agent?
Year 10 pupil
Have you ever protected the president?
Year 10 pupil
What’s the hardest case you’ve ever covered?
Year 10 pupil
What is the most frightening thing you have ever done?
Year 10 pupil
Was it a dangerous job?
Year 8 pupil
How hard is the training to be an FBI agent?
Year 8 pupil
What were the best points of being an FBI agent?
Year 8 pupil
How can we teach younger people to be safe on the internet?
Year 11 pupil
How safe is a wifi connection when you are checking your bank account?
Year 11 pupil
Are there any health risks with wifi?
Year 11 pupils
How do you deal with hackers?
Year 10 pupil
How do you tackle fraud?
Year 10 pupil
How secure would you say the internet is?
Year 11 pupil
How can we, as internet users keep ourselves safe?
Year 11 pupil
Would a more complicated password keep us safe?
Year 11 pupil
How safe is it to pay online?
Year 11 pupil
Is wifi generally less safe than wired connections?
Year 11 pupil
Are all internet sites safe?
Year 11 pupil
How do you know your details are safe?
Year 11 pupil
Hi Ed.
I have quite a simple question; lets say I was old, ugly and quite a nasty person. How easy would it be for me to pretend to be, young beautiful and a really nice person?
Do you think by creating safer websites and programs for children that this will stifle their innovation?
Can people keep track of what I do on the internet from wherever they are?
Are websites with padlocks safe to use?
.ARE THERE ANY FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD SITES THAT ARE NOT ILLEGAL?
if someone is worried that their details are being spread on the internet what could they do about it?
how long have you been in the FBI?
If some one used their name as their email adress, would that be a bad thing to do, if it was bad is there something they could do about it?
hi,
from your FBI experience, how many cases in a year was solved that involved internet fraud?
is there such thing as a safe site?
Does anti-virus software protect you from getting bad things e.g virus’ and mailware and if you have things like that on your computer can the anti-virus software destroy it?
Have I protected the President … no, this is the job of the Secret Service not the FBI.
I had a 20-year career as a Special Agent specialising in investigating economic espionage, money laundering, fraud schemes and intellectual property theft.
Hardest case I’ve ever had … well I’ve had a wonderful career and dealt with many complex cases but in 1995 I was asked to investigate one of my FBI classmates who it turned out was spying for the Soviet Union and he is now in prison and will never get out. This acts as a reminder of how difficult the job can be!
How can we teach younger people to be safe on the internet … I’m not sure about this one. Sometimes educating people about good online safety skills, but it is common for most young people to know the Internet better than grown-ups so maybe we need to help each other. However Microsoft does alot and backs the UK Government’s Get Safe Online.org which has good tips about wireless and social networking.
A more complicated password would offer some protection but people are human at the end of the day and there is only so many passwords even I can remember – so yes you can make them more complicated but you’ve just got to remember them.
Why did I change my job from being an FBI agent….. I retired from the FBI in 2005 and was asked by Microsoft to join them as their Chief Security Adviser. This was a good opportunity to use the skills that I had developed to help people be safe and secure online and Microsoft helps to do just that.
How do you know your details are safe… it’s about taking a number of precautions. For instance using trusted sites and very importantly making sure that you update your software. Microsoft, for instance send out regular updates and it’s worth taking advantage of this to help keep you safe
Are there any free music downloads sites that are not illegal….. it’s about common sense and taking precautions. Much as we would all like something for free, there are very few sites that would offer this and you need to be wary if sites are offering free downloads. There may possibly be music sites offering free trials but again it comes down to only using those sites that you trust and know about.
Websites with padlocks are safer and more secure than sites without the gold padlock, but you should be aware that the little golden symbol can be cloned and used on disreputable sites to provide the illusion of security. However, in the main these sites are more secure than the sites that don’t feature the gold padlock.
Whenever updates (virus or software) are issued by the manufacturer you should always install them to safeguard your computer and ensure it is not compromised – whether this be a Microsoft or Apple machine. Your computer and it’s content is at risk if you do not keep it protected!
Never be tempted by free virus protection adverts and pop-ups as they usually cause more harm than good and could leave your computer open to cloning and worse – and you’ll still end up paying – perhaps even more – in the long term.
That’s a good question and not sure how I’d quite answer that but an ideal social networking site for children where safety was paramount but didn’t prevent sharing fun things … most mainstream social networking sites include education-oriented friendship groups. However other sites provide a more explicitly child-oriented design and security service for cross-site collaboration (www.schoolnetglobal.com) or simply casual exchange around school interests (www.goldstarcafe.net) – so perhaps it would look something like these sites but not just for explicitly for learning.
FBI Special Agents are required to armed 24 hours a day unless they are on authorised vacation, so hopefully I’ve answered any gun-related questions.
You have to be atleast 31 years of age before you can be consider for a career in the FBI – this is because they want you to have a certain amount of life experience before you can even begin to train as an FBI agent – nevermind a Special Agent.
You have to be atleast 31 years of age before you can be considered for a career in the FBI – this is because they want you to have a certain amount of life experience before you can even begin to train as an FBI agent – nevermind a Special Agent.
It was a frightening job but a very worthwhile and fulfulling job.