2012 Laureate of The Computerworld Honors Program

The Alabama Computer Forensics Institute gained national recognition as a 2012 Laureate of The Computerworld Honors Program award recipient. More information can be found in Troy University’s Press Release.

Through its Alabama Computer Forensics Institute and Laboratory, the University’s Office of Information Technology received the award for its Cyberkids Initiative, which to date has presented an online safety program to more than 190,000 children statewide since its inception in 2006.

“It was certainly an unexpected surprise to be awarded the Laureate,” said Greg Price, TROY’s Chief Information Officer, who has more than 15 years of experience in internet security and cybercrime investigations. “The international award is considered one of the most prestigious awards among IT professionals and the recipients of years past include some of the most storied names in academia and humanitarian efforts.”

Founded by the International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation, and is the longest-running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to promote positive social, economic and educational change.

TROY earns Laureate honors for internet safety program (March 19, 2012)

Related News: University professor helps FBI crack $70 million cybercrime ring

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. MSNBC published an article titled University professor helps FBI crack $70 million cybercrime ring.

So stealthy was their ZeuS operation, neither the hackers nor the mules had counted on getting caught. But, using complex data mining techniques, Prof. Warner established links between ZeuS-infected computers and traced the origins of the mass infection to Ukraine; and many of the hackers and their mules were caught.

But 18 mules remained at large in the United States. And after the FBI published a wanted poster of the students, Warner’s students began using what they’d learned in class to track the criminals.

Source: MSNBC

Related News: Girl’s grandmother finds text messages about sexual assault

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. WSFA published an article titled Girl’s grandmother finds text messages about sexual assault.

The case reportedly came to light last month when the girl’s grandparent found notes and text messages in the child’s bedroom. The writings described what was being done to her, according to authorities.

Source: WSFA

Related News: Broward Facebook suspect won’t ‘like’ this

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an article titled Broward Facebook suspect won’t ‘like’ this.

“The nameplate is like only $40, not that big of a crime, but what an idiot. He puts it on Facebook,” said Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti. “Here he is flaunting it on Facebook. He violated the terms of his parole by stealing, from a judge no less. He’s got multiple convictions for petty theft, so now this is a felony.”

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Related News: Teen girls ask the Internet, ‘Am I ugly?’

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. TODAYMoms published an article titled Teen girls ask the Internet, ‘Am I ugly?’.

In the latest news that will make parents of teenage girls want to shoot their computers and/or become Amish, teen and tween girls are taking to YouTube to post “Am I ugly?” videos, asking the denizens of the Internet whether they are attractive. Because really, who better to reassure insecure young girls about their self-worth than anonymous Internet trolls? Yikes.

Source: TODAYMoms

Related News: Deleted by your friends? That’s life on Facebook now

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. MSNBC published an article titled Deleted by your friends? That’s life on Facebook now.

Facebook is apparently getting a lot more unfriendly.

Users are getting a lot more selective, deleting comments, photo tags and even friends at a record rate, according to a new study released Friday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Source: MSNBC

Related News: California teacher pleads not guilty in student ‘bondage’ case

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. CNN published an article titled California teacher pleads not guilty in student ‘bondage’ case.

The law enforcement probe began when investigators found “over 40 photographs depicting children in a school classroom, with their eyes blindfolded and mouths covered with tape,” a Los Angeles County sheriff’s statement said.

“Investigators learned that some of the photos depicted suspect Mark Berndt with his arm around the children, or with his hand over their mouths,” according to the sheriff’s department.

Source: CNN

Related News: Google tricks Internet Explorer into accepting tracking cookies, Microsoft claims

One new article link has been added to our Related News page. Ars Technica published an article titled Google tricks Internet Explorer into accepting tracking cookies, Microsoft claims.

Google was caught last week bypassing default privacy settings in the Safari browser in order to serve up tracking cookies. The company claimed the situation was an accident and limited only to the Safari Web browser, but today Microsoft claimed Google is doing much the same thing with Internet Explorer.

Source: Ars Technica