Cyber Security

As the U.S. department of Defense reviews it security initiative and policies, what can we do to improve our personal security?



The first step to improving your personal security is to have good anti-virus and spy ware. Viruses and spy ware are usually installed on computers that have security holes or vulnerabilities. It is very important to keep your software (Microsoft Windows, Office, Adobe, Apple) up to date with latest security patches.



Many computer systems are infected by getting tricked into visiting malicious web sites that install viruses and spy ware to gain control of your PC. The hackers launch attacks, steal information, once access is gained.



A properly configure firewall can prevent infections and keep you safe. To improve your security, you should run a virus and spy ware scan at least monthly.



If you need assistance removing viruses or spy ware, please feel free to contact me directly. Here is to safe surfing and computing.

Economic Stimulus and security

The economic stimulus plan should help us improve infrastructure (roads, Bridges), save energy by going green, expand high speed Internet, and improve computer security. For many of our unemployed workers, competition for jobs is very steep. You have to have specific skills or go back to college or technical school.



The government and the prior sector has acknowledged the need for more technically trained worker force especially in the science, math, and engineering fields. We must lead in the creation on the next wave of technology innovation especially related to green energy and computer security.



A computer security expert like myself, is very interested in getting more talented people interested in computer science. There is such a demand for highly trained and skilled individuals in the science fields (computer science, green energy, health care, mechanical engineering related to road design).



For the US economy and it workers to prosper, we must lead once again in all facets.

Health Care Reform

There is much need for Health Care reform in the U.S.A. What is the best approach and the answer is not easy. We hear about socialism and the government's huge speeding, but who is right. No easy answers and many questions.

US Cyber security plan

President Obama has put together a plan to address U.S. cyber security. Computer networks in the U.S. are under constant attack from hacker and foreign countries. The high profile attack on the electric grid was the most dangerous attack yet.

Addressing computer security is a big step in the right direction, but the plan is short on details, and much has to be done in the public and private sectors.

Firing U.S. workers and keeping H1-B visa foreign workers

The federal government has found companies who have fired U.S. workers and keep H1-B foreign workers. An IT firm in N.J. has been indicted on visa related fraud charges. It appears that the senate has approved stricter rules on hiring H-1B workers.

According to arrest records in six states, the companies involved were firing qualified U.S. workers and replacing them with H1-B visa workers. The fraud related to H-1B visa has deprived many U.S. citizens of employment. In January 2009 the number of workers employed in the H-1B visa program exceeded 241,000 unemployed U.S. citizens in the same occupation. Essentially,these companies were giving our U.S jobs to foreign workers.

According to statics, the number of technology jobs were down 200,000. Currently the cap of 1-B visa is 85,000 visa annually. The company in N.J. only hired foreign workers to fill I.T. jobs which resulted in lost wages and benefits for thousand of U.S. citizens.

My opinion is, any program that encourages moving or displacing U.S. workers should be limited. The drive for profits seems to lead to some form of corruption even if it means hurting U.S. workers.

Immigration and H-1B vista

Immigration and H-1B visa program for Foreign workers has always been a double edge sword. The dig and cut involves companies hiring foreign workers via H-1B while laying of U.S workers.





In this economic recession, there has been talk of the government making it more difficult to hire foreign nationals to increase the hiring of U.S. workers. Many companies claim, there are not enough qualified U.S. works to fill certain job vacancy. This is the key component that needs verification.



The H-1B Visa program allow2 65,000 foreign nationals with skillS not easily found within the U.S. and 20,000 exceptions for graduateS from U.S universities. Companies who have received Trouble Assets Relief Program (T.A.R.P) who have more than 15% of their staffs on Visas; would have to prove they have tried to recruit U.S. workers. The problem with this, there is a lot of fraud related to recruiting U.S. workers.




During this recession, some U.S. High-tech companies are laying of U.S. workers. but are not cutting H1-B visa holders. There definitely should be some restrictions to hiring H1-B visa holders while companies are laying off U.S. workers.




Much of the contention U.S. I.T. workers have is, companies will hire H1-B visa holders even when you have a qualified U.S. worker available. I believe exemptions for U.S. University graduate is O.K., as many foreign students come to the U.S. to study and then work for U.S. companies.

We need a stronger policy that improves hiring of U.S. workers, H1-B visa holders, and limits out sourcing of U.S. jobs.

Immigration and Out sourcing "Profitable business?"

This is a direct correlation between out sourcing U.S. job over seas and hiring illegal immigrants, lower wages and higher profits for companies involved. The easiest solution to both problems is to remove the incentive or profit that companies can make by increasing fines and enforcemnet of existing laws to discourage violators.

At some point it become fashionable to ship U.S. jobs over seas. You got to point to the auto industry to see how shipping U.S. jobs over seas became fashionable. Once it became clear that in the global economy, over seas competitors were able to make a superior product at a lower cost, US jobs were in trouble. The question is, who fault is it that many over seas competitors can make a superior product at a lower cost (management, worker, unions, health care)? Management and Executive sold us on, the only way we compete in the global economy is to send our U.S.jobs over seas. Ever since, it has been down hill and we are still trying to recover.

In a free market, there is great pressure to maximize profit at all cost. Many executive teams at companies have jumped over board in the regard. What can we do to help turn things around especially for the middle class. Many worker advocates would point to the Employee Free Choice Act currently in front of congress.

In my next post, I will look for solutions that will help U.S. companies stay competitive while ensuring more U.S. jobs are not out sourced and overwhelmed with immigration issues.