International computer security experts gather

The scientific profile of “hackers”, whether an Australia Card would increase identity fraud and the use of the internet by teenagers are among topics being discussed at a major international conference on the Gold Coast from May 23-27.

The Asia Pacific IT security conference AusCERT2004 will bring together 700 leading Australian and international experts and delegates. It will be held at the Royal Pines Hotel.

AusCERT, based at The University of Queensland, is the National Computer Emergency Response Team for Australia and a leading computer emergency response team in the Asia/Pacific region.

It maintains a world recognised reputation and trusted contact network of computer security experts around the world, and monitors and evaluates global computer network threats and vulnerabilities from numerous sources.

Major speakers at the conference include:

* Is a 21st Century Australia Card a recipe for increased Identity Fraud? To be presented by Malcolm Crompton, Australia`s Federal Privacy Commissioner for the last five years;

* It`s 11 o`clock - Do You Know Where Your Kids Are? To be presented by Marcus Sachs, the Director of the US Internet Storm Center and former Director for Communication Infrastructure Protection in the White House Office of Cyberspace Security; and

* Clarice Meets The Matrix: The Science of Profiling Takes a Whole New Direction. To be presented by Max Kilger, an American social psychologist and member of the National Academy of Engineering`s Combating Terrorism Committee, which recommends counter-terrorism strategies to Congress and other federal US agencies.

Conference highlights include:

* Results of the 2004 Australian Computer Crime and Security Survey, which provides the most up to date and authoritative analysis of computer network attack and computer misuse trends in Australia over the last 12 months;

* The launch of ISSPCS – a new security professional certification, including schedule information and an explanation of certification with a live demo; and

* The launch of new member services including an early warning service for urgent or out of hours IT security issues.

Further conference information (program and speakers) is available on the website: AusCERT2004

Media: For more information contact Claire Groves (phone 07 3365 4169, mobile: 0421 050 725 or Email: c.groves@its.uq.edu.au).