ADVISORY/Internet Security Expert and Award-winning Author Winn Schwartau Makes Cyber Ethics a National Educational Priority with his New Book "Internet & Computer Ethics For Kids".

Business/Technology Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (May 2)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Event:                     Internet Security Expert and Award-winning
                           Author Winn Schwartau Makes Cyber Ethics a
                           National Educational Priority with his New
                           Book "Internet & Computer Ethics For Kids"

Location:                  Virtual Press Conference


Day/Time:                  Wednesday--May 2, 2001 / 10:00 a.m. ET


Call-in Numbers:           [phone] / [phone]


Conference Code:           493743


Speakers:                  Winn Schwartau, Author and International
                           Security Expert

                           Tom Tancredo, Congressman (R-CO)

                           Peter Smith, Director of Cybercitizen
                           Partnership Project (ITAA and DOJ)

                           Chris Goggans, Former Child Hacker

It's in the news everyday: Cyber Crime. Everyone seems to be talking about the dangers of the Internet.

Consider the following:

--Intrusion of a government computer system that tracks the position the U.S. Air Force fleet

--Attacks against the U.S. Pentagon that appeared to be coming from Iraq, but weren't

--Hacking of the International Space Station

--Manipulation of the NYSE resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in unearned profit

--Crippling attacks on the Web sites of Microsoft, eBay, Amazon, Yahoo and CNN

--Digital strike that shut down an entire airport

--Virtual assault on city-wide 911 center, taking it out of service

--Extortion against banks and online services with large credit card records on file

What do all of these events have in common? They were all committed by kids!

Disruptive activities (now becoming crimes in many states) like these are taking place every day in the United States. While it is true--kids are certainly responsible for much of the disruptive behavior on the Internet, the larger issue is that society has not taught them (or itself) about Cyber Ethics. We teach our kids the basics: don't talk to strangers, don't steal, don't hurt other people, etc. Why don't these same life lessons apply online? Why haven't we taught our kids not to spoof, spam, create viruses or hack online?

Our nation spent the end of the 20th century building educational infrastructure and "wiring" our schools to the Internet. We made great strides by teaching the teachers how to use those computers. Now, we need to make teaching Cyber Ethics to our kids a national educational priority. With a solid understanding of Cyber Ethics, hopefully the next generation will grow up to be responsible computer users.

Winn Schwartau had always thought about writing a book on Cyber Ethics. But, it was not until he discovered his own son hacking into a neighbor's computer that he decided the issue could no longer wait. With his witty, fast-paced style that keeps readers interested and engaged--educators, parents, kids and government agencies are already calling this book a success. And, corporations around the nation have already started to "adopt" local school districts through the donation of these books to the student body.

We invite you to join the virtual press conference on Tuesday--May 2, 2001 by following the dialing instructions above. Speakers at the conference will discuss Cyber Ethics, why they are important for Internet users to learn, and what parents and teachers can do to teach themselves and their children about Cyber Ethics before it is too late. To schedule a meeting with Author Winn Schwartau in the coming week, please contact Heather Chichakly at [phone]. For more information, visit www.nicekids.net.