Action for Libraries
The Internet Connection
By Michael Sauers
Security Now! Podcast Easy, Direct Information
In the average week, I listen to more than a dozen different podcasts ranging from cover songs to Doctor Who news to the latest in
gadgets and gizmos. However, there is one podcast I would like to draw to your attention as a reader of my column: Security Now!
The Security Now! podcast (www.grc.com/securitynow.htm) is put out weekly and, at the time of this writing, has 22 episodes archived and available for download. Each episode is about 30 minutes long and is a conversation between TechTV's Leo Laporte and GRC.com's Steve Gibson on computer and Internet security topics. Past episodes have covered topics such as creating good passwords, the Sony Rootkit debacle and virtual private networks (VPNs).
If you're in any way involved with the computers in your library, I highly recommend you listen to this podcast. Unlike many other podcasts on security topics, you do not need to be a technology expert to understand the information provided. Laporte and Gibson talk in the most straight forward, nontechnical language possible, making the topics they deal with easy to understand. They're also very responsive to their listeners. Starting in December 2005, every fourth episode is dedicated to responding to listener questions resulting from the previous episodes.
The audio version of the show is available in multiple formats, and complete transcripts of every episode (also in multiple formats) are available on the Web site. Although it may take you a little while, I highly recommend that you listen to all of the shows in order and don't try to start with the latest episode, as many build upon information covered in the previous installments of the program.