March 11, 2009 4:24 PM PDT

CoSoSys puts the fun back in security threats

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The first security comic strip.

(Credit: CoSoSys)

E-mails from security firms such as Symantec saying your computer is unprotected and you need to spend money right away to buy that company's software can be quite worrisome. And many times, I have frowned while at the airport, wondering what the Homeland Security Advisory System's Elevated threat level really means.

I know security is a serious issue, but how about some laughs for a change?

This is exactly what CoSoSys, a security vendor, wants to offer: raising awareness of IT security threats, but with humor.

The company announced Wednesday a series of comic strips intended to educate the public about the threats of portable and lifestyle devices. In a comical way, CoSoSys wants us to keep in mind that careless use of such devices can easily lead to data loss, fraud, or identity theft.

The Endpoint Protector security solution.

(Credit: CoSoSys)

The first issue of the educational comic strip depicts a scenario in which a person can steal important client information from another person's computer using a thumbdrive, a very popular gadget.

New comics will be added to the Web site, one every Thursday, for the next eight weeks. Each strip will address a specific security risk, from accidental losses to ill-willed insider data thefts and virus infections. Each issue will also provide a simple solution to such threats, showing how these dangerous breaches can be prevented.

The comic series is available in six languages, including English, German, French, Hungarian, Polish, and Romanian. Apparently, regardless of the language we speak, we at one point or another are equally careless.

The company hopes to raise people's awareness in IT security together with interest in its Endpoint Protector security solution, which reportedly offers advanced data loss prevention and removable media device control solutions.

According to CoSoSys, the security solution was designed to minimize internal threats, reduce data leakage risks via endpoints. It allows IT departments to take control of the device internal use, while tracking all data transferred in or out of the protected network and enforcing encryption of the data in transit on portable devices.

Endpoint Protector is available as a free 30-day trial; after that, the cost varies, depending on how you want to implement it.

It will take some time to see how effective the new solution is, but in the meantime, we'll get some laughs out of it. Now that's something airport security can learn from.

Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong.