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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Auditor General Eugene DePasquale this week said recent surveys conducted by his office show a majority of school districts and local government officials are concerned about cyber-security and expect the risks will increase.&#8220;While a lot of attention, rightly so, is being put on the data breach at Equifax, we cannot ignore the cyber-security needs of our school districts and local government offices,&#8221; DePasquale said in a news release, noting that breaches could put at risk Social Security numbers, tax information and student records.&#8220;The fact that the majority of survey respondents said they are &#8216;concerned&#8217; about their levels of cyber-security should be a wake-up call,&#8221; he said.The anonymous statewide surveys were conducted over three weeks in August and September, collecting 954 responses, including 177 from school districts and 777 from municipalities.&#8220;Even more concerning from the survey is the near-unanimous conclusion from municipal and school officials that the risks of cyber-attacks will increase,&#8221; DePasquale said. &#8220;These surveys highlight cyber-security concerns, but we must take action before a municipality or school district data breach occurs.&#8221;DePasquale said it&#8217;s not surprising that a majority of respondents indicated they need more resources to prevent, detect and respond to potential cyber-attacks.&#8221;Given the out-of-balance state budget and ongoing financial challenges, we need to find creative ways to help municipalities and schools be better prepared for cyber-attacks,&#8221; he said.Voters in Washington state approved a 2014 ballot initiative that sets aside $40 million from the state sales tax for cyber-security reviews.&#8220;Pennsylvania does not even have a balanced budget, let alone tens of millions of dollars for a much-needed overhaul of IT and cyber-security at all levels of government,&#8221; DePasquale said. &#8220;What we do have are some of the best high-tech universities in the country. There could be opportunities for universities to partner with municipalities and school districts to improve cyber-security.&#8221;DePasquale said he has shared the results of the survey with the governor&#8217;s office and state agencies that work directly with local governments and school districts.&#8216;Stopping the Flu&#8217; campaign underwayActing Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine this week launched the annual &#8220;Stopping the Flu Starts with YOU&#8221; campaign, encouraging all Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of influenza.&#8220;Last flu season, there were 70,800 confirmed cases, with 148 Pennsylvanians dying from flu complications,&#8221; Levine said in a news release. &#8220;Getting a flu shot is the easiest and most important step that anyone can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from this dangerous virus. This year, we want to make sure everyone is protected, even if you think you are in good health.&#8221;The &#8220;Stopping the Flu Starts with YOU&#8221; campaign is an annual effort to encourage Pennsylvanians to protect themselves and their loved ones against seasonal flu by getting vaccinated and taking other preventive measures.Levine said vaccination is important to protect not only your health, but the health of those around you who may be at bigger risk of life-threatening complications related to influenza. She said the state is especially concerned about the very young, older Pennsylvanians, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Flu viruses are constantly changing, and vaccines may be updated yearly to protect against the viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. A person&#8217;s immune protection from the vaccine also decreases over time.In addition to getting vaccinated, the Department of Health recommends:&#8226; Wash hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.&#8226; Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw any used tissues in the trash.&#8226; Keep hands away from face, and don&#8217;t touch eyes, nose or mouth.&#8226; Disinfect frequently used surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes or countertops.&#8226; Avoid contact with individuals who may have the flu. When sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever goes away on its own without the use of fever-reducing medicine.Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. In the U.S., it is estimated that an average of 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, and hundreds of thousands are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications.The Department of Health offers the influenza vaccine to under-insured/uninsured adults and eligible children at many of the State Health Centers across the commonwealth on a continual basis. Those interested and who qualify should call 1-877-PAHEALTH to schedule an appointment.For more information on influenza and the flu vaccine, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov.Help offered to businessesseeking to sell securitiesAfter Gov. Tom Wolf joined former AOL founder Steve Case this week for the &#8220;Rise of the Rest&#8221; tour to discuss opportunities for start-up businesses in York, Lancaster and Dauphin counties, Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann announced a new online guide to help start-ups outside Silicon Valley navigate Pennsylvania&#8217;s regulatory process for raising money by offering securities for sale.The guide, &#8220;How Small Businesses Can Raise Capital by Issuing Securities,&#8221; can be found online: http://www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Publications/Brochures/CorpFin10.17.pdf&#8220;Many business owners successfully raise funding by selling shares in their companies,&#8221; Wiessmann said in a news release. &#8220;In Pennsylvania, selling shares of your company requires either that you register your sale or seek an exemption. Registration can be a complex process, so the department has produced a guide to help business owners more easily get started.&#8221;Wiessmann also noted that business owners should ask themselves these three questions in advance of selling shares:&#8226; Are you ready to permanently give up part of your ownership to investors (people you may know or complete strangers) who buy your shares?&#8226; Can you devote time or pay outside experts (such as lawyers and accountants) to structure the offering and draft the required registration or exemption paperwork?&#8226; Can you take time away from running your business to find and solicit potential investors? In addition to soliciting investors, business owners need to manage the ongoing responsibilities associated with shareholders.Registration is the process by which a business files with the Department of Banking and Securities all documents that will help investors make informed decisions about the proposed securities offering. Pennsylvania and federal laws also contain a series of exemptions, which cover situations where the nature of the securities or the character of the transaction does not demand full registration.Wiessmann advises business owners seeking registrations or exemptions to seek legal counsel.Business owners seeking to offer securities for sale to Pennsylvania investors can contact the department&#8217;s Office of Corporation Finance at 717-787-8059. More information at: www.dobs.pa.gov/Businesses/Securities/Pages/Securities-Offerings.aspx<style>
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<div class="neCaption">DePasquale </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_DePasquale-cmyk.jpg</photo0><caption0>DePasquale </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Bill O&#8217;Boyleboboyle@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</shirttailMeta></div>

DePasquale: Surveys show schools, local governments fear cyber-attacks