Officer Ward

Officer Ward
Cyber Defender & Detention Center Security Officer

Officer Ward believes that most people who disrespect the privelages of Cyberspace are more ignorant than criminal, and that most cyber criminals can be rehabilitated into faithful cyber citizens through education about the dangers of delinquency in Cyberspace.

Working closely with Commander Omni and the Cyber Defense Academy, Officer Ward hopes to secure Cyberspace for everyone.

Favorite Quote:

It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do
- John Baptiste Moliere

Favorite Food:

Cupcakes

Interests:

Coaching softball, fishing, catching cyber criminals

October 23 2009

Here's the Plan

Before I do anything else, I just want to say how impressed I am with Jax and Sparky. Not only did they encourage Erika to come forward, but they also came up with a fantastic plan to catch the cyber pirate Captain Jack. Here's what they came up with. Since Erika hadn't responded to Captain Jack's email yet, we had her write back to him saying that she did want to join his crew. We also had her invite the pilfering pirate to a Halloween party at the Academy. By the way, Dana, can you throw a Halloween party together for this Friday? Thanks.

Anyway, once Captain Jack shows up, we'll nab him and make him walk the plank! I mean, we'll arrest him. Sorry, I got carried away with the pirate theme...

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

June 18 2009

Summer Detention

Alan, Sparky, and Jax have decided to continue working at the Detention Center over the summer. Quite frankly, I could use the extra help. It's a bit of a challenge when we have so many dangerous Cyber Villains in the Detention Center. Of course, I would much rather have them here than out running around Cyberspace.

Officer Marshall is also helping us upgrade the Cyber Forensics Lab with all the latest and greatest technology for solving cyber crimes. Sparky and Alan are really eager to start investigating the new tools.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

May 6 2009

Villainy

If this latest phishing attack has shown us anything, it's that Cyber Villains aren't strong enough to launch attacks individually and need to team up. This is a good sign that the Cyber Defenders are keeping them on their toes, so everyone keep up the good work!

Don't forget that social engineering attacks can be really sneaky, so be extra careful with your email.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

April 2 2009

Grace Under Fire

I think the Cadets handled the "attack" very well. Alan and Sparky stayed with me at the Detention Center, and I did my best to make it appear like the attack was real. After the boys calmed down, they realized the safest thing to do was to stay put.

At first Alan wanted to go charging off into Cyberspace after the ones responsible. While I admire his dedication, that kind of behavior could land him in a lot of trouble. He was lucky last year that the cyber villains didn't harm him. He might not be so lucky the next time. Alan's showing some real talent for field work, and it would be a real shame to make a mistake that could jeopardize his future.

Omni informed me that the emergency protocol wasn't quite as effective at the Academy. A number of first-year Cadets forgot they were supposed to assemble in the Cafeteria, and if Alexi hadn't taken charge we might have had a disaster on our hands. Today's seminar should give us a chance to discuss those areas that need improvement.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

February 4 2009

Alan's Task

After all the activity of last year, the Cyber Defenders and I decided we needed to beef up the cyber criminal tracking and monitoring systems. It’s a big undertaking, even with Sparky to help, so I decided to take on an assistant this semester.

I'm very pleased Alan applied for the position because of the time he spent with the Master Hacker last year. Commander Omni feels he can give us a unique perspective into the cyber criminals operation. We've got our work cut out for us, but we'll be working with some of the best Cyber Defenders in the field.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

November 14 2008

Jax and Sparky

I'm very impressed by Sparky and Jax. Ever since returning from their ordeal last year they have been the image of good cyber citizens. I think the intensity of Ex-Commander Nils really shook them up.

As a reward for their good behavior, I've been letting them out of their cells so they can help out around the Detention Center. Sparky has taken to cyber defense like a duck to water, sometimes he lingers in my office for hours while we discuss cyber crime and invent strategies to combat it. Jax has been working with Betty to develop a cyber bullying counseling forum so she can share her experience and help others.

The two of them have really come a long way since they were first admitted to the Detention Center. Even Commander Omni sees it, she asked me to extend a special invitation to Jax and Sparky to come to our Thanksgiving day feast. The kids are really excited, we've been cooking up a plan to bring something super delicious to share with everyone.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

June 18 2008

Back to Normal

After many months the Detention Center is finally back to normal. Everyone is back in their place. Jax and Sparky no longer talk to Nils like they used to. It seems they've become cautious of him after the break out.

Nils has taken up sulking. It doesn't fool me. I know he's planning his next escape. Of all the detainees that have passed through these walls, Nils is the least likely to change. He just can't see why his ideals are wrong.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

April 29 2008

The Wait

I think the hardest part of any battle is the waiting. Once everything is prepared, you have nothing left to do but wait. Every day you expect the attack. Every day you are disappointed. It wears on a man and makes him careless.

Dr. Keen and I have chosen to spend our time testing and strengthening our defenses. Judging from the previous attacks, it will be the quickest indication that Ex-Commander Nils is about to launch an assault on the school. I can't imagine spending the time in finer company.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

February 14 2008

L'Amour

Love is in the air. All the cadets are busy exchanging valentines. Ah, to be young again.

I've been working closely with Dr. Keen over the past few weeks on campus security. She is a beautiful woman, even though she doesn't like to admit it. I must confess I might have given her something this holiday.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

January 18 2008

Quiet on the Cell Block

Now that all of the detainees have escaped the Detention Center is as quiet as a tomb. Frankly I'm beginning to miss them. I hope the kids are doing okay. Jax had such a sweet and sensitive side. You could hardly believe she was a cyber bully. And Sparky had such wonderful ideas about how to improve communications in Internet games.

I hope they didn't stay with Nils and have gone back to their families. Of course, we'll have to find them and bring them back in to complete their time as detainees.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

December 13 2007

Cautioning Betty

I caught Betty deep in conversation with Ex-Commander Nils again today. She's been asking me about something she overheard Nils saying to me.

I told her to let it go then, and I'll do it again now. Betty, you don't know what you are getting into. Some things are better left in the past.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

November 1 2007

Trick or Treat

I feel sorry for my detainees who have to spend Halloween in my cells. So I set up a Halloween party especially for them in the activity room. I asked some of the older cadets to drop by during the Halloween Ball, and we had a grand old time.

This year one of them came as the Red Death from the Edgar Allan Poe poem. It was a beautiful costume. I couldn't tell which one of them he was.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

October 22 2007

Oktoberfest

I love the month of October. The weather is cooler and the skies bluer. Every year us active Cyber Defenders have a gathering. We talk about what we've learned and what we've seen. We ask questions and find answers over a cold brew.

I told them about my shadow intruder. A couple of them described similar encounters in their own systems. Once they upgraded to Omega-Red the signs vanished.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

July 23 2007

Tic-Tac-Toe

During the slow hours at the detention center I like to play games like tic-tac-toe with the prisoners. It gets them talking. Today I played with Ex-Commander Nils. Nils used to be a friend of Omni's before he turned to cyber crime. We used to all hang out together back in the day.

Today Nils was distracted . He lost to me 4 times in a row! I wonder what's going on.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

June 7 2007

Summer Begins

Now that the hoopla of graduation is finished it's time to get things ready for summer. One of my additional duties is as the Academy's groundskeeper during the summer months. It's a nice change of pace from guarding the Detention Center.

Everyday I'm to check to school to make sure that nothing unauthorized has gotten onto campus while the cadets are away. I have to spend the next couple of weeks updating all of our security programs for the summer.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous

June 4 2007

Congratulations to the Graduating Class

Hey everyone! Officer Ward here. I just got back from watching graduation and, man, I must tell you what a drag it was to see everyone for the last time. They are going to be excellent Cyber Defenders. They might even be better then me and Commander Omni some day.

I can't tell you how proud I felt when they announced that Trey was going to be staying to help with the operations at the school. They put him in charge of the Message Center. Congratulations, Trey!

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Miscellaneous