computer emergency response team (CERT)

Organization formed to study internet security vulnerabilities, and to provide assistance to online sites that become victims of cracker or hacker attacks. Situated in the Software Engineering Institute of the Carnegie Mellon University at Pittsburgh (PA), it offers 24-hour emergency response service, and shares information for improving website security. Phone: 412-268-7090, Fax 412-268-6989, email: cert@cert.org. Not to be confused with the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) which is a part of the National Cyber Security Division of the US Department of Homeland Security (www.us-cert.gov), and works closely with CERT to coordinate response to cyber security threats.