The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had been given the authority to hire the staff last week.

DHS secretary of state Janet Napolitano said this new hiring authority would enable DHS to recruit the best cyber-analysts, developers and engineers in the world.

“Effective cyber security requires all partners – individuals, communities, government entities and the private sector – to work together to protect our networks and strengthen our cyber-resiliency,” Janet Napolitano said in a statement.

DHS is looking for experts in the fields of cyber-risk and strategic analysis; cyber-incident response; vulnerability detection and assessment; intelligence and investigation; and network and systems engineering.

However, reports said that the department is finding it difficult to find the right people with the required skills.

Meanwhile, the cyber security awareness programme, initiated by National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is aimed at raising the awareness about the importance of Internet security and safety issues. It would teach people how to be an informed web user.

The organization has received official sanction from President Obama, to declare October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

NCSA is a non-profit organization with sponsors in education, like the United States government, professional organizations, and private corporations like Microsoft and Google.

In this regard a Microsoft statement said, “While we cannot guarantee complete safety in cyberspace, we can take steps to help prevent criminals and identity thieves from stealing our personal information and accessing our computers. We can also minimize our exposure to other Internet security risks.”

Suggesting various ways to help protect computer, an NCSA statement said that the PC users should follow certain steps like turning on the Internet firewall of their systems, keeping all software current (including your Web browser) with automatic updating, installing and maintaining antivirus software and antispyware software.