What is an advisory?

The Stay Smart Online Alert Service includes four specific types of reports:

• Advisories
• Alerts
• Fact Sheets
• Newsletters

Each of these report formats have a different purpose and significance.  By understanding the purpose of each report format, you can best ensure that you receive the type of information in the most timely manner for your requirements.

Stay Smart Online Advisories provide information about computer software or hardware bugs which pose a MEDIUM RISK to Internet users' computer files and/or the security of their computer systems.

Advisories will generally recommend a course of action be taken in a time critical manner in order to help users protect their information, files and computer from attack.

Because all information contained in Advisories are MEDIUM RISK, they are important and if applicable to your situation be taken seriously.  However, the requirement for action is not as time critical as for Alerts, which generally should be acted on more quickly.