In 2004, the President of the United States and Congress officially declared October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. During this dedicated month, public and private sectors join forces to spread awareness about the significance of cybersecurity and encourage people to take necessary precautions to safeguard their online presence.
Secure Our World
In recognition of the 20th year, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a new cybersecurity awareness program, Secure Our World. Secure Our World encourages everyone to be proactive about security.
The program promotes behavioral change across the Nation, focusing on how individuals, families, and small to medium-sized businesses can Secure Our World by following the four critical actions below.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers or vaults are powerful tools to help create strong passwords for your accounts.
Turn On MFA
MFA can protect 99.9% of the attacks on your accounts by offering more robust security than relying solely on passwords. Check your devices, apps, and account settings to enable multifactor authentication.
Recognize & Report Phishing
One hour and 12 minutes is the average time for an attacker to access your private data if you fall victim to a phishing email. Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message. Avoid the bait!
- Check the sender’s email address for verifiable contact information and phishing tip-offs such as an unrelated sender address. If in doubt for any reason, do not reply.
- Don’t click on links or open email attachments unless you have verified the sender.
- Look for poor grammar or misspellings.
Update Software
Keeping your software up to date is the best way to ensure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.
Celebrate cybersecurity awareness all year round.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month holds special significance globally as it brings together industry, academia, and government with a united mission to keep our users safe. However, it is vital that cybersecurity awareness and training happen all year round.