Celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Strengthening Our Online World
Since 2004, October has been designated as Cybersecurity Awareness Month by the President of the United States and Congress. This month is dedicated to fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Over the years, it has evolved into a joint effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage public actions to reduce online risks, and stimulate discussions on cyber threats both nationally and globally. October 2024 marks the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The theme “Secure Our World,” launched in 2023 by CISA’s cybersecurity awareness program, emphasizes the importance of daily actions to mitigate online risks.
Our online world requires protection, and there are simple steps we can take to safeguard our information from those who might wish to steal it. Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on four key points throughout the month of October:
- Recognize and report phishing: Most online intrusions occur when a recipient of a phishing message inadvertently downloads malware or shares personal information with a scammer. To prevent this, avoid clicking or engaging with phishing attempts. Recognize these attempts by their use of alarming language or offers that seem too good to be true. Instead, report the phishing attempt and delete the message.
- Use strong passwords: Simple passwords are easy to guess. Ensure your passwords are at least 16 characters long, random, and unique for each account. Use a password manager to securely generate and store passwords. This convenient tool will automatically fill in your credentials online.
- Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA): Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on any site that offers it. MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password when logging into accounts and apps, such as through a face scan or a code sent via text. Using MFA significantly reduces the likelihood of being hacked.
- Update software: When devices, apps, or software programs (especially antivirus software) notify you of available updates, install them promptly. Updates fix security vulnerabilities to better protect your data. Enable automatic updates to make this process even easier.
While cybersecurity awareness is crucial throughout the year, this month holds special significance for the cybersecurity field. This October, take the opportunity to explore these tips and the Secure Our World campaign by visiting CISA’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month page. Download the toolkit and explore tip cards, guides, templates, puzzles, posters, and more. You can also access additional resources and watch the Secure Our World video series on the Secure Our World page. Remember to visit the NCA Cybersecurity Awareness Month page to discover more ways to get involved, including becoming a 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion.
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