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October Is Cyber Security Awareness Month
Society is becoming ever more digitally connected. This means that businesses, non-profit, and government entities are conducting more and more of their business via the internet. So too are individuals who, for more and more of their day to day activities such as shopping, scheduling doctor’s appointments, doing homework, connecting with family and friends, and finding entertainment, are using desktop and laptop computers as well as a multitude of mobile devices on the internet. Even when we’re not directly using the internet it supports our lives in numerous ways, including e.g., facilitating operations of our transportation system, power grid, financial, and communication systems. While this increasing use of cyber space brings many benefits, including greater convenience and speed of doing business and near real-time connection with each other, it also brings increased exposure to the threats that lurk in the dark recesses of the ether. To raise awareness of these threats and our shared responsibility to protect society against them The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) have conducted National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) every October since 2004. These organizations coordinate to share information with the public on what individuals, businesses, schools, and governments can do to protect their computers, children, and data.
This year NCSAM will kick off on October 4th with a launch event hosted by NCSA on the West Coast at the Seattle Public Library in Seattle Washington from noon to 3 p.m. There will be a similar launch event on the East Coast kicked off by NCSA and TechAmerica and hosted by Lockheed Martin in Arlington, VA from noon to 2 p.m. Other companies, organizations, libraries, and universities also have major events and initiatives planned. For details on the month’s events visit:
http://www.staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/ncsam-2010-events
Just like crime in the real world crime in cyber space is opportunistic. This means that cyber crooks seek out those operating in cyberspace with computer technology that is poorly protected, outdated, or otherwise vulnerable. They then attack these vulnerable computers in any number of ways including through the use of malware (which includes viruses and spyware), hacking, phishing, spamming, spoofing, etc. There are a variety of things that we all can do to reduce our vulnerability online, from simply turning off your computer when not in use, to ensuring that your computer has security software tools (anti-spyware, anti-virus, and a firewall), to developing and updating internet security policies for your business. For more tips about staying safe online visit:
http://www.staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/get-involved .
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