There are many things businesses, schools, and home users can do to practice cybersecurity during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond.
•Make sure that you have anti-virus software and firewalls installed, properly configured, and up-to-date. New threats are discovered every day, and keeping your software updated is one of the easier ways to protect yourself from an attack. Set your computer to automatically update for you.
•Update your operating system and critical program software. Software updates offer the latest protection against malicious activities. Turn on automatic updating if that feature is available.
•Back up key files. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc and store it in a safe place.
•Join the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign: Stop. Think. Connect
Endorse - Demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity.
•Show your organization's commitment to cybersecurity and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month by signing the online endorsement form at www.staysafeonline.org.
•Create a section for cybersecurity on your organization's Web site. Download banners at www.staysafeonline.org and post them on your organization's home page.
•Add a signature block to your e-mail
Educate - Find out what more you can do to secure cyberspace and how you can share this with others."
•Participate in the National Cyber Security Alliance Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education (C-SAVE) Program and help educate elementary, middle, and high-school students about Internet safety and security. For more information or to download the C-Save curriculum, visit www.staysafeonline.org/content/c-save.
•Review cybersecurity tips with your family.
•Print and post these cybersecurity tips near your computer and network printers.
•Use regular communications in your business—newsletters, e-mail alerts, Web sites, etc.—to increase awareness on issues like updating software processes, protecting personal identifiable information, and securing your wireless network.
•Educate family, friends, peers at www.StaySafeOnline.org
•Learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity, starting with the IT Security Essential Body of Knowledge. Report Suspicious Cyber Activity to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) by visiting https://forms.us-cert.gov/report/or by calling 1-888-282-0870.You may also visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/content/report-and-handle-problems for more information.
Get involved in Internet safety initiatives within your community and volunteer through the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education Project (C-SAVE).
Support cyber education and training in schools and collaborative efforts such as the federal Scholarship for Service program.
For more information on Awareness Month and for additional material, please visit www.us-cert.gov and www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam
~DHS
