Cybersecurity Awareness Month Resources

10/4/2021

​​Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month—previously known as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month—continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation, ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.​

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages everyone to use the hashtag #BeCyberSmart before and during October to promote your involvement in raising cybersecurity awareness.​ Below are some of their tips on how to protect yourself and others during Cybersecurity Awareness Month and the rest of the year.​

• Cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unlawful access or criminal use and the practice of guaranteeing confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. Communication, transportation, shopping and medicine are just some of the things that rely on computers systems and the Internet now. Much of your personal information is stored either on your computer, smartphone, tablet or possibly on someone else's system. Knowing how to protect the information that you have stored is of high importance not just for an individual but for an organization and those in it.

• Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive and “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart”? Take these simple steps to connect with confidence and safely navigate the social media world.

• Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerabilities for criminals to use to attack. Phishing emails may appear to come from a real financial institution, e-commerce site, government agency, or any other service, business, or individual. The email may also request personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers. When users respond with the information or click on a link, attackers use it to access users’ accounts.

• Career awareness is an important piece in solving the cyber workforce shortage. To help meet the need, CYBER.ORG offers free cybersecurity career awareness resources to K-12 students and educators. Explore careers from pen testing to cybersecurity forensics and learn what common job duties are, expected salary, job growth, and what degrees and certifications will help you get there.

Visit CISA's website for more tips and resources.​