October 2011 has been designated as the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) for the eighth year running. It is a cooperative effort between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). Their goal is to promote cyber safety by providing education and awareness to both public and private sectors.
So how can you get involved? NCSAM's motto is "Our Shared Responsibility", which means cyber security starts with you by protecting your own information. Google has started a "Good to Know" campaign that outlines a few simple steps you can take to create a strong defense. The campaign addresses many aspects of information security, such as phishing, malware, and mobile security. Check it out at Google's Good to Know campaign.
Another ongoing campaign that is more widely known is Stay Safe Online. It is a great resource center for a variety of communities, from educational institutions and law enforcement to businesses and individuals. If you have kids, you will definitely want to visit the cyberbullying page.
If you find yourself or someone you love a victim of any kind of security breach or harrassment, please don't hesitate to report it. While local law enforcement may be the obvious choice, a little-known reporting agency is the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The website is ran by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). It is specifically geared towards cyber crime, and may be better equipped to handle these sensitive situations.
October may be coming to an end, but cyber security is a year-round battle. Be ready for your attackers.
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