As the leaves change color and the State Fair comes around, we herald in the beginning of Fall, as well as National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, National Cyber Security Awareness Month was started in 2004 in order to educate the public and create more awareness about the dangers of the Internet and cyberspace in general.
The month was founded by multiple organizations and governmental institutions at a time when 9/11 was only a few years past and there was a need to prepare for possible threats in areas previously overlooked, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance.
The month deals not only with national security but with personal security.
“Criminals can use the Internet to commit fraud and theft on a grand scale and to prey upon our children,” according to the FBI.
Every year, the founding organizations and the government make efforts to increase their impact and garner further attention from the media and citizens regarding what they believe to be, “[one of the] most serious economic and national security challenges [the nation faces],” according to the Department of Homeland Security.
This month is a prime opportunity to do just that, Chris Ortman , a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, said.
“National Cyber Security Awareness Month is an opportunity to engage public and private sector stakeholders, as well as the general public, to create a safe, secure, and resilient cyber environment,” Ortman said. ”The key to ensuring our cyber resiliency is to educate Americans on the simple steps they can follow to keep themselves, their identities, and information safe online.”
Ortman also advised students to create strong passwords that are not to be shared with anyone else, update their antivirus software periodically and seriously review and limit all the information posted about them or by them online.
Douglas Reeves, professor of computer science and director of graduate programs, made some suggestions of his own.
” NCSU requires all students to have antivirus software. That alone will be a good first step in the right direction because several students still lack this basic necessity. Also, hopefully, most students are also aware of the risk of opening attachments in emails and phishing scams.”
Reeves also said that students should heed the warnings internet browsers provide when they advise against visiting certain web pages due to potential for malware that could do serious damage.
All levels of government are getting involved as both the President and Governor Perdue have released proclamations regarding National Cyber Security Awareness Month strongly urging citizens to protect themselves when using the Internet.
“Cyber security is a communal problem and everyone plays a critical role in addressing the issue,” said Chris Mackey, the governor’s press secretary.
NCSU’s own OIT office is holding a Stop.Think.Connect Cyber Citizen Forum October 12 to develop more awareness within our student body.
