National Cyber Security Awareness Month good time to protect against online threats

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and Information Technology Services is urging students and employees at the university to follow the guidelines set out during the observance.

“This is the 11th year (of NCSAM) to raise awareness that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility for everyone in the nation and the world,” said ITS Assistant Director for Information Security Mike Gioia. “It’s a shared responsibility because we’re all connected now. Ninety percent of the population uses the Internet daily.”

ITS’s Information Security Web page notes that NCSAM was created at an effort between government and industry to ensure that every American has the resources they need to say safer and more secure online.

NCSAM focuses on a different cybersecurity issue for each week in October:

• Week 1: Stop. Think. Connect.
Week 1 aims to raise online safety awareness among all Americans and reinforce stop, think, connect and the simple measures everyone should take to be safer and more secure online.

• Week 2: Secure development of IT products
Building security into information technology products is key to enhanced cybersecurity. Security is an essential element of software design, development, testing and maintenance. The software we use everyday on our phones, tablets and computers may have vulnerabilities that can compromise our personal information and privacy. This week will target these stakeholders and educate others about what to do and look for in products.

• Week 3: Critical infrastructure and the Internet of things
The Internet underlies nearly every facet of our daily lives and is the foundation for much of the critical infrastructure that keeps our nation running. The systems that support electricity, financial services, transportation and communications are increasingly interconnected. The Internet of Things—the ability of objects and devices to transfer data—is changing the way we use technology. Week 3 highlights the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and properly securing all devices that are connected to the Internet.

• Week 4: Cybersecurity for small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs
Small and medium-sized businesses are an important part of our nation’s economy, but they often do not see themselves as a target for a cyber attack. Strong cybersecurity practices are vital within these organization. Entrepreneurs are recognizing the cybersecurity field as a burgeoning marketplace. This week will focus on what emerging and established businesses can do to protect their organization, customers and employees, as well as cybersecurity as a business opportunity using tools such as the DHS C3 Voluntary Program.

• Week 5: Cybercrime and jaw enforcement
This week will help draw awareness to cybercrime and educate law enforcement officers about how to assist their communities in combating cybercrime and educate the general public with ways to protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft, fraud, phishing and other crimes.

Gioia said that taking proper safety precautions online is important “because hackers don’t care who you are, they just want access to your information, so you need to take steps to protect yourself.”

“Make sure your computer antivirus software is up to date,” he said. “Browse only to websites you know; don’t go to unknown sites. And practice safe social networking; don’t give up too much personal information online.”

Gioia said ITS’s Information Security group is constantly working to increase security measures at Eastern, searching for and implementing new security tools and working to increase cybersafety awareness.

“Compromised account are down, but that doesn’t mean we are going to stop informing and educating people,” he said.

The Information Security group Web page can be found at http://www.eiu.edu/its/security/index.php and the Stay Safe Online page can be accessed at http://staysafeonline.org/ncsam/landing-page/

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