infoTECH Feature

October 06, 2014

The National Cyber Security Alliance Launches New PSA Campaign

The National Cyber Security Awareness Month PSA Campaign launching in October couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Hackers around the world, whether they be government sponsored attacks or criminal enterprises, are getting more sophisticated, which is resulting in very lucrative paydays. The recent Home Depot breach has been recognized as the biggest cybercrime event, resulting in the theft of more than 56 million credit and debit card information from customers in Canada and the U.S. With so much bad news in the press about security breaches, consumers often ask, how can I protect myself better than a multinational organization with more resources?

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a not-for-profit public private partnership promoting the safe and secure use of the Internet working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants consumers to become more aware before, during and after they get online. Granted you don’t have the security experts companies such as Adobe (News - Alert), eBay, Target, Home Depot and Neiman Marcus had when their systems were breached, but it just goes to prove if you have something somebody wants, they will stop at nothing trying to get it.

So the key is to be more vigilant and practice safe online habits by following the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign. The PSAs will run and air in advertising time and space donated by the media to address a wide range of audiences in order to inform them about the risk they face from cyber criminals as they get online.

The Department of Homeland Security was asked to create an ongoing cybersecurity awareness campaign based on President Obama’s Cyberspace Policy Review, a blueprint for a national cybersecurity foundation for transforming an assured and resilient digital infrastructure for the future. The Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign launched on October 4, 2010, in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Since that time more than 150 companies, not-for-profits, schools and government agencies have signed on to use the message and campaign assets. Some of the most recognized companies sit on the board of the NCSA including: ADP, AT&T (News - Alert), Bank of America, Comcast Corporation, EMC Corporation, ESET, Facebook, Google, Intel, Leidos, McAfee, Microsoft, PayPal, Symantec, Trend Micro, Verizon and Visa.

 “The STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign is a collaborative effort to create a culture of cybersecurity so everyone can use the Internet safely and more securely,” said Michael Kaiser the executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. “STOP. THINK. CONNECT. is a simple yet powerful message for change and is modeled after other efforts to engage everyone to adopt preventive and safer practices such as those to prevent wildfires and drunk driving.”

The STOP. THINK. CONNECT. procedures are:

Stop: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.

Think: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Consider how your actions online could impact your safety, or your family’s.

Connect: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your compute

The first subject of the new PSA is going to address playing on the Internet, sharing information and cyberthreats associated with daily online activity.




Edited by Maurice Nagle
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