Ft. MEADE, Md. –
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is in full swing and U.S. Cyber Command and NSA/CSS are honored to support it. The theme for this year’s NCSAM campaign is “Do your part. #BeCyberSmart.” Are you doing your part by being cyber aware?
COVID-19 has significantly changed how we interact with each other and the world. In a time when social interaction is challenging, computers have given us the ability to maintain human connection. They’ve been the key to navigating the shift to virtual schooling and teleworking.
More people are using connected technologies and as a result, there are more opportunities for our adversaries and cyber criminals to steal sensitive information. I traveled to a large number of Eastern Bloc countries as the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) Command Sergeant Major where my electronic devices were repeatedly compromised by our adversaries. I began securing my devices by monitoring, and reformatting them on a regular basis. As a proactive defense, it’s important to secure your login protection, use trusted sites, create complex passwords, manage personal data on your cell phone, and use anti-virus and firewall protection.
U.S. Cyber Command and NSA/CSS each have unique missions in cyberspace, but defending our nation and networks against foreign cyber threats is a joint effort. We must work together to mitigate risks and implement defense methods to prevent such attacks.
We are our own first line of defense in cybersecurity. Although our lives have changed, being vigilant about cybersecurity shouldn’t. Every October, the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) come together with industry and government to promote cybersecurity awareness and best practices for all Americans. For more information, please visit stopthinkconnect.org.