Held every October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safe and secure online while increasing the resilience of the Nation against cyber threats. In our third year of participation as a partner in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Stop. Think. Connect.™ campaign, the Department of Commerce is encouraging personal accountability and thoughtful behavior in cybersecurity best practices and digital privacy.

This year’s overarching theme – Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT. – focuses on key areas such as: safety on social media, privacy settings, cyber criminals, consumer devices, and e-commerce security. NCSAM 2019 will address the following online safety messages and identify opportunities for behavioral change:

Own IT.

Understand your digital profile. Internet-based devices are present in every aspect of our lives: at home, school, work, and on the go. Constant connection provides opportunities for innovation and modernization, but also presents opportunities for potential cybersecurity threats that can compromise your most important personal information. Understand the devices and applications you use every day to help keep you and your information safe and secure.

Secure IT.

Secure your digital profile. Cybercriminals are very good at getting personal information from unsuspecting victims, and the methods are getting more sophisticated as technology evolves. Protect against cyber threats by learning about security features available on the equipment and software you use. Apply additional layers of security to your devices – like Multi-Factor Authentication – to better protect your personal information.

Protect IT.

Maintain your digital profile. Every click, share, send, and post you make creates a digital trail that can be exploited by cybercriminals. To protect yourself from becoming a cybercrime victim you must understand, secure, and maintain your digital profile. Be familiar with and routinely check privacy settings to help protect your privacy and limit cybercrimes

Stay connected during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Follow @NISTcyber, @StaySafeOnline and @Cyber to get the latest #BeCyberSmart updates! #CyberAware