Every Day Steps Towards Online Safety

National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2016 kicked off on Saturday, Oct. 1. Throughout the month of October, DHS, along with the National Cyber Security Alliance, will call on all Americans to take basic steps to secure their online lives and raise awareness for cybersecurity.

We are all leading increasingly digital lives. We shop from our homes, bank from our mobile devices, and connect with friends from around the world on social networks. Yet, with all of its added convenience, constant connectivity also brings a new set of security risks. 

You lock your doors at night, look both ways before crossing the street, and brush your teeth. These activities protect your physical security and health, and it’s just as important for you to take proactive steps every day to protect yourself when you are online.

Each week of NCSAM is dedicated to a specific cyber topic. Week 1 kicks off #CyberAware Month 2016 and reinforces basic tips for everyone to be safer online.

There are easy ways to better protect yourself against hackers and identity theft. Many online services have the option to secure your accounts beyond just a username and password to log in. This is called stronger authentication. The White House recently launched the “Lock Down Your Login” campaign to encourage all Americans to enable stronger authentication for their online accounts which can include a unique code sent as a text message, biometric verification, or a token. To learn more about the “Lock Down Your Login” campaign and how to enable stronger authentication, please visit www.lockdownyourlogin.com.

Join us this October to recognize NCSAM. When all Americans own their digital life and take steps to protect themselves online, the Internet becomes safer and more secure for all. To learn more and find out how to get involved, visit www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.