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October designated as Cyber Security Awareness Month

The Office of the Chief Information Officer designated October as Cyber Security Awareness Month in Idaho to focus attention on the “need to guard information shared online and through e-mail. The campaign provides information and sponsored events for citizens, businesses, educators and local and state government organizations.

The annual observance is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the national Cyber Security Division, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and the National Cyber Security Alliance. The goal is to promote consistent cyber security awareness across all states.

Activities began Wednesday with a Cyber Security Summit at Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls.

October events include a poster contest organized by Boise State University; a “Get Protected” drop-in workshop at BSU Monday (Oct. 4); Boise Information Systems Security Association Chapter’s monthly meeting at the College of Western Idaho, Thursday (Oct. 7); A computer security awareness symposium Thursday (Oct. 7) at the University of Idaho; and a National Cyber Security Awareness web cast, also on Thursday (Oct.7).

For more information about national cyber security, including tips about how to remain safe while online, visit the Department of Homeland Security website at: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1158611596104.shtm#1 . Subjects include: general security, attacks and threats, mobile devices, privacy, safe browsing, software and applications.