October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This year’s theme, “Building a Cyber Strong America,” reminds us that everyone has a role to play in staying safe online.
Cyber threats don’t take time off. From phishing scams to ransomware, attackers are constantly testing our defenses. And with more sensitive information online than ever before, protecting yourself is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a matter of public safety and financial security.
Imagine waking up and not being able to access clean water, reliable electricity, healthcare, or even secure banking. These systems, which we often take for granted, can all be disrupted by cyber-attacks.
Even in our personal lives, phishing and junk emails are on the rise, fueled by AI tools that make it easier for criminals to launch millions of attacks at once. Unfortunately, humans are the weakest link and all it takes is one quick click on a malicious link or using the same weak password across accounts to cause damage.
Before clicking or responding to an email, always STOP, THINK, and VERIFY. Ask yourself:
Hover over links, double-check sender addresses, and when in doubt—don’t click.
Take a wild guess on how many passwords you currently have. Did you remember all of your financial, healthcare, social media, credit card, utilities, streaming services....you see where I'm going with this? Now, the scary question is: how many of those passwords are the same for different sites?
Weak or reused passwords are like leaving your front door wide open. Here’s how to build stronger defenses:
And always enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible for an extra layer of protection.
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. By slowing down, questioning suspicious messages, and strengthening your logins, you can play a big role in protecting both yourself and your community.
For more resources, visit cisa.gov or staysafeonline.org.