Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Encourages Cyber Security Awareness

October marks the 11th annual National Cyber Security Awareness month. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security encourages all citizens to protect themselves against potential cyber threats and crime, including identity theft, fraud and scams.

“Cyber security should be a priority for all Tennesseans. Today, it has become increasingly difficult to ‘unplug’, as modern technology is now an everyday part of our lives. We must take the necessary precautions to protect our finances, identity and privacy,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.

Citizens are encouraged to remain informed about cybercrimes in their communities and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement or the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security at http://www.tn.gov/homelandsecurity/report_susp_act.shtml

“We each have a role to play in protecting ourselves against cyber threats or internet scams. Citizens should limit the amount of personal information shared online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely. Always use good judgment on the internet,” Assistant Commissioner David W. Purkey said. Purkey oversees the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security.

Listed below are a few basic steps to protect you from cyber threats and become more secure.

· Make passwords long and strong: Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password.

· Don’t share passwords with anyone!

· Keep a clean machine. Your operating system, browser, and other critical software are optimized by installing regular updates.

· Use a pop-up blocker (the links in pop-up ads are notorious sources of malware).

· Before you enter your personal and financial information to make an online transaction, look for signs that the site is secure.

· Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends, and community about Internet safety.

· Be cautious about what you receive or read online. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Please visit the state’s Office of Homeland Security web page at http://www.tn.gov/homelandsecurity/index.shtml for cyber safety tips this October.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is a nationally recognized effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the National Cyber Security Alliance to raise cyber security awareness across the country and to empower citizens, businesses, government and schools to improve their cyber security preparedness.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.