In a special web address marking National Cybersecurity Month, DHS Secretary Napolitano said today that the public has the opportunity and responsibility to contribute to the U.S. national security by practicing good cyber habits. In the speech, titled “A New Challenge for Our Age: Securing America Against the Threat of Cyber Attack,” she said:
“Just as with our nation’s preparedness for natural disasters or terrorist attacks, our nation’s cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. And it’s an opportunity for you, as an individual, to personally contribute to our national security. Securing your home computer helps you and your family. And it also helps your nation in some very important ways. It helps by reducing the risk to our financial system from theft; and to our nation from having your computer infected and then used as a tool to attack other computers.
As individuals, the steps you need to take are clear, and they will make a big difference:
* Install and activate firewalls for your computer and internet connection
* Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is installed and up-to-date
* Check your computer settings to make sure your operating system and applications are automatically patched
* Practice good online habits by not visiting suspect sites, downloading suspicious documents or attachments, or opening email from people you don’t know
* Back up your files regularly and use strong and secure passwords; and
* Begin educating your children early about staying safe online.”
The full transcript and the web video can be found on the DHS website here.
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1 Senators Underscore Public’s Role In Nation’s Cyber Security Efforts // Apr 13, 2010 at 8:53 pm
[...] of the government and private sector, but there is also public role. That has been underscored by DHS Secretary Napolitano and other experts. Yet, as the senators point out, more work needs to be done to get that message [...]
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