Benefits of Being Connected

We now live in a world that is more connected than ever before. The Internet touches almost all aspects of everyone’s daily life, whether we realize it or not. We connect with friends and family, conduct business and banking online and rely on many services, like transportation and electricity, that are supported with online systems. Technology has spearheaded advancements in healthcare, education, business, music, government, and many other industries. As technology advances, our lives become easier and more connected.

Risks of Digital Technologies 

Being constantly connected brings increased risk of theft, fraud and abuse. No country, industry, community or individual is immune to cyber risks. As a nation, we face constant cyber threats against our critical infrastructure and economy. As individuals, cyber security risks can threaten our finances, identity, and privacy.

Take Action

Since our way of life depends on critical infrastructure and the digital technology that operates it, cyber security is one of our country’s most important national security priorities, and we each have a role to play—cyber security is a shared responsibility.

Cyber Security Tips

Americans can follow simple steps to keep themselves, their assets, and their personal information safe online. Here are a few tips all Internet users can leverage to practice cyber security during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and throughout the year:

• Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
• Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
• Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends and community about Internet safety.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
• Be cautious about what you receive or read online—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.