STOP…THINK…CONNECT…by dStringer

STOP…THINK…CONNECT…by dStringer

I don't normally open up an article with statistics...but the following are fascinating, I believe, and really speak loudly about current events in the world of cybersecurity...

  • Concern about identity theft rates slightly higher than fears of job and healthcare loss. 54 percent of Americans are extremely concerned about loss of personal or financial information. To place this is in context, 53 percent are concerned about losing their jobs, while 51 percent feared not being able to provide healthcare for their family.
  • Nearly two-thirds of the American public have heard, read or seen something about online safety and security issues recently. However, most of what the news they remember is negative: identity theft, privacy loss, and increased frequency of attacks.
  • When asked why they don’t always do all the things they can or should do to stay safer online, Americans said they simply lacked the information or knowledge (28 percent) – a surprising finding that surpassed other hurdles often cited by the media. Only 12 percent said online safety was too expensive, while just 5 percent said they were too busy to take the extra step.

Enter STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™

SO...what is this?

 

STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ is the global cybersecurity awareness campaign to help all digital citizens stay safer and more secure online.

The message was created by an unprecedented coalition of private companies, non-profits and government organizations with leadership provided by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG). 

The campaign was launched in October of 2010 by the STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ Messaging Convention in partnership with the U.S. government, including the White House.
President Barack Obama declared STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ the national cybersecurity awareness campaign during his Presidential Proclamation of National Cyber Security Awareness Month in 2010.  An excerpt from his proclamation reads:

"Together with businesses, community-based organizations, and public- and private-sector partners, we are launching a National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign: STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™  Through this initiative, Americans can learn about and become more aware of risks in cyberspace, and be empowered to make choices that contribute to our overall security."

The goals of this campaign are quite simple...

  • Increase and reinforce awareness of cybersecurity, including associated risks and threats, and provide solutions for increasing cybersecurity.
  • Communicate approaches and strategies for the public to keep themselves, their families and their communities safer online.
  • Shift perception of cybersecurity among the American public from avoidance of the unknown to acknowledgement of shared responsibility.
  • Engage the public, the private sector, and state and local governments in our nation's effort to improve cybersecurity.
  • Increase the number of national stakeholders and community-based organizations engaged in educating the public about cybersecurity and what people can do to protect themselves online.

Think about a lot of our past blogs...we at Alcala Consulting join in this amazing campaign's message to increase public awareness in cybersecurity!  Here is another statistic... 93% of Americans believe that their on-line actions can make the Web safer for EVERYONE.  But that will not happen without EVERYONE educating themselves about the good...and bad that "surfing the net" can deliver.

One of the services we provide at Alcala Consulting is diligent efforts to help make companies I.T.  secure...hopefully, the information we share with you in our social media engagements and our blogs help in your personal Internet experiences as well.  One of our main focuses is cybersecurity, and our contributions to education and awareness for this issue will continue as long as it continues to be an issue.

For more information on STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ please visit  stopthinkconnect.org.  And of course, for any and all questions concerning I.T. and your business, please call us at 626-449-5549