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GET PROTECTED NOW
From Cyber Threats of All Kinds

10/25/06

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to make sure you’re protected from the latest dangers lurking in cyberspace.

Among the risks:
… Malicious code—viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc.—that can disable and even take over your computer without your knowledge;
… Pedophiles who prowl the web, looking to exploit your kids;
… Con artists and organized criminals who use the ‘net as a cloak of anonymity to suck you into their scams, steal your identity, and rob you of your hard-earned money;

Please act now:

• Make sure you have a firewall in place on your computer, get the latest anti-virus software, and install current security patches for your computer’s operating system;
• Sign-up to receive e-mails with technical cyber security alerts, bulletins, alerts, tips from the National Cyber Alert System;
• Sign up to receive e-mails here on the the latest e-scams and test your cyber fraud awareness to gain some valuable tips;
• Read our advice on keeping your children safe from so-called “travelers” and from potential predators on social networking sites; and
• Visit the websites of InfraGard and the DHS U.S. Computer Readiness Team (US-CERT) to get and share breaking information on cyber security and to learn more about securing your piece of cyberspace whether you’re an individual, business, or government agency.

In conjunction with public and private sector partners, the FBI is also offering various educational initiatives and seminars across the nation on safe cyber behavior.

Here’s a sampling of what we’ve been up to recently:

• In North Carolina, we’ve launched a Safe Online Surfing campaign in partnership with NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley that includes a poster and public service announcements;
• In Albuquerque, Los Angeles, and other cities, we’ve teamed up I-Safe—a nonprofit organization that teaches kids how to be safe on the web—to make presentations and offer free materials to schools, religious groups, and other community organizations;
• In Missouri, we joined with the U.S. Attorneys Catherine Hanaway and Bradley Schlozman to announce the creation of a new website called “INOBTR” (I Know Better), part of a multi-agency, statewide campaign to raise public awareness on child Internet safety;
• In Springfield, Illinois, we provided a variety of tips on protecting yourself from Internet frauds, including “phishing” and counterfeit check scams; and
• In Houston, Kansas City, Miami, San Antonio, and elsewhere, our agents have provided Internet safety tips in various public forums.

Through it all, our advice is simple: be crime smart when it comes to the Internet, this month and in the future.

More Resources:
-- Common Internet Frauds
-- Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety
-- The Internet Crime Complaint Center
-- Protect Your Workplace materials with practical cyber security guidance
-- DHS U.S. Computer Readiness Team (US-CERT)
-- U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative
-- The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline
-- More “Be Crime Smart” protections