By Jacinta Wothaya
This October, learn about the importance of cybersecurity and discover simple steps to protect yourself from data threats and cybercrime. #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #SecureOurWorld.
This October marks 21 years since the #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth campaigns began.
This international initiative aims to educate individuals on enhancing their online safety and empowering them against data threats and cybercrime.
The theme for 2023 is, “Secure Our World”, reminding us that amidst large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, there are simple, effective ways to keep ourselves safe online, protect our data, and ultimately help #SecureOurWorld.
The last decade has seen rapid shifts in the digital ecosystem—from disruptive technological developments to more people joining the digital space, with many businesses now offering their services online.
As a result, our sensitive information is increasingly available online, either through our consent or through manipulative and illegal means.
Additionally, data breaches and cyberattacks have become more frequent: Between April and June 2024, The National Ke-CIRT/CC detected over 1.1 billion cyber threat events which was a 16.50 % Increase from January – March 2024.
The organization noted the most prevalent attacks to be the ones exploiting system misconfigurations, followed by web application attacks, brute force attacks, and malware attacks.
Cybersecurity is an integral part of our everyday lives, and when done right, it can significantly enhance our online safety and provide peace of mind that our data, finances, organizations, and families are protected.
KICTANet is proud to champion the online safety initiative this October. To kickstart this campaign, here are four simple behaviours you can adopt to improve your online safety this month:
- Use strong passwords and a reputable password manager
- Turn on multi-factor authentication
- Update your device software and applications
- Learn how to recognize and report phishing scams
In the coming weeks, KICTANet will release additional tips on implementing these behaviours and other cyber hygiene practices for you and your organization.
Visit KICTANet’s Tatua Digital Resilience Centre for detailed guides on Cyber Hygiene for You and Cyber Hygiene for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Ms Jacinta Wothaya is the KICTANet Digital Resilience Fellow.
