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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Oct 23, 2024

By Kate Statz, SBTDC Online Learning Manager

In an era where digital technology permeates every element of our lives, cybersecurity has never been more critical. 

October marks the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month, launched in October 2004 by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness in the public and private sectors. Now, co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and CISA, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, they advocate for the safe use of all technology. 

“Brain,” the First Computer Virus

In 1986, one of the first public stealth virus threats occurred. “Brain”(1) was a malicious self-copying computer code that started the headache many of us feel today when we hear the words “computer virus.” The virus was created by two brothers who operated a computer store and wanted to protect their medical software. When a floppy disk with the virus was inserted into a computer, it infected the computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and could replicate to other floppy disks inserted later. Brain caused widespread damage and led to the creation of antivirus software. Ironically, the brothers who created “Brain” went on to develop and sell antivirus software. 

The Computer Virus Today

Today, our computers can still become infected by viruses, most commonly from downloaded or installed infected files. Like a person with flu symptoms, your computer might be experiencing virus symptoms such as slow performance, unexpected shutdowns, missing files, pop-up ads, or even sending emails without your knowledge. It’s time to call in the “Doctor.” Contact an IT professional! Disconnect your computer from any network cables and turn off wi-fi to limit infecting others.

How to Prevent Cyber Attacks

The best medicine is prevention.(2) Follow the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s “Core 4”:

  1. Use complex passwords at least 12 characters long and unique to each account; use a password manager to store all your passwords securely.
  2. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA, sometimes called 2-factor authentication) for any account that permits it.
  3. Turn on automatic updates for your hardware, software, and applications.
  4. Learn how to identify phishing.

Finally, be careful about public wi-fi in airports, cafes, and other business locations. Using a personal mobile hotspot or VPN (virtual private network) is a more secure way to connect when you are away from the office. These steps apply to you personally and professionally.

CISA.gov provides free information and tools to help small and mid-sized businesses protect their sensitive data, staff, and customers. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take a moment to review their resources and update your knowledge on cybersecurity.

Learn more at sbtdc.org/resources/cybersecurity.

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