National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) began in 2004 through the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance with a goal of raising awareness about the importance of Cybersecurity. NCSAM 2019 will emphasize personal accountability and stress the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity at home and in the workplace. This year's overarching message -- Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT. -- will focus on key areas including citizen privacy, consumer devices, and e-commerce security.

1. Own IT: It is important to be aware of your digital profile, and you do that by understanding the devices and applications you use every day. You have to know about something to protect it.
2. Secure IT: Use all of the security tools available to you. This can include creating stronger, longer passwords and using Multi-Factor Authentication whenever possible. Use available security tools at work, on social media, and with your financial institutions. Protect yourself against phishing attacks by carefully reviewing emails and not clicking on unknown links or attachments.
3. Protect IT: Everything you do on a computer creates a trail that can be used by cybercriminals. Make sure you keep your browsers and operating systems up to date. Be careful with public WiFi, and be familiar with and understand the privacy rules and settings within the applications you use. Do you really need that application on your phone or desktop?

For additional resources, you can visit the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Awareness Month Page; Stay Safe Online , or the Auburn University Cybersecurity Center.