As we enter 2024, cybersecurity threats have never been more visible. The headlines are filled with stories from data breaches and identity theft to online scams and frauds. To counteract these threats, you should stay informed and proactive in safeguarding your digital life, particularly by observing and participating in various security awareness events throughout the year.
Data Privacy Week (January 21 – 27, 2024)
As the new year kicks off, Data Privacy Week, held the third full week in January, shines a spotlight on guarding our digital shadow. This global initiative encourages people to review and take additional steps to protect their footprint. The new year is a great reminder to take a look at your privacy settings across social media platforms, fortify your identity with strong passwords, and review the privacy policies of the sites you regularly visit. Take the time to evaluate who can see what information you share in your digital world. Remember, you are the strongest defense against privacy threats.
Safer Internet Day (February 6, 2024)
Safer Internet Day is a global movement to help make the online world a kinder, safer space for everyone. The day isn’t just about browsing responsibly – it’s a call to action, urging us to reflect on our digital habits and recognize the ripple effect of our online behavior. Whether it’s combating cyberbullying, updating passwords, promoting responsible social media engagement, backing up important information, or simply fostering respectful online dialogue, Safer Internet Day reminds us that each individual holds the power to shape a positive digital landscape. Take the time on Safer Internet Day to weave a web of digital responsibility, respect, and empathy, to create a safer internet for us all.
Global Information Governance Day (February 15, 2024)
Global Information Governance Day sounds intimidating, but for many companies, it’s an important part of keeping your information safe. With the huge amount of personal information they handle on a daily basis, this day is a reminding that it’s important for them to properly manage that valuable data. Information governance is about eliminating data silos and haphazard management, and embracing organizational strategies that keep sensitive information safe, abide by regulatory requirements, and generally protect the data they have been entrusted with. While it’s a good reminder for companies that handle data, it’s also a great day for individuals to take time to organize and backup their own data. On Global Information Governance Day take time to review the data on your phone and computer, delete what you don’t need anymore, backup what’s important to you, and ensure that it’s protected..
National Consumer Protection Week (March 3 – 9, 2024)
National Consumer Protection Week, organized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), isn’t about deals and discounts, but it’s a reminder for us all to be savvy digital citizens. The FTC and many other organizations use the week to share information with consumers about how they can protect themselves against sophisticated scams. Whether it’s safeguarding our financial data. learning how to identify increasingly difficult to spot phishing attacks, learning to spot fake online deals, or reporting suspicious activities, take some time each day this week to do something to protect yourself and your data. Around this time, the FTC also usually shares information about the top scams from the previous year to help you know what scams to watch out for. National Consumer Protection Week isn’t just about individual protection, it’s also a time to remind family and friends to take action to secure their information as well. Share information they may not know or might surprise them, such as what a brushing scam or romance scam is, or even some emerging threats, such as phone call phishing or deepfake scams.
“Slam the Scam Day” (March 7, 2024)
National “Slam the Scam Day,” organized by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), is a day to help recognize Social Security-related scams and create awareness to help stop scammers from stealing money and personal information. In particular, they want to help educate people on government imposter scams, phone call phishing, how to identify increasingly difficult to spot phishing attacks, learning to spot fake online deals, or reporting suspicious activities. The SSA has created a Scam Alert fact sheet to help educate people about how to protect themselves, and you can always check out the SSA’s Scam Alert webpage for the latest information about social security related scams.
World Backup Day (March 31, 2024)
Our financial records, documents, and irreplaceable family memories are all saved to our digital devices, and as the saying goes, “Don’t wait until it’s too late.” World Backup Day serves as a timely reminder to back up essential data regularly. In the face of ransomware attacks and unexpected data loss incidents, maintaining secure backups ensures that individuals and organizations can recover crucial information without succumbing to extortion or irreparable damage. Today should be a reminder to back up the following:
Important Documents: Without a proper backup, important documents like tax returns, legal agreements, and work files could be lost – which could lead to serious financial and legal consequences, as well as damage to your professional reputation. This includes copies of personal documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, social security cards, and passports, which include information that could be difficult to replace if lost or stolen.
Personal Memories: Photos and videos of special moments, such as weddings, vacations, and your child’s first steps are irreplaceable. Losing these memories due to a lack of data backup can be emotionally devastating.
Identity Management Day (April 9, 2024)
Identity Management Day was launched in 2021 to promote awareness and understanding of how to protect your identity in the digital world, with a special focus on the dangers of not properly securing usernames, passwords, and access credentials. Research shows that 79% of companies have experienced an identity-related security breach in the last two years, and 99% believe their identity-related breaches were preventable. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, as many as 81% of hacking-related breaches use weak, stolen, or otherwise compromised passwords. In today’s interconnected environment, it is more important than ever to stay safe and secure online. From never sharing or reusing passwords to recognizing and reporting phishing attempts, there are many ways you can safeguard your digital identity. Here are the top five identity security basics to help protect your online presence.
Tax Day in the United States (April 15, 2024)
As tax season approaches, individuals are not only burdened with the responsibility of filing taxes but also need to be cautious of tax-related scams. The Dark Side of Tax Season, warns against phishing attempts and fraudulent schemes. Tax season can be stressful, complicated, and confusing, and scammers love to take advantage of the emotions attached to tax season. In the months leading up to tax day, learn how you can spot a tax scam, and what some of the emerging tax scams include. For example, while impersonation scams have been around for several years, scammers and fraudsters are starting to take advantage of AI to create deepfakes impersonating the IRS or law enforcement.
World Password Day (May 2, 2024)
World Password Day underscores the importance of strong, unique passwords for all online accounts. When we find out someone’s account has been hacked, it’s usually because the hacker was able to get the password of the victim. This day encourages you to update and improve passwords (as we always say, the longer the stronger and a password phrase or sentence can make it especially strong), use password managers, and implement two-factor authentication to enhance the security of your accounts. Be sure to avoid some common password mistakes, including sharing your passwords with others, writing them down, and reusing passwords. Take some time on World Password Day to check to see if any of your passwords have been part of a breach at https://haveibeenpwned.com. Finally, rather than writing down your passwords sign up for a password manager. Get started today with a free password manager – try Nordpass, Keeper, or RoboForm.
Australia and Asia Privacy Awareness Week (May 6 – 12, 2024)
Australia and Asia Privacy Awareness Week promotes and raises awareness of the importance of protecting personal information and is led by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in partnership with state and territory privacy regulators and the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities members. It encourages individuals and organizations to prioritize privacy considerations, comply with regulations, and educate themselves on privacy best practices.
Internet Safety Month (June 2024)
June is designated as Internet Safety Month, urging individuals to reflect on their online habits and take steps to enhance their digital safety. It’s also a reminder to consider your family’s safety online. Take some time this month to better educate yourself and your family on the things you can do to better secure your home devices – including these surprising things that need security updates – and protecting your personal data. Family members both young and old require additional attention to ensure they aren’t taken advantage of online. That might mean monitoring your children’s and teens’ devices and social media accounts or assisting parents and grandparents with installing antivirus software or avoiding phishing scams. This month is an important reminder to share your helpful security awareness knowledge with family members and friends.
World Social Media Day (June 30, 2024)
World Social Media Day was launched by Mashable in 2010, as a way to recognize social media’s impact on global communication and to bring the world together to celebrate it. Social media connects people all over the world in a simple and fast way, bringing together various cultures, movements, and fandoms. The hashtag, #SMDay is often used each year to celebrate the positive impact of social media. However, it’s also a time to encourage users to be mindful of the potential risks of oversharing on social media, especially as it’s being used more recently in deepfake scams. Take some time today to check your social media privacy settings, ensure you haven’t overshared personal information, and use social media to remind family and friends of the dangers of oversharing.
Travel Security Awareness Month (July 2024)
The middle of summer is when most people decided to take vacation or holiday, so July marks Travel Security Awareness Month. The peak of travel season is a great opportunity to remind people to prioritize both physical and cyber security while traveling. Whether for business or leisure, travelers should remain vigilant in unfamiliar locations, be aware of their surroundings, and exercise caution when using public transportation or exploring new areas. Securing belongings, using reputable transportation services, and staying informed about local safety conditions are essential steps. On the cyber front, travelers must be careful using public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be susceptible to cyberattacks. Be sure to secure your cell phone, use virtual private networks (VPNs), enabling two-factor authentication, and updating device security software. These are critical things you can do to protect against cyber threats, especially when traveling.
National Insider Threat Awareness Month (September 2024)
First held in 2019, National Insider Threat Awareness Month is an annual, month-long campaign during September that brings together thousands of security professionals and policy makers from the government and industry to educate people about the risks posed by insider threats and the role of insider threat programs. Insider threat awareness is of paramount importance in today’s digital landscape, where companies and governments face the risk of military and trade secrets being shared and intellectual property theft from within their own ranks. Studies have shown that a significant portion of data breaches are perpetrated by insiders – employees, contractors, or business associates with access to sensitive information. That is one of the main reasons companies watch what their employees are doing online. Recognizing the signs of insider threats and fostering a culture of security awareness are critical components of mitigating this risk, as employees play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information. Intellectual property theft can lead to severe financial losses, damage to a company’s reputation, and compromised competitiveness.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October 2024)
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, organized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is a global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Throughout October, individuals, businesses, and government agencies are encouraged to take steps to enhance their cybersecurity posture, from securing their passwords to staying informed about the latest threats, such as deepfake scams, impersonation scams, phone call phishing, and how fraudsters targeting job seekers. Activities throughout the month play a crucial role in promoting a proactive and informed approach to digital safety. Although it’s only a month long the initiative encourages people to recognize, resist, and report potential risks all year long. With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated, the significance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month lies in fostering a collective commitment to cybersecurity best practices, promoting digital literacy, and ultimately building a safer and more resilient online environment for everyone. Besides, what better way is there to end Cybersecurity Awareness Month than with a Cybersecurity themed Halloween costume?
Halloween (October 31, 2024)
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We love that Cybersecurity Awareness Month ends with Halloween, so there’s no better excuse to dress up and spread the word about cybersecurity. Use these cybersecurity Halloween costume ideas to dress up or to share with others to make them aware of some important cybersecurity topics.
Dress up like a “social engineer” like the costume pictured here or see how you can dress up like a password manager, identity theft, cloud security, or even dangerous public wifi to make others aware of these cybersecurity awareness related topics. It’s an opportunity to have some fun and spread some cyber knowledge! |
Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week (November 3 – 9, 2024)
Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week began in 2005 to shine a spotlight on the importance of compliance and ethics. The core principles of the week are awareness, recognition, and reinforcement. You can use #CCEW when sharing what you and your organization do to celebrate in social media. SCCE has a number of complimentary tools you can use to help communicate the importance of compliance and ethics at your organization and get a list of ways other organizations celebrate Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week. Submit what you’re doing and get celebration ideas.
International Fraud Awareness Week (November 17 – 23, 2024)
International Fraud Awareness Week is a time to raise awareness about fraud prevention and detection. Unlike other types of cybersecurity crimes, fraud involves deceptive practices intended to trick people into providing criminals with access to money or information. What sets fraud apart is its deliberate nature, often involving a higher level of sophistication and manipulation. During this awareness week, the emphasis is on educating people about recognizing red flags, understanding the tactics employed by fraudsters, and promoting preventive measures to prevent it. This includes information about romance scams, how deepfakes are used in fraud, tax scams, fraud by impersonations, and other types of fraud. By distinguishing fraud from other cyber threats, International Fraud Awareness Week serves as a catalyst for fostering vigilance and resilience against fraudulent activities.
Black Friday Shopping Fraud and Scam Awareness (November 29, 2024)
The holiday shopping season usually kicks off with Black Friday, therefore, it’s an important time to remind friends and family to beware of fraud and scams when looking for deals. According to NordVPN, 34 million Americans were targeted by scammers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year. Of the shoppers surveyed, 40% said they have been scammed when shopping online. Shockingly, almost half (48%) said they still weren’t afraid to shop online despite their experience. Online shoppers should be particularly concerned about some of these common holiday shopping scams which involve fake delivery notifications and deals that are too good to be true. In the past, cybercriminals have targeted shopping websites, stealing credit card information. This awareness enables individuals to enjoy the holiday discounts while avoiding falling victim to online scams.
Computer Security Day (November 30, 2024)
Computer Security Day goes all the way back to 1988, when researchers at Cornell University discovered an unknown virus in their computer systems. As one of the first known computer viruses, the day that commemorates it serves as a reminder to prioritize the security of our digital devices. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, individuals should take the day to update software, install antivirus protection, and adopt secure browsing habits to safeguard against cyber threats.
Cyber Monday Shopping Fraud and Scam Awareness (December 2, 2024)
Following the excitement of Black Friday, Cyber Monday continues the holiday shopping spree. However, with the surge in online transactions, individuals must remain vigilant against shopping fraud and scams – especially if you’re using your work computer. No one wants to be the one who infected their workplace with a computer virus while doing online shopping on their work computer. Continue to watch out for these common holiday shopping scams which involve fake delivery notifications and deals that are too good to be true.
Giving Tuesday Charity Scams (December 3, 2024)
To counteract the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday encourages charitable giving. Like any notable holiday, scammers try to take advantage of the opportunity. Giving Tuesday Charity Scams unfortunately use the spirit of the holiday to capitalize on the goodwill of well-meaning donors. It’s important to do your due diligence before contributing to charitable causes to avoid being exploited by impersonators seeking to take advantage of the season’s generosity.
2024 is the Year to Focus on Security Awareness More
Awareness events are scattered throughout the year to remind you not to forget about the many different aspects of security. From protecting personal information to securing digital transactions and navigating the complexities of the online world, each event provides a valuable opportunity for individuals and organizations to reinforce their commitment to cybersecurity. By actively participating in these initiatives, telling family and friends about them, and staying informed about the latest threats, we can collectively create a safer and more secure digital landscape for everyone.