National Cyber Security Awareness Month Launches With a Call to STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ Online

Large-Scale Awareness Effort Highlights Our Shared Responsibility to Be Safer and More Secure Online at Home, at Work and School, and in the Community

This October marks the 14th annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) – a far-reaching online safety awareness and education initiative co-founded and led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Each week’s awareness efforts will focus on a specific theme; topics highlighted include simple steps to online safety, cybersecurity in the workplace, securing new and emerging technologies, building the cyber workforce and promoting cybersecurity in critical infrastructure.

All efforts fall under the month’s overarching theme, “Our Shared Responsibility,” which recognizes that we all need to do our part to be safer online and, when we do, we make the internet more secure for everyone. Young people across the globe share this sentiment. A recent international survey of adults ages 18 to 26 – conducted by Raytheon and Forcepoint in partnership with NCSA – reveals that 84 percent of young adults worldwide think keeping the internet safe and secure is a responsibility we all share.

NCSAM 2017 kicks off with a focus on STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™, the global online safety education and awareness campaign co-founded by NCSA and the Anti-Phishing Working Group; DHS leads the federal engagement of the campaign. STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™, launched in October 2010, is simple, actionable advice all digital citizens can follow – STOP: make sure security measures are in place. THINK: about the consequences of your online actions. CONNECT: and enjoy the internet. There are more than 140 STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ resources, including videos, tip sheets, infographics and memes, that are available for free to download and share at home, at work and in the community.

View the full press release – and learn more about NCSAM 2017 – here

And be sure to check out Who R U Really?, a novel inspired by real-life events when my daughter was nearly abducted by an online predator. For more information, click here.

9 Digital Spring Cleaning Tips

"Spring Cleaning" makes me think of tidying up my house, but there are other items that need our attention as well. In order to remain cyber-aware and keep ourselves and our children safer online, we need to clean out our devices. Here are a few tips:

Internet Awareness Presentation

Oh, it was a fabulous day at Tuloso-Midway High School in Texas!

We talked about this silly meme:

Why did we discuss this? Because even if something you see on the Internet is actually true, it can still be misleading and have destructive results. 

Think things through before taking action based on something seen online.

After talking about the tennis balls, I shared the real-life story of what happened to my daughter when she was almost abducted by an online predator.

Then we had a terrific discussion about Internet awareness topics. Some of the questions that stirred the most debate were:

* Why do teens NOT want to tell their parents about online safety concerns?
* Why would you want to go and meet someone alone in the park?
* Why do people blame victims?

Each group gravitated to topics that interested them specifically, but each discussion was insightful. Teenagers are SO smart and Internet savvy. They could certainly teach adults a thing or two!

Here are a few snapshots from the day's presentations:

If your school is interested in having me present an Internet Awareness presentation, please email me at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) for more information.

Online Safety Resources

Since my novel, Who R U Really?, features an online predator, I'm often asked to speak to groups (young and old) about online safety. This coming Friday, I'll be leading several discussions at a high school in Texas. As I put a few polishing touches on the presentation and tailor it for this group, I reviewed some of the fabulous resources available over at the Stop.Think.Connect. website.

Here are a few items that stuck out to me this time:

According to a 2016 study featured on the STC website:

* 60% of teens said they've created online accounts without their parents being aware

* In contrast - only 28% of parents think their children have created secret accounts 

* 48% of teens said they'd rarely (or never) tell their parents about online problems they're having

* In contrast - 90% of parents think their children will talk to them some (or all) of the time about online problems

For more information visit my previous posts about online safety:

Stop.Think.Connect. + tips for staying safer online

Cybersecurity is Our Shared Responsibility

If you'd like me to speak to your group about online safety - email me at: margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces).

Speaking about Online Safety at the AAPC In Meridian ID

October is National Cyber Security Awareness month, and on Thursday, October 13, 2016, we had a great discussion at the Meridian AAPC meeting, talking about everything from using public wireless connections to protecting our kids from online predators.

Since my critically-acclaimed novel, WHO R U REALLY?, is about an online predator, I'm often asked to speak with groups about online safety. Cyber safety does not just apply to our kids. It applies to all of us. Back in 2014, I was asked to partner with the national campaign Stop.Think.Connect., and I'm pleased to offer additional resources to the groups I speak with because of this association.

If you're interested in scheduling me to come and speak with your group, click here to take a look at some of the content I offer during my presentations. Then shoot me an email at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) to schedule an event.

Stay safe online.

October = National Cyber Security Awareness Month

What are you doing to be more #CyberAware and to help promote online safety? You could start by reading Who R U Really?, a novel about a teenager who falls for a guy online. "Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine 

Here are more tips for being more aware online:

Cybersecurity is Our Shared Responsibility

Since my debut novel, Who R U Really?, features an Internet predator, I'm often asked to speak to groups of all ages about online safety. Here are a few tips I share with everyone:

NAVIGATE SOCIAL MEDIA SECURELY

• Manage your settings both on your devices and social media platforms to control who sees your profile, photos, comments, and more.

• Be selective and only accept friend requests from people you know in real life. Then monitor your list of friends to regularly reassess who has access to your information.

PROTECT SENSITIVE INFORMATION

• Never share it via email or instant messaging.

• Beware of contests and “free” offers that require your personal information.

• Use caution when entering information on websites.

o   SECURE = web address begins with “https” or has a closed padlock

o   TRUSTED = the official website of the organization

AVOID FRAUD ON THE INTERNET

• Practice research strategies by considering the source, utilizing multiple websites, and relying on current information.

• Exercise shopping strategies by using a single, dedicated credit card and monitoring your statements regularly.

UTILIZE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• www.stopthinkconnect.org

• www.aarp.org/technology/safer-internet 

• www.microsoft.com/security

• AND check out my previous posts: Safer Internet Day Resources, Get CyberAware this October, Stop.Think.Connect., and 8 Ways to Use Gadgets Safely & Securely.

BECOME INVOLVED

• Impress your friends by posting online about cybersafety.

• Encourage your local community center, library, or school to host a cybersecurity program.

• Discuss the importance of Internet safety with your family.

• Distribute Stop.Think.Connect. materials in your neighborhood and community.

• Report if you are the victim of online fraud to the Department of Justice at:

   www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/reporting

Stop.Think.Connect. is a national public awareness campaign aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online. The Campaign’s main objective is to help you become more aware of growing cyber threats and arm you with the tools to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Safer Internet Day Resources

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. – designated by President Obama as the national cybersecurity education message – is simple, actionable advice that everyone can follow to stay safer and more secure online.

History of STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
In 2009, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group convened an unprecedented coalition of 25 companies and 7 government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that leads the campaign in the federal government. Working by consensus, this multi-stakeholder group conducted research and message testing with U.S. consumers, resulting in the creation of the message STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

Key Accomplishments
Launched on October 1, 2010 in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign marked its fifth year in October 2015 and is the core, leading message for the month. The campaign has achieved unprecedented success including:

• Signing 315 partners through stopthinkconnect.org, including nonprofits, government agencies,
businesses of all sizes and academic institutions, that co-brand with the campaign and disseminate
the message. In addition, DHS has 262 partners in its campaign – bringing the total number of
partners committed to sharing cybersecurity awareness across the country and around the world to
577.
• Creating and distributing broadcast PSAs and videos produced by DHS and other federal agencies.
• Developing a library of more than 100 downloadable online safety resources which are available
free of charge, including materials translated into five languages.
• Ongoing, robust social media initiatives using #ChatSTC which have engaged more than 31 million
users over a five year period.

International Impact
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Around the world, the global commitment to communicate and highlight safe cybersecurity practices is in large part due to the international reach of STOP. THINK. CONNECT., which launched its worldwide initiatives in 2011.
• The campaign has impacted millions of digital citizens worldwide through collaborative public- and private-sector efforts and expanded its roster of partners with its simple but increasingly vital message.
• Complete translation of the website into Japanese: http://stopthinkconnect.jp/.
• Integration of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. in Spanish (Para. Piensa.Conectate.): http://cibervoluntarios.org/parapiensaconectate/ .
• STOP. THINK. CONNECT. has partners in Canada, Australia, Panama, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico and other countries and regions.

Resources and information about the campaign can be found at stopthinkconnect.org


Safer Internet Day – Join Our Twitter Chat!
#ChatSTC Twitter Chat: Play Your Part for a Better Internet This Safer Internet Day
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST

Safer Internet Day is an awareness-raising campaign celebrated in more than 100 countries around the globe. Safer Internet Day, hosted by ConnectSafely.org in the United States, promotes the efforts of Internet users of all ages, interests and backgrounds to make the Internet a better place – and the world a better place with the help of the Internet. In this #ChatSTC Twitter chat, we’ll discuss our everyday technology use, the benefits and potential risks associated with the Internet and how we can participate in Safer Internet Day. Following the chat, audience members and participants will be invited to stream ConnectSafely’s Safer Internet Day event in Universal Studios live online at saferinternetday.us. Use #ChatSTC to join!


And - remember to utilize the novel, WHO R U REALLY?, in your cybersafety discussions. Industry experts have recommended it as a great resource for helping youth and parents understand the dangers of the predators on the Internet. Available from all major booksellers.


"This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens..." The Idaho Librarian - review of WHO R U REALLY?.

A Great #CyberAware #Book Discussion in Kuna

One of the BEST things about being an author is discussing the book with readers. Last night, I met with a wonderful group of young women and their leaders in Kuna, Idaho. We discussed the novel, WHO R U REALLY?, online safety strategies, and what it's like to be an author.

An important item we discussed is the concept of meeting together as a family to create a set of Internet safety rules for the whole family to follow. If parents can have access to their children's accounts, should children be afforded the same privilege to check on their parents? Why or why not? This is a great thing for families to talk about and work together to keep everyone safer online.

When I asked the group for a single reason why they needed to have Internet access in the privacy of their bedrooms (which is something I argue against) they came up with the best excuse I've ever heard: So they can watch sad movies and cry without anyone seeing them.

The main consensus was that the character, Tim, should be a real person who lived happily ever after with Thea.

And everyone wanted to know why Cynthia's nickname was spelled Thea instead of Thia.

A great turnout for the book discussion!

Lucky winner of a signed copy of WHO R U REALLY?!

If your group, school, or book club is interested in having me come and visit - click on the "appearances" tab at the top of this blog for more information.

National #CyberAware Month Presentation

The Council of Catholic Women invited me to speak to them about online safety and my novel, WHO R U REALLY?, and I was very impressed with this dynamic group of women. They devote their time and efforts to the service of others, and nearly fifty people attended the presentation Monday night. Frankly, my favorite overheard line of the night was when the committee chairperson for funeral meals spoke to the group about their efforts. She inadvertently said, "These funeral meals are so good, they are simply to die for." ... uh ... Then she realized what she said, apologized, and everyone laughed.

During my presentation, I shared important online safety tips, such as how to protect your private information on social media and how to avoid fraud on the internet. I also shared behind the scenes details of my novel, WHO R U REALLY?, including who the predator was in real life.

Here are few pictures from the evening:

If you're interested in having me come and speak with your group, click on the "Appearances" tab near the top of this blog for more information.