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.

Get #CyberAware this October!



The Internet is essential in our daily lives, and there is a collective effort needed to protect it. October is the twelfth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the theme for the month is “Our Shared Responsibility.”
 

 

 

 

We all play a role in making the Internet more secure for everyone.

 

Margo Kelly’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning novel, WHO R U REALLY?, is about a thirteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a guy online; however, when he comes for her, he is not the person she thought he was.

 

A reviewer on Goodreads commented, “This was one of the best online predator books I've ever read. … This is the first one I've read where the predator actually takes the time to "groom" Thea, and her slow release of information actually makes sense, as horrifying as that is.”

 

Margo takes Internet safety very seriously, and she has spoken with many groups—both young and old—about the importance of online security, not only because she wrote a novel about it, but also because she lived through it when her own daughter was nearly abducted by an online predator.

 

NCSAM 2015 is set to take on the digital safety challenges facing most people today with actionable advice and relevant resources. Each week will focus on a unique theme designed to raise awareness across a range of topics:

 

Week 1: October 1-2 Five Years of STOP.THINK.CONNECT: Best Practices for All Digital Citizens

Week 2: October 5-9 Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity at Work

Week 3: October 13-16 Connected Communities and Families: Staying Protected While We Are Always Connected

Week 4: October 19-23 Your Evolving Digital Life (Internet of Things)

Week 5: October 26-30 Building the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals

 

If you are interested in having Margo Kelly come and speak to your group about #CyberSecurity “Our Shared Responsibility” email her at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) for more information.

 

 

 

 



 

#Cybersafety: 8 Ways to Use New Gadgets Safely & Securely

Did you get a new smartphone, tablet, or gaming device as a gift this holiday season?

One of the reasons these devices are so popular is because of their portability and accessibility. But it’s important to remember that despite their convenient size and sleek packaging, these gadgets are just as powerful and connected as any laptop – which also makes them just as vulnerable to malware.

Here are 8 ways to ensure your loved ones use their new gifts safely all year-round:

• Keep a clean machine: All Internet-enabled devices need protection from malware and other threats. Before you start playing, make sure your devices are up-to-date with the latest software and operating system, web browsers and apps and anti-virus protection.
   
• Think before you app: Read the privacy policy and user reviews before you download an app to understand what data (location, photos, contacts, etc.) the app can access on your device. Some games that are free for the initial download may contain hidden costs or pay-to-play features. Remember to always download apps from trusted marketplaces, like iTunes or Google Play.
   
• Activate parental controls: Parental controls are a great way to be proactive about your child’s activities online.  When enabling parental controls, use age-appropriate settings to filter, monitor and block your child’s activities.
   
• Protect your child’s privacy: Many online and video games allow players to speak or even video chat with one another. Kids should know that they shouldn’t share personal information with others, even people they think they can trust. In this case, personal information extends beyond the basics (home address, birthdate, email, real name, etc.) and kids should know not to share personal details like where they go to school, where their parents work or their weekend plans. Make sure your child’s username does not reveal their full name, location, gender, age, or any other personal information. (Examples of good usernames: Gamer2013 or Lizard12). If an avatar or profile image is an option, make sure your kids use something other than a photo of themselves.
   
• Ask questions and talk to the experts: If you are giving a video game or gaming console as a gift, video game store employees and other parents can be valuable resources for guidance. Game review websites often have photos and videos to help a parent get acquainted with content and age-appropriate material. Learn more at: http://www.esrb.org/about/resources.jsp.
   
• Monitor downloads:  Don’t let your child download anything without your permission. This includes cheat programs that may claim to help your child advance levels in the game, but could really be carrying malware.
   
• Report cyberbullying:  Online games are your child’s virtual playground, and bullies exist on the Internet - just as they do on an actual playground. Talk to your kids about their online gameplay and make sure they know who to talk to if they encounter a bully, online or off.  Do your part by reporting misbehavers to a game publisher or its online community moderator. 

 

• Be mindful of remote connectivity:  It’s a good idea to disconnect your devices from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use.

For more online safety tips, visit STOP. THINK. CONNECT. : http://stopthinkconnect.org