It's The Start of National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Today kicks-off the first day of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is a national public awareness campaign to encourage everyone – from consumers and schools to businesses and government agencies -- to better protect themselves and stay safe online. Too often we hear of instances where customers’ financial information is stolen via an online banking feature, or online donations to non-profits are swiped. These situations can be controlled, and this campaign is just one of many reminders of how important it is to strengthen Internet security and to protect against threats such as pharming, cache poisoning, and DNS redirection – all of which have been used to commit fraud, distribute malware, or steal personal or confidential information.

After all, it’s no secret that every day individuals rely more and more on the Internet both on their desktops and smartphones. As Internet usage continues to grow at an exponential rate (at last count, the total number of domain registrations topped 196 million), so does the importance of Internet security. We at .ORG, The Public Interest Registry are committed to providing a safer Internet, which is why we have remained dedicated to promoting the implementation of DNSSEC. The public’s interest and trust is at the core of our mission at .ORG, and employing security protocols like DNSSEC is the most responsible way to ensure their safety on the web.

We’re pleased that the month of October is dedicated to National Cybersecurity Awareness for its seventh year straight. But lest not forget that awareness is a year-round focus. In the months ahead, it is our goal to educate individuals and organizations alike about the increased need for Internet security and how they can better protect themselves and their brands from the variety of security threats lurking in the Internet’s shadows.