GNS: Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is Cyber Security Awareness month; cyber awareness refers to the level of awareness and
understanding users have about cybersecurity best practices and the cyber threats that their networks or organizations face every day. This year's theme across Canada is Step Up Your Cyber Fitness.
While the Division continues to invest in new security technologies and improvements to critical tools,
everyone can play a crucial role in preventing cybersecurity incidents. The best way to defend against
cyber crime is through awareness.

The most frequent scams reported are:

Email Scams (Phishing): 55% of respondents experienced a fraud attempt via emails that appear to
come from a legitimate source and direct you to a fake website.
Phone Scams: In 47% of cases, fraud was reported via a phone call where a fraudster tried to trick
them into sharing sensitive information.
Text Message Scams: 40% of respondents received fraudulent text messages in attempts to trick
them into giving away sensitive information.

So how can you protect yourself? Here are some recommended tips:

• Don’t pick up the phone if you don’t recognize the phone number. If it’s really someone you know on the other end of the line, they’ll leave a message. 
• Don’t give away personal info. to someone you don’t know. Even if they claim to be from a trusted company or agency, hang up if they request personal details from you. 
• Don’t open attachments if you don’t know the source. If you receive an email with a suspicious
  attachment, simply delete it. Recognize that legitimate companies and financial institutions don’t request account updates or login information via text. Confirm any requests received through text by calling the organization’s official number. 
• Be aware of fake email addresses and websites. If an email sounds strange or is written with typos and incorrect grammar – yet claims to be from a legitimate company – it’s best to ignore and delete it. Many scammers create email addresses and websites that look authentic – but aren’t real at all. 
• On social media, only accept friend and follow requests form people you know.