[Archived] City of Alexandria Recognizes National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

­­For Immediate Release: October 6, 2020

During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, and year-round, the City of Alexandria encourages the public to understand the importance of cybersecurity and staying safe and secure online.  

Unprecedented events this year have created a surge of new devices connecting to the internet as individuals and organizations across the country and around the world have moved to working remotely, increasing use of virtual services, and participating in virtual events. During the first three months of 2020, there was a 20% increase in cyberfraud nationwide, as cybercriminals took advantage of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The overarching message of this year’s awareness theme, “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” empowers individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace. There is also an emphasis on the key message for 2020: “If You Connect It, Protect It.”  If everyone does their part – implementing stronger security practices, raising community awareness, educating vulnerable audiences or training employees – our interconnected world will be safer. Awareness activities aim to shed light on these security vulnerabilities, while offering guidance on simple security measures to limit the susceptibility of threats for commonly used devices.

Visit staysafeonline.org for more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2020 and how to participate in a variety of activities. The public is encouraged to review the STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ TOOLKIT, a comprehensive guide to promote positive, lasting cybersecurity habits. Residents are also encouraged to follow and use the official hashtag #BeCyberSmart on social media throughout the month. 

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.