October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and an important reminder to protect yourself in your online activities. As an F or M student, you will use the Internet for a variety of activities including paying your I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System fee, e-mailing your designated school official, researching for a paper or connecting with your classmates. While the Internet is a useful tool in daily life, cybercrime is a national security priority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a threat of which we should all be aware.

Because cyber security is so important, President Barack Obama has declared October to be National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This label, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, “is designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cyber security and increasing the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident.”

According to DHS, here are some actions you can take to be more secure online:

• Set strong passwords for your online accounts and do not share them
• Make sure all of your software is updated
• Talk to people you know about how to be safe on the Internet
• Limit how much personal information you share
• Remain cautious of what you read online

To learn more about cyber security and how to be secure online, follow DHS on social media. Study in the States will also be providing tips on cyber security all month on Facebook and Twitter.

Sources:

• National Cyber Security Awareness Month; Department of Homeland Security
• How Prepared is Your Cyber Infrastructure?; Federal Emergency Management Agency