Emphasis on cyber security in October

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). The theme for the ninth annual event is Our Shared Responsibility. The National Cyber Security Alliance, a public-private nonprofit organization working to promote cyber-security education, has a message for businesses and consumers this month: the Internet is a shared resource, and everyone has a responsibility to help protect it.

A number of educational events are occurring across the nation in conjunction with NCSAM. They include:

• Release of Microsoft Corp.'s Scam Defense Survey results on Oct. 15, 2012
• The Anti-Phishing Working Group eCrime 2012 Researchers Summit Oct. 23 to 24, 2012
• A workplace cyber-security awareness campaign directed to the more than 55,000 employees of EMC Corp., an international data storage and security services provider

Verizon cyber-security effort

In addition, Verizon Communications Inc. launched a nationwide education campaign targeted at consumers, businesses and government for NCSAM. The campaign kicked off with the release of a free mobile security app for mobile devices running on the Google Inc. Android platform, as well as the initiation of public service announcements designed to inform consumers, who can also access security tips on the company's website.

For businesses, Verizon hosted an online roundtable on best security practices for protecting financial services on Oct. 9, 2012. The company also shared insights from its annual Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report conducted with data compiled from the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.

Verizon also participated in the Protecting Our Nation's Critical Infrastructure panel at the National Journal and Government Executive annual Cyber Security summit in September 2012.

Additional NCSAM information and resources can be found at staysafeonline.org/ncsam/events.

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