Stay Safe Online

May 16, 2013 1:30pm

Visa Security, the Consumer Federation of America and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission joined STOP. THINK. CONNECT. and other guests on Twitter for a chat about phishing attacks, one of the leading causes of hacked accounts and identity theft.

Dec 25, 2012 9:00am

The National Cyber Security Alliance wishes you and your family a happy and cyber-safe holiday season!

Aug 9, 2012 10:49am

We’re thrilled that Facebook, an NCSA Board member company, is continuing the fight against cyberthreats with its launch of phish@fb.com -- a new email address for users to report any phishing attempts that use the Facebook name or brand. Whenever users receive a questionable email appearing to be from Facebook, they can quickly take action and notify the social media company.

Jun 20, 2011 5:50pm

One of the opportunities I have had in the past couple of years is to represent AT&T in the development of the recently launched STOP. THINK. CONNECT. cyber security awareness campaign.

May 4, 2011 2:18pm

This morning the National Cyber Security Alliance released its 2011 State of Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the U.S. Survey . The survey has been sponsored for the last two years by Microsoft.

Apr 14, 2011 2:03pm

This week in a blog posting Brendon Lynch Chief Privacy Officer, Microsoft (Microsoft is an NCSA Board member company) announced the publication of Building Global Trust Online: Policy Perspectives on Privacy, Security, and Safety.

Apr 7, 2011 9:01am

In 1988, the Social Security Administration initiated a project that enabled parents to obtain Social Security numbers for their newborns. By 1989, the program was expanded nationwide. Since that time, millions of newborns have received Social Security numbers. This makes them prime targets for identity theft.

Apr 6, 2011 1:59pm

For the past several days, consumers have been bombarded with news about a major data breach affecting Epsilon, the online marketing unit of Alliance Data Systems Corp.

Mar 22, 2011 3:10pm

Being a victim of fraud can be an overwhelming experience for anyone. Not only do you have to worry about the financial implications of the fraud, many people feel embarrassed for having fallen victim.

Feb 24, 2011 6:08pm

Selling identity theft protection has become a big business. Consumers are constantly being offered different forms of identity theft protection online or through their banks or credit cards.

Feb 4, 2011 10:07am

The Internet has opened many new ways to solve old problems. One of those is meeting the person of your dreams through an online dating service. Of course, this time of year as Valentine's Day rapidly approaches, some people may step up their the activities to find their soul mate.

Jan 28, 2011 12:06pm

At NCSA we have always framed cybersecurity as a combination of tools and behavior. We advocate for users to do the most they can to take control of their online lives and stay safe online.

Jan 25, 2011 5:04pm

McAfee (an NCSA board member company), has just released a report entitled “A Good Decade for Cybercrime: McAfee's Look Back at Ten Years of Cybercrime.”

Jan 1, 2011 12:03pm

While much of the attention this past week is directed to all the new cool gadgets being released at CES that will connect us with the Internet, there was a significant announcement out of the White House and the Department of Commerce that should help us all stay safer and more secure online.

Dec 23, 2010 2:08pm

Many parents, grandparents and guardians will be making a young person's dreams come true this holiday season with the gift of technology. Many screams of joy will be heard over a new smart phone, computer, tablet or gaming system. Giving the gift of gadgets should also come with a focus on safety and security. Adults play a pivotal role in teaching safety and security to children and technology is no different. Start by teaching children to STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

Dec 22, 2010 4:06pm

So you have done your homework on how to protect your computers and network, spent time and money on implementing security products, trained your staff, children, and spouse on the best practices and procedures to follow while surfing the web and using email, but what is your plan for managing the data residing on the retired equipment that you're disposing of?

Nov 23, 2010 9:03am

The NCSA would like to highlight a great new resource from ConnectSafely.org and the iKeepSafe Coalition called “A Parents' Guide to Facebook.” The 35-page guidebook, written by ConnectSafely co-directors Anne Collier and Larry Magid, both long time experts in online child safety, uses easy-to-follow illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and simple language to inform parents how they can help their kids use Facebook safely.

Nov 23, 2010 12:04pm

Today, NCSA and VISA announced the results of a survey of 1,000 American small businesses. The results are eye opening.

Nov 17, 2010 11:00am

(ISC)2, the world's largest information security professional body, has been a long-time supporter of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) and the goals of the National Cyber Security Alliance. We wish to thank the NCSA for their gracious invitation to have us post on their site today.

Nov 8, 2010 10:59am

When we released the results of the annual NCSA/Norton Online Safety Study a couple of weeks ago, there was a lot of data to sort through.

Oct 28, 2010 10:57am

NCSA and Norton by Symantec released their annual Online Safety Studysometimes referred to as the home user study.

Oct 26, 2010 3:55pm

Daily deal sites such as Groupon and Living Social now commonly pepper Facebook feeds and Pandora wallpaper ads. You may have seen some: “50% off Champagne brunch!” and “$80 in spa services for only $40!” While these daily deals are generally not scams, there are some pitfalls to be avoided.

Oct 4, 2010 10:53am

Today, at the launch of national Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an unprecedented coalition of government, industry and non-profit organizations launched the first-ever public awareness campaign for online safety: “STOP. THINK. CONNECT."

Oct 1, 2010 10:51am

Lawmakers who follow online gambling regulation typically fall into one of two camps — those who think online gambling should be illegal and those who think it should be regulated and taxed.

Sep 9, 2010 12:49pm

Google's Family Safety Center provides consumer-friendly insight on how families can enjoy their Internet experience safely and securely.

Sep 7, 2010 3:48pm

More travelers are using smartphones and are increasing their use of travel-related applications, according to data from the Ypartnership/Harrison Group .

Aug 27, 2010 2:46pm

One of the knock-on effects of the continued bad economy has been a surge in the number of online work-at-home scams reported on SiteJabber. In response to this, we have developed a few resources to help consumers avoid getting scammed.

Aug 10, 2010 10:45am

In a press release today, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the APWG announced the results of research we conducted in collaboration with as part of a joint effort to create a unified consumer message to stay safe and secure online.

Jul 23, 2010 10:43am

In recent weeks, unfair SLAPP lawsuits — in which businesses sue individuals for posting critical comments on consumer review websites — have taken center stage. The latest news is that one woman is being sued by a local Chicago concrete company for complaining about their service online. Now more than ever, it's critical that these suits — designed to intimidate and censor critics through costly legal action — be put to an end.

Jun 9, 2010 3:41pm

After a year of meetings and deliberations, the Online Safety and Technology Working Group sent to Congress the report Youth Safety on a Living Internet: Report of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group.

Jun 4, 2010 6:40pm

An astounding 70% (2008 survey by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates) of US consumers consult reviews or consumer ratings before making purchases. Whether you're buying a new digital camera, finding a new dentist, or researching an online pharmacy, user reviews can be a powerful tool to make better choices about which products and services to buy and from whom. However, reviews also have pitfalls. Below are four tips to safely and effectively use online reviews.

May 25, 2010 4:39pm

President Barack Obama has said that America faces “few more urgent challenges than preparing our children to compete in a global economy.” Being able to understand and make use of the world's vast telecommunications infrastructure is certainly part of that preparation. So it was no surprise when the White House issued its Cyberspace Policy Review last May that the document contained a call for the nation to “initiate a K-12 cybersecurity education program for digital safety, ethics, and security; expand university curricula; and set the conditions to create a competent workforce for the digital age.”

May 8, 2010 1:37pm

Critical to our success in protecting our digital assets is ensuring that young people consider and seek careers in cybersecurity. We need to build out our math and science curriculum in the K-12 years to ensure that high school graduates have the basic knowledge to build in college.

May 5, 2010 10:36am

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a sweeping new anti-bullying bill today that was developed in the wake of the suicide of Phoebe Prince, 15, who was the subject of continuous victimization at South Hadley High School. Nine students have been arrested in the case and await their fate in the criminal justice system.

Mar 22, 2010 6:34pm

Sexting, the sending of explicit photos via text message or email, is but the latest example of how new technologies can cause unintended social issues and leave our institutions—schools and law enforcement in this case—without adequate or reasonable policies to respond.

Feb 25, 2010 10:33am

Today, the National Cyber Security Alliance released the 2010 State of Cyberethics, Cybersafety, and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the U.S., which explores teacher, school administrator, and school technology coordinator attitudes toward teaching cyber education topics, what is actually being taught in classrooms, and the level of professional development teachers are receiving in order to teach these topics.

Feb 17, 2010 10:31am

A recent study, Online Reputation in a Connected World by Cross-Tab Marketing Research on behalf of Microsoft (disclaimer Microsoft is an NCSA sponsoring company) finds that more and more companies are conducting online research into a candidate's reputation. Of the U.S. recruiters (study also surveyed recruiters in other countries) and HR professionals surveyed, 70% say they have rejected candidates based on information they found online.

Jan 4, 2010 2:31pm

What does stalking have to with cybersecurity? Quite a bit.

Dec 5, 2009 5:30pm

Of the many online safety resources available for parents and kids, the Federal Trade Commission's web resources are some of the best. Two new FTC resources continue their efforts to bring useable, comprehensive information to consumers.

Nov 23, 2009 2:29pm

A recent New York Times article, Hacked E-Mails Fuel Climate Change Skeptics reports on the public disclosure of emails between scientists in engaged in climate change research in the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Nov 9, 2009 8:28am

At NCSA our goal is to reach all users with education and awareness messages about cyber security. One target audience is college age (17-25) young people.

Oct 31, 2009 11:26am

Thirty-one days has October and every one was put to good use this year during National Cyber Security Awareness Month. It was far and away the best one ever. It will take a while to compile all the results but we do know the hits to our website at least tripled and that organizations and companies endorsing the month also tripled.

Oct 29, 2009 1:25pm

Earlier this month, almost 100 people were charged in the U.S. and Egypt as co-conspirators in a phishing ring that managed to siphon off almost $1.5 million from customers of Bank of America and Wells Fargo since 2007. The same week, FBI director Robert Mueller admitted he had almost fallen victim himself to a phishing scam. Score two points for the good guys.

Oct 27, 2009 10:23am

Today, the National Cyber Security Alliance released its firststudy on the cyber security practices of small and medium size businesses (SMBs).

Oct 16, 2009 12:21pm

The White House has released a video from President Obama promoting National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The President discusses the theme of our shared responsibility as well as specific cybersecurity tips for all Americans.

Oct 7, 2009 3:19pm

Canada recently announced it is using October as a platform for Cyber Security Awareness Month activities.

Oct 2, 2009 8:18am

President Obama, who has championed cybersecurity since taking office, yesterday proclaimed that October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Sep 30, 2009 2:17pm

On the eve of National Cyber Security Awareness Month the Senate passed Resolution 285 supporting efforts to make the citizens more aware of how to secure the Internet and in support of national Cyber Secuirty Awareness Month.

Aug 31, 2009 8:16am

Do you know what happened on September 2, 1969 just 53 days after Apollo 11 landed on the moon and why it's an important date in Internet history? Well, you should. We all should.

Aug 17, 2009 10:14am

We usually measure how far the digital world has come into our lives through big statistics, such as the number of users on social network sites or the amount of commerce conducted over the Internet. Sometimes there are better measures.

Jul 27, 2009 2:13pm

One area of cybersecurity that the public rarely thinks about but is of great concern to government, hardware and software manufacturers, and others concerned with the integrity of cyber space is ensuring that software is free from hidden threats.

Jul 10, 2009 11:12am

At NCSA we believe it's important for everyone to have some understanding of cyber attacks since in fact almost any computer can be used to facilitate such attacks through the use of botnets.

Jul 7, 2009 11:11am

While it may be difficult to prevent other people from publishing or even losing data about you, what you post about yourself is under your control.

Jun 11, 2009 1:08pm

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the site peoplesdirt—a site designed specifically to amplify rumors, slander, and negative comments between high school students-- and its lack of any redeeming social value.

May 21, 2009 9:07am

In many cases, we discuss websites and technology that can be used for many positive purposes but sometimes, without user education, get used to facilitate negative online behaviors as an unintended consequence. Some common examples include providing excess amounts of personal information on a social networking site and putting yourself at risk of identity theft, or the use of email, IM, or texting to forward private information about another person.

May 7, 2009 4:06pm

An article in today's Washington Post about sexting (sending sexually explicit photos by cell phone) accurately portrays the difficulties schools, law enforcement, and prosecutors have when new uses of technology don't necessarily fit into laws and polices already on the books. Often young people embrace technology and find new, and sometimes negative uses, before parents, schools, and the community have the opportunity to proactively respond.

Apr 30, 2009 12:04pm

As we have seen during the financial crisis and recent natural disasters, scam artists, phishers, and other cyber criminals use the day's headlines to lure people to sites that deposit viruses and malware (malicious software such as spyware) or try to get you to reveal personal information or buy something you don't need or can get somewhere else for free.

Apr 23, 2009 2:00pm

The Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education Project is an effort to help fill the tremendous gap in K-12 education of Internet safety and Security. NCSA is calling all IT professionals who want use their expertise to give back to their community to get involved.

Apr 17, 2009 6:59pm

At NCSA, one of our major focus areas is encouraging small and medium size businesses to do more to secure their business data, customer data, and intellectual property. Sometimes it's easy for a small or medium size company to think we really don't have anything of value, we are small and we won't be target, or the cost of securing our systems is not worth it.

Mar 10, 2009 10:58am

One of the main arsenals we have to fight cybercrime and cyber criminals are collaborative, coordinated efforts between tech companies, law enforcement, and prosecutors. Cybercriminals, like all criminals, are opportunistic. If they see an opportunity to get away with a crime because it won't be investigated or prosecuted, they will seize it.

Feb 20, 2009 9:56am

Phishing is still a thriving criminal enterprise. The release of the 2008 RSA Online Fraud report confirms the ongoing problem of phishing in cyber space (disclosure: EMC is a NCSA Board member and RSA is an EMC company). According to the report the volume of phishing attacks during 2008 grew 66% over those attacks detected throughout 2007.

Feb 12, 2009 1:47pm

At NCSA, we are true believers about the capacity of the Internet to be transformative to our daily lives. Whether it's the convenience of online banking, shopping at 3 AM in pajamas, networking with friends and family, or starting a new web-based business, the Internet has opened up new worlds.

Jan 12, 2009 11:16am

Today, NCSA is pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with CyberSmart! The CyberSmart! Cyberbullying Package is a positive and empowering suite of K-12 lessons provided free to schools.

Dec 24, 2008 9:25am

By taking a few simple steps as you get started you can make your new PC as safe as is fun.

Nov 18, 2008 3:24pm

When it comes to cybersecurity, our nation's students and teachers are flying blind and have not received the basic education needed to keep them safe online.