What Local Law Enforcement Can Do
Your job is to protect the citizens of your town; they look to you for security and guidance. With so many crimes being committed via the Internet, it’s important to educate yourself on cybersecurity. Consider doing the following during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month:
- Join the national campaign for cybersecurity education and awareness: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Get details at www.stopthinkconnect.org.
- Review the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips and advice at community meetings and as part of training (http://www.staysafeonline.org/tools-resources/stop-think-connect).
- Post the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips and advice and NCSAM posters in police stations, precincts, schools and other community locations.
- Create a team of volunteers (officers and civilians) to volunteer at your local schools with NCSA’s CSAVE Program (http://www.staysafeonline.org/in-the-classroom/c-save). It’s easy, age appropriate and a fun way to educate kids about online safety.
- If victims report cybercrimes that your agency doesn’t have jurisdiction over, encourage them to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov). Leads can be packaged by the IC3 and used by local law enforcement to understand trends.
- Develop a local task force to make your community more cybersecure. Check out the Washtenaw County Cyber Citizenship Coalition (http://washtenawcybercoalition.org) and ESET’s Securing Our eCity (http://securingourecity.org) for inspiration.
- Give a cybersecurity presentation to your business community. Resources for business can be found at: http://www.staysafeonline.org/for-business/resources-smallmed-sized-businesses.
- October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Make citizens aware of protection against cyber stalking. The National Center for Victims of Crime (www.ncvc.org) and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (www.nnedv.org) are great resources.
- Work with your IT department to make sure your Department’s cybersecurity is in top shape:
- Review and update the acceptable use policy of the Department’s computers.
- Have a plan for the Department if there should be a data loss or breach.
- Become a fan of the NCSA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/staysafeonline) and STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/STOPTHINKCONNECT
- Blog about cybersecurity throughout the month. Use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to disseminate information and encourage customers and employees to learn more about staying safe online. Feel free to use content found at www.staysafeonline.org.
- Learn more at www.staysafeonline.org and www.stopthinkconnect.org.
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