MADISON, Wis. – Governor Evers declared October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Wisconsin. Accordingly, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to promote simple ways that consumers and businesses in the state can protect themselves from common risks that come with using the internet and modern technology.
As part of the national ‘Secure Our World’ campaign, the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency recommends four actions we can all take to improve our personal and organizational cybersecurity:
- Use strong passwords and create a different password for each account.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication to strengthen account security.
- Recognize and report phishing to avoid compromising personal information.
- Update software regularly to get the latest security patches.
These tips are a great start, but the list of easy, everyday cybersecurity practices does not end there. DATCP, DOA, and DMA are recommending three additional ways that Wisconsin can go beyond the basics to keep themselves, their workplaces, and their communities secure.
“Scammers use social media platforms to impersonate trusted businesses, government agencies, celebrities, or even a target’s friends or family members,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “They promote fake products or services, make fraudulent offers, and try to steal your information and hard-earned money. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to learn more about scams by following DATCP for the latest news and alerts, and by having conversations with loved ones about the risks of online scams.”
“Be sure to back up your data regularly and keep sensitive data private by cleaning up and deleting what you don’t need,” suggests DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “Practicing good data hygiene will help keep your information secure.”
“Cybersecurity involves preventing, detecting, and responding to those cyber-attacks that can have wide-ranging effects on individuals, organizations, and the whole state,” said Maj. Gen. Matt Strub, Wisconsin’s adjutant general and the governor’s chief cybersecurity advisor. “Protecting ourselves and our information starts at home. From anti-virus software to strong passwords and monitoring your personal accounts, each step we take helps secure our digital world.”
For more information and consumer protection resources from DATCP, visit ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.
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