GENESEO, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2023 – October is marked by National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – a time to provide education on best practices when using the internet, accessing email and sending and receiving files to prevent hacking, malware and other harmful online encounters.
Since its inception in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has looked to raise awareness and engage public and private sector partners through event and initiatives. Additionally, federal and state agencies have worked to provide resources and tools that organizations and individuals need to stay safe online while also increasing cyber resiliency throughout the country.
Cybercrime has an immense impact on governments and companies, both big and small, and can also be used to target individuals. It is estimated that cybercrime resulted in $6 trillion in damages globally in 2021 – that number, if measured as a country, the third-largest economy in the world after the United States and China, respectively.
The problem isn’t expected to improve quickly with projections showing an increase of roughly 15 percent annually over the next several years. Cybercrime costs include damage and destruction of data, stolen money, lost productivity, theft of intellectual property, theft of personal and financial data, embezzlement, fraud, post-attack disruption, forensic investigation, restoration and deletion of hacked data and systems, reputational harm and blackmail.
While cybercrime can have serious consequences, there are numerous steps that can be taken to protect your data. Enabling multi-factor authentication, using strong passwords and a password manager, updating software regularly and recognizing and reporting phishing are all critical security measures to reduce risks associated with hacking and cybercrime.
To learn more about how you can protect yourself from cybercrime, please visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.