FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2023 
Contact: Dan Hoblick, Bureau of Information & Telecommunications

Governor Noem Proclaims October Cybersecurity Awareness Month

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in South Dakota.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about digital security and empower everyone to protect their personal data from digital forms of crime.

"Every business, organization, and individual needs to understand the value of taking steps to be safe online,” said Jeff Clines, Commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. “The ‘It's easy to stay safe online’ campaign helps to communicate essential steps we can all take to be aware of the risks of participating in a digital world."   

This year’s campaign theme — “It’s easy to stay safe online” — reminding internet users that there are plenty of simple ways to keep personal information and private data secure when browsing and using the internet.

To avoid such threats, the citizens of South Dakota are reminded to do the following:

• Never share your password;
• Enable two-factor authentication;
• Update software; and
• Recognize phishing attempts.

For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org/resources/online-safety-privacy-basics/.

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace.

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