Cyber Security Awareness Day: Why Prevention Matters Most
January 28 marks Cyber Security Awareness Day, a reminder that in today’s digital world, prevention is often the only effective defense against cyber crime.
In our last Safe Communities Corner, we highlighted the success rates of our local law enforcement agencies. While those efforts are critical to community safety, cyber crime presents a different challenge. Because these crimes are often anonymous, difficult to trace, and frequently cross state and international borders, even the most successful law enforcement agencies have limited ability to respond once a cyber crime has already occurred.
That doesn’t mean reporting cyber crime isn’t important—it is. Reporting helps authorities identify trends and understand how and when cyber crimes are happening. But the reality is that your best protection is taking steps to prevent cyber crime before it happens.
Simple actions can greatly reduce your risk, such as using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping your devices updated and locked. Being cautious with links and attachments, verifying requests for money or personal information, and avoiding public Wi-Fi for banking or shopping can also make a significant difference. Regularly checking bank statements and limiting what you share online are additional ways to stay ahead of potential threats.
Cyber criminals rely on urgency, confusion, and lack of awareness. Learning about common scams—and talking about them with family, friends, and coworkers—helps protect not just yourself, but our entire community.
The Safe Communities Coalition remains committed to educating our community, improving safety awareness, and encouraging positive, productive engagement between residents and law enforcement. By staying informed and proactive, we can work together to create a safer, stronger community—online and offline.
