10/02/2009 Print Version |
Californians are innovators, and our state is proud to be at the forefront of information technology. However, it is vital that we must also lead the way in protecting ourselves and our data on the Internet. Many of us use the Internet every day, and by learning how to defend ourselves online, we ensure our privacy.
While state and federal laws are designed to protect us, it is important to be careful when it comes to sharing personal information and using the Internet. There are several precautions we can take when surfing the web, like downloading updates to operating systems and web browsers, “locking” the computer when we are away from it, using firewalls and antivirus software and choosing strong passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Additionally, parents play a critical role in teaching their children how to use the Internet responsibly and monitoring their access to web content.
This month, I encourage all Californians to educate themselves and pump up their online safety know-how. The California Office of Information Security and Privacy Protection (www.oispp.ca.gov) is a great resource and lists many more ways to implement good practices and prevent viruses, hackers and spammers from accessing your data. By increasing our knowledge, we can continue to use the web securely and effectively.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim October 2009, as “Cyber Security Awareness Month.”
