October: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an initiative launched in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). Consumer & Veterans Services has partnered with the Better Business Bureau of West-Central Florida to kick off the awareness month with a Cyber-Saturday event on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 – 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park & Museum, 3602 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33619.

The one-day, drive-thru event is for Hillsborough County residents to help protect themselves from online scams and identity theft. Attendees can trick-or-treat among consumer experts to receive not-so-spooky giveaways and valuable cyber-safety tips. *link to video with tips*

Free services offered on Cyber Saturday include:

• Electronic or "e-shredding" of devices that hold sensitive information. Secure and environmentally sustainable disposal of unwanted assets or devices containing data provided for devices such as: old cellphones, personal computers, laptops, tablets, and computer hard drives.
• Paper document shredding: limited to three copy-paper-sized boxes or kitchen-sized trash bag containers per vehicle and no commercial shredding permitted.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers guidelines about how long to keep tax records. Additional items to consider shredding include:

• Old bank documents, bills, and receipts
• Unnecessary medical records containing personal information
• Expired insurance policies
• Junk mail, including credit card offers with personal information (name/address)
• Old travel documents, including boarding passes
• Sticky notes or items containing passwords
• CDs and DVDs are accepted (no three-ring binders)

IMPORTANT: All batteries must be removed from bags, boxes, or other items!

For additional Cyber Security Awareness Month resources, visit:

www.bbb.org/syid or www.bbb.org/cybersecurity

For more information about Cyber Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, call Consumer & Veterans Services at (813) 635-8316 ext. 2 or visit HCFL.gov/Consumer.

Tips for Cybersecurity Awareness Month:

• Use antivirus software and strong, unique passwords for each account to combine letters, numbers, and symbols. Never use "123456" or "password"
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an extra layer of security. Require a second form of verification, like a text message or authentication app, when logging into an account or device.
• Don’t take the bait! “Phishing scams” are emails, texts, or messages that ask for personal information or urge immediate action. Always verify the sender's identity before clicking on links or attachments — even if that means telephoning the sender to double-check.
• Protect your data: Regularly back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage, and delete unused files (such as with secure shredding). In case of a cyberattack or data loss, your information can still be recovered.
• Protect Yourself – you ARE the product. Understand the hidden cost of social media platforms, search engines, and apps that use and sell personal data. Be cautious and take the time to “opt out” whenever possible.