Wednesday, October 19, 2016

PROVINCIAL POLICE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO ENHANCE CYBER SECURITY

Information and Data Systems are Today’s Criminal Targets

(ORILLIA, ON) – Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is doing its part to enhance public safety and awareness and mitigate the many threats posed by cyber criminals during Cyber Security Awareness Month.

In 2015, the top ten cyber scams earned criminals an estimated $1.2-billion from Canadian victims. Put another way, around 80,000 people unwittingly fall prey to these scams every day – equivalent to the population of Sarnia or Peterborough. During October, the OPP will join police services and subject matter experts from across the country to promote public awareness and help prevent all Canadians from becoming victims of online crime.

While engaging in a public awareness media and social media campaign, the OPP’s own Cyber Strategy is spreading the word among its 9,200-member workforce to ensure OPP information systems and data remain secure while building capacity to support modern investigations.

This year’s OPP Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign will focus on four topics including:

Free Wi-Fi use/Password protection

Phishing/Ransomware (Personal/Corporate) scams

Email Attachments

Online Child Safety

For helpful tips and links, follow the OPP on Twitter (@OPP_News), Facebook and Instagram and using the hashtags #CyberSecurity, #CyberAware and #OPPTips.

If you or someone you know suspects they’ve been a victim of digital or online crime, contact your local police service, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, report it to the OPP online at http://www.opp.ca/index.php?id=132 or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) at https://www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm

LEARN MORE

Cyber Security Awareness Month toolkit (courtesy of Public Safety Canada)

Cyber Security Risks (courtesy of Public Safety Canada)

Get Cyber Safe is a national, multi-jurisdiction, public awareness campaign created to educate Canadians about Internet security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online. Visit http://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/

Posted at 12:05 PM