“Two Steps Ahead: Protect Your Digital Life” Event

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- When: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Where: Saint Paul Union Depot, Red Cap Room, 214 4th St E, St Paul, MN 55101

November 25, 2014 — The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a non-profit public-private partnership focused on helping all digital citizens stay safer and more secure online, is coming to Minnesota with its STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Two Steps Ahead: Protect Your Digital Life Tour to educate consumers and businesses about adopting simple security measures like Two-Step Authentication into their everyday lives.

  The event, which takes place on December 9th from 9-11 a.m., is part of a ten-city tour to spread the word about activating easily implemented security features, like Two-Step Authentication, available on many of the web’s most popular sites. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will open the event with remarks, and the morning will feature a hands-on demonstration showing attendees how to improve their security on sites like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, LinkedIn and financial institutions. The event will conclude with a panel discussion featuring local cybersecurity experts.

   Lack of consumer adoption of good password practices continues to create problems. The good news is more Internet sites are implementing additional safety features that can help computer users add another layer of security to their accounts. These features go by many names, including Two-Step Authentication. The process is simple and requires login approvals using a variety of methods, including SMS texts to a mobile device, or random one-time use password generators. The goal is the same, allowing only authorized people to access an account. Additionally, NCSA has created an educational and entertaining video – in simple, memorable language – that walks viewers through the process http://stopthinkconnect.org/2stepsahead.

  “It’s time to shift our viewpoint and ‒ literally ‒get “two steps ahead” on Internet security by changing our position from one dominated by vulnerability and risk to focusing on taking action by using Two-Step Authentication and creating a culture of cybersecurity,” said Michael Kaiser executive director at NCSA. “We can do this by working together and using new security tools to build a safer, more secure and trusted Internet. Utilizing all available security measures and understanding the consequences of actions and behaviors online is the key message underlying the STOP.THINK.CONNECT. campaign.”

   “Recent events have shown that even the largest private companies in the world, with technology investments representing 6.4 percent of their total budgets – a much greater percentage than the average city – can be vulnerable to cyber thieves and hackers,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.“As a community, we need to continue improving our systems to protect them from outside threats – we need to be two steps ahead.”

“If you knew burglars will try and break in every night, would just one lock be enough?

Bruce Lindberg, Executive Director, Advance IT Minnesota”

The event will include participation from:

·        Chris Buse, State CISO

·        Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman

·        S. Massoud Amin, Director, Technological Leadership Institute

·        Steve Wernikoff, Federal Trade Commission Midwest Region

·        Lisa Jemtrud, Better Business Bureau, Inc.

·        Michael Krause, Federal Bureau of Investigation

  The event will run from 9-11am and registration is open to the public free, but space is limited.

   “We want to thank all our partners who helped make the event in Minnesota a success,” Kaiser said.

   To register visit:  https://twostepsminnesota.eventbrite.com

  To learn more about staying safe online and to find links to websites that offer additional account security visit www.stopthinkconnect.org/ (http://www.stopthinkconnect.org/Insert).

  About The National Cyber Security Alliance and STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

  The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit cybersecurity education and awareness organization.  In collaboration with the government, corporate, non-profit and other sectors, NCSA’s mission is to educate and empower everyone to use the Internet safely and more securely. NCSA board members include: ADP, AT&T, Bank of America, Comcast, EMC Corporation, ESET, Facebook, Google, Intel, McAfee, Match.com, Microsoft, Symantec, Target, Verizon and Visa. The STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign was created by an unprecedented coalition of private companies, nonprofits and government organizations with leadership provided by the NCSA (http://www.staysafeonline.org/) and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) (http://www.antiphishing.org/).  NCSA’s other signature programs are National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Data Privacy Day. The Department of Homeland Security leads the federal engagement in the campaign. Visit www.stopthinkconnect.org for more information and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/staysafeonline.