Have you ever thought about what you may be doing to secure our world? Think about it. As technology advances, what are you doing to protect yourself from online threat actors and malicious ransomware attacks?

Without a doubt, ransomware has become the most visible cyber threat to our nation’s financial networks. While most financial institutions have implemented robust cybersecurity practices, the rapid advancements in cyber threats and their potentially devastating consequences require that every financial institution review and update its defenses constantly. The exact same is true for you and your family.

One way the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working to ensure a secure and resilient critical infrastructure for everyone in the Show-Me State is through our Secure Our World program, and Secure Our World can be a fantastic way for you to bolster your own cyber defense.

The Secure Our World program aims to help change bad cybersecurity behaviors and begin to shift the needle towards a more cyber-secure population. It leverages partnerships and cooperation between government agencies, businesses, tribes, industry partners and cybersecurity experts to ensure access to up-to-date resources for everyone.

Although October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Secure Our World program recognizes that we shouldn’t just focus on cybersecurity for one month a year; instead, cybersecurity requires an ongoing discussion year-round.

Technology is part of everything that makes our modern world go round — from our elections to our workplaces, from financial transactions to our classrooms. In short, we rely on our technology to work when we need it, but the technology that makes our lives easier has also made us more vulnerable to criminals.

With that said, if every reader did these four simple things outlined by the Secure Our World program, it would make America exponentially more secure:

• Use strong passwords, meaning long, random and unique to each account, and use a password manager to generate them and to save them, if possible.
• Enable multifactor authentication on all accounts that offer it. We need more than a password on our most important accounts, like email, social media and financial accounts.
• Recognize and report phishing, or as we like to say, think before you click. Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or calls asking you for personal information. Resist the urge to click on unknown links or open attachments from unknown sources.
• Update software regularly. In fact, enable automatic software updates on all devices so the latest security patches are continuously up to date.

For individuals in Missouri, we want to emphasize the importance of securing personal accounts. The Secure Our World resources offer guidance on personal device safety, safe internet browsing practices, social media usage and protecting personal information online.

In addition, we recognize the significance of protecting our children online. Secure Our World includes support and resources specifically for parents. It provides guidance on implementing parental controls, fostering safe digital habits and ensuring a secure online environment for children. It also offers animated videos explaining easy-to-follow instructions on how to adopt safe online practices for young people.

Small- and medium-sized businesses face unique challenges, so we are working to help them Secure our World by offering tools and resources that can help boost their cybersecurity defenses and minimize the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. This makes their businesses more secure, and it makes customers, employees and our communities safer.

Additionally, CISA is committed to working collaboratively with those on the front lines of elections — state and local governments, election officials, federal partners, and private sector partners — to manage risks to the nation’s election infrastructure. We provide resources on election security for both the public and election officials at all levels and will remain transparent and agile in our vigorous efforts to protect America’s election infrastructure against new and evolving threats.

The bottom line is the Secure Our World resources offer a diverse range of helpful products tailored to address the cybersecurity needs of individuals, families, businesses and municipalities. Secure Our World offers tip sheets that provide an overview and deep dive into the four easy ways to stay safe online I just mentioned. It even offers select cybersecurity resources in multiple languages. The Secure Our World web page is designed to make it easy for users to find the specific resources they need through a user-friendly website that simplifies the process.

Everyone can take steps right now toward a more secure future. For more information about the Secure Our World program and for ideas on how to keep the conversation going year-round, explore our free resources at www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world.

Together, we will secure Missouri and secure our world.