Tech

We made you some National Cybersecurity Awareness Month warning posters

Choose a strong password. Cover your webcam. Download our posters.

Photo of Patrick Howell O'Neill

Patrick Howell O'Neill

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You’re a good citizen, so you no doubt already knew that October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the United States.

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Just a week after President Barack Obama concluded a historic cybercrime agreement with China, the Department of Homeland Security is teaching Americans (and everyone else!) how to stay safe online and keep their data out of the hands of hackers.

To help you better understand and appreciate cybersecurity, we created seven posters inspired by America’s World War II security propaganda that will bring you up to speed.

Jason Reed

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There’s one major reason why some national governments are angry about strong encryption: It works. Use encryption to protect your data from prying eyes.

Jason Reed

Ever heard of Ashley Madison? What about Sony? The list goes on. Before you send that sensitive email, consider using PGP.

Jason Reed

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Hey kids, privacy is sexy (if you’re trying to date an EFF staff attorney).

Jason Reed

Clicking links and downloading attachments from strangers is just a recipe for trouble. Make sure you know what links you’re clicking, or you’ll be hooked by some nasty phishers.

Jason Reed

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Here’s one that hits home. Sometimes it’s hard to make normal people care about cybersecurity. But when nude selfies are involved, suddenly everyone cares.

Jason Reed

Updating your software—especially your antivirus—can be annoying. Lots of people don’t apply these patches because they don’t think they have time. But it’s more annoying and time-consuming to get hacked, so make sure you keep everything up to date.

Jason Reed

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Webcam hacks are among the most viscerally terrifying cybersecurity tales. Can you imagine someone taking over your laptop and watching your every move? You don’t have to imagine: It happens in real life. There are many ways to protect yourself, but you should consider going low-tech and covering your camera with some paper or tape. There’s even a cottage industry for stylish webcam-covering accessories.

Photo via Danielle Scott/Flickr (CC BY SA 2.0) | Remix by Jason Reed 

 
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