Zimbabwe Kicks Off Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Internet-enabled crimes and cyber intrusions are becoming increasingly sophisticated and preventing them requires each and every user of a connected device to be aware and on guard. October is also a month dedicated to the subject that, if ignored, can be far scarier than any one knocking on the door cybersecurity.

Some of the most common and damaging Internet-enabled crimes begin with an employee clicking a link in an email that appears to be from a colleague, following the instructions in a message that looks like it came from a supervisor, or opening an account link or invoice that seems to be from a trusted vendor.

Speaking at a media briefing the The Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services said “The Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services will be hosting the National Cyber Security Awareness Month under the theme “Safe Surfing” from 1 to 31 October 2019.”

“Several independent initiatives and organised events guarantee that the month of October will all be about cyber security awareness in its most varied aspects.” He added.

“The National Cyber Security Awareness Month provides the perfect opportunity to promote cybersecurity awareness and safety tips, ultimately changing behaviors to protect people against the ever growing cyber threats.”

Throughout October, these initiatives will seek to raise awareness, change behaviors, and provide accessible resources in order to educate people on how to stay safe online. In so doing, the campaigns also highlight a number of simple steps that all of us can take to protect our personal, financial and/or professional data.

“During the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services and its stakeholders will lead the national cybersecurity public awareness, education, training, and workforce development efforts to support the protection against and response to cyber threats and hazards to individuals, companies and the nation at large.” The minister said.

To achieve their goals, the campaigns often revolve around several themes that are split over the course of the month.

However, all these initiatives have a common underlying thread and their overarching message that ‘cybersecurity is a shared responsibility’ remains the same as last year and applies universally. After all, we all have a role to play when it comes to responding to the growing threat of cybercrime and staying one step ahead of cybercriminals.

Below is the NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH: 01 – 31 OCTOBER 2019 Program: