Setting strong passwords, downloading the latest software updates and learning how to spot a phishing scam are among the issues covered in the webinars we have organised in partnership with Derbyshire Police.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month takes place throughout October 2023 with webinars organised for a variety of groups:
- schools - Tuesday 10 October 2023 from 4pm to 4.30pm
- residents - Friday 20 October 2023 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
- businesses - Tuesday 24 October 2023 from 12:30pm to 1.30pm
- parents, grandparents, carers - Thursday 26 October 2023 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
All the webinars focus on 4 key areas of behaviour to help communities in Derbyshire protect themselves from scammers and hackers although they’re tailored to each audience.
Key areas covered include:
- creating strong passwords and password management
- using multi-factor authentication
- recognising and reporting scams such as phishing (a technique used by scammers, usually by email, to get people to reveal important information, such as bank details)
- updating software
Find more information about the cyber awareness webinars and book a place.
Our cabinet member for health and communities Councillor Carol Hart said:
“Much of our life is spent online so it’s more important than ever we learn how to be as secure as we can.
“Cyber-criminals are always looking for opportunities to prey on people and we need to arm ourselves against them. These webinars can help give us the tools we need to fight back.”
According to the latest data, cybercrime accounts for almost 50% of crime, and is estimated to cost the UK economy £27 billion a year. UK residents are statistically more likely to suffer a cyber-attack than in any other country in the world, with their money and accounts being targeted. Last year, there was a 27.5% increase in social media account hacking in the UK and around 49,000 instances of fraud arising from cybercrime.
The cybersecurity webinars cover many ways to help keep personal data protected from hackers, such as learning how ‘breakable’ passwords are; adding an extra layer of security by using 2-factor authentication; how to spot a phishing attack and the dangers of over-sharing on social media.
Councillor Hart added:
“As the sophistication of cybercrime increases, so must our efforts to arm ourselves with the tools to defeat it.
“I’m pleased to be working with Derbyshire Police to help residents fight back against hackers and scams.”