Stop. Think. Connect. April 2012 Update

As technology advances, the information we share on the Internet becomes increasingly accessible to others, making it important to be deliberate and cautious about what we post on websites and social networking tools. The Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign encourages you to think about how you portray yourself—your personal brand—online.

According to a 2011 survey by the Society of Human Resource Management, 56% of companies use social media sites to screen potential job candidates. Whether you are looking for a job or are on the job, it’s important to realize that what you say and do is visible to others, and it’s not erasable. Make smart choices and think about how those online decisions might influence other’s opinion of you for better or worse.

Be thoughtful about what you say or infer not only on major social media sites, but also via online chat tools, comments section blogs and news sites, classified sites, auction sites, etc. In an online world that is progressively more transparent, one little belittling, bickering, or risqué comment or photo could easily be made public instantly. So always take a moment and ask yourself “How does this make me appear?” before posting. Follow the Golden Rule—be nice online and in real life.

MINNESOTA CYBER TOUR: APRIL 16-19, 2012

Did you know Minneapolis ranks seventh in the top ten riskiest online cities according to Symantec? Many of the crimes that occur in real life are now done - or at least facilitated - through the Internet. Human trafficking, credit card fraud, identity theft, embezzlement, and more – all are being done online.

The Minnesota Cyber Tour is quickly approaching, and the Campaign invites all Minnesotans to play an active role in raising awareness and engaging in a cybersecurity dialogue. Kids, teens, college students, young professionals, educators, parents, older Americans, small businesses, industry, and government will have opportunities to participate in Minnesota Cyber Tour events that provide a collective, hands-on approach to online safety through interactive presentation, forums, and roundtable discussion.

Minnesota is the third stop on the Stop.Think.Connect.™ Cyber Tour, following Massachusetts and Florida. Cyber tours aim to help Americans become more aware of growing threats and arm them with the tools to protect themselves. In an increasingly interconnected world, homeland security is truly hometown security when it comes to Americans’ safety online. Unlike other threats currently facing the country, cyber attacks on individual citizens can have instant, wide ranging consequences for the nation’s broader national and economic security interests.

GET INVOLVED WITH STOP.THINK.CONNECT. CYBER TOURS

The Cyber Tours’ effectiveness depends on the willingness of communities to actively participate in Stop.Think.Connect.’s awareness efforts. To date, Cyber Tours have been held in Massachusetts and Florida and will soon be held in Minnesota.

The Campaign encourages organizations well as individuals to take leadership roles in the planning and implementation of Cyber Tour activities. Ways to get involved include: 1.) Working with DHS to host a Cyber Tour event at your organization; 2.) Inviting DHS to attend and discuss cybersecurity at one of your organization's existing events or meetings; 3.) Publicizing Cyber Tour events and activities within your organization and community; 4.) Encouraging your friends, family, and coworkers to attend and participate in scheduled Cyber Tour events; and 5.) Collaborating with local public, private, or non-profit entities to promote Stop.Think.Connect. cyber tips and messages during and after the Cyber Tour.

To get involved in Stop.Think.Connect. Cyber Tours, please contact the Campaign directly at stopthinkconnect@dhs.gov. Visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect for more information about the Campaign.