Our everyday activities – like taking showers, watching televisions, driving cars, and using computers and smart phones – all depend on utility infrastructure, including electricity, gasoline, water, and telecommunications systems. These essential systems now run on digital networks, which means they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.

As large-scale cyber incidents continue to make headlines, it is more important than ever for all segments of the community to understand cyber threats and be safer and more secure online. Individuals can help keep critical infrastructure safe by practicing good cyber habits and by encouraging their utility companies to adhere to high cybersecurity standards.

Protecting our critical infrastructure means that our homes and businesses will have power, our transportation systems will take us where we need to go, and our communications systems will help us connect at work and at home. You can play a part in securing America’s critical infrastructure in the following ways:

• Read the privacy policy of a company or vendor and check out online reviews before purchasing a product or service.

• Make sure websites that ask for personal information (to pay a utility bill, for example) use encryption to secure their sites.
• Learn about steps to enhance security and resilience in local businesses and communities, and how to handle certain events.
• If you run a business, make a plan to protect your organization’s information from cyber threats.
• Report suspicious activity.

 We want more folks to use the Phish Alert button and less clicks on suspicious emails.