(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that his office is launching a cybersecurity awareness campaign to help protect Ohioans from identity theft and cyber fraud. The grant-funded program includes cybersecurity messages that will be displayed in public transit systems and made available to libraries and schools throughout Ohio.
“We want to give people practical tips to stay safe online,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Cybercrime and identity theft are serious problems in Ohio and across the country, and we want to let people know what they can do to help protect themselves.”
This year, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section received a $25,000 grant from the Sears Consumer Protection and Education Fund to build public awareness of cybersecurity.
As part of the program, signs displaying cybersecurity messages will be placed in public transportation vehicles, mainly buses, in Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, and Columbus (Ohio State), beginning in October (National Cyber Security Awareness Month).
Those same signs will be made available to Ohio libraries and schools, which can request copies to display in their facilities.
Additionally, consumer educators with the Attorney General’s office have trained students at seven Ohio law schools to deliver cybersecurity presentations to their communities. The presentation, called Cybersecurity Help, Information, and Protection Program (CHIPP), focuses on security and privacy.
Tips for staying safe in cyberspace include:
- Use a strong, unique password for each of your online accounts.
- Don’t respond to unexpected email or text message requests for personal information.
- Understand how your information will be used, saved, and stored on social media.
- Don’t enter passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal information while using free public Wi-Fi.
- Don’t send money to strangers using wire transfers or prepaid money cards, which are difficult to trace or recover.
- If someone calls you unexpectedly and asks for remote access to your computer, don’t provide it, even if the caller claims to represent a computer company.
Libraries, schools, or other community groups seeking cybersecurity resources or presentations should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office by visiting
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515 and asking for the Consumer Education Unit.
Copies of the cybersecurity messages that will be displayed in public transit systems and made available to libraries and schools are available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.
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Images
Message 1 - Computer Scams
Message 2 - Passwords
Message 3 - Phishing
Message 4 - Social Media
Message 5 - Wi-Fi
Message 6 - Wire Transfers
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840