Cybersecurity awareness is the understanding of the importance of protecting data and information from malicious activities. It involves understanding the risks associated with digital communication, online activities, and technology in general.

1. The Guide To Cybersecurity Awareness
For Your Business And Personal Life
Protect yourself and your business from cyber threats with our
comprehensive guide to cybersecurity awareness.

2. What is cybersecurity awareness?
Cybersecurity awareness is the understanding of the importance of
protecting data and information from malicious activities.
It involves understanding the risks associated with digital
communication, online activities, and technology in general.
Cybersecurity awareness therefore means being aware of what is
happening on the Internet, both in terms of information security threats
and human rights violations.
In fact, cybersecurity awareness must also aim to change the way
people use the Internet.
According to the mission proposed by the CRO Cyber Rights
Organization, the Internet must be a safe place, respectful of
everyone, respectful of differences.
Having a basic knowledge about cybersecurity helps people protect
their personal data from unauthorized access or misuse.
As shown by the data analyzed by Statista, in the third quarter of 2022,
the data exposed to breaches was about 15 million.

3. A worrying increase compared to the first quarter of the same year, but
fortunately far below the record of 125 million at the end of 2020.
These data are of equal interest to people and organizations.
For this reason, both companies and society in general should take
care to educate citizens and employees about cybersecurity.
This is the only effective way to protect your information from potential
cyber-attacks, but also to protect yourself from online harassment.
How can it help keep you secure?
Cybersecurity awareness is an important part of staying safe online.
With the increasing number of cyber threats, it is essential to be aware
of the dangers and take steps to protect yourself from them.
Cybersecurity awareness involves understanding the risks associated
with using technology and taking the necessary precautions to protect
your data and devices from malicious activities.

4. It also includes being aware of current cyber threats, such as phishing
scams, malware attacks, and data breaches.
This leads to understanding how to identify suspicious websites or
accounts, use secure passwords, and keep your software up-to-date.
In the same way, it is important to learn how to recognize fake profiles
that lure or catfish individuals in order to extort information from them
or threaten to distribute personal content.
By being aware of these risks, you can help keep yourself safe online.
The 3 most important types of online protection you
should know about
There are many ways to stay safe online, but the key is constantly
learning and developing a cybersecurity awareness.
Here are some of the most important tips for protecting your data
First of all, keep your information private:
● Set strong passwords and use a password manager to store
them;
● Use two-factor authentication for your accounts that offer it: you
will need to enter a code sent to your phone or other device before
logging in. This offers an added layer of protection;
● Don’t accept cookies if not necessary. Some 79% of Americans
are concerned about how companies are invading their privacy,
according to the Pew Research Center;

5. ● Hide personal information from your Google account.
Anytime you are online, practicing safe browsing:
● Don't click on links in spam emails or social media posts;
● Keep your software updated;
● Never open attachments from unknown sources unless you know
for sure that they are relevant for you or coming from someone
trusted by you, they may be a phishing attempt;
● Use a virtual private network (VPN) to browse the web privately
when using public Wi-Fi.
Last but not least, be careful what you show online:
● Never share personal information on social media without
verifying who you're talking with first;
● Make sure you understand the information you share online, so
you won't have any regrets later on.

6. By working on these three fronts, you can keep your information safe
while strengthening your defenses if someone tries to violate your
privacy.
Why is cyber security awareness important?
With the rise of digital technologies, cyber criminals have become more
sophisticated and their attacks are becoming increasingly difficult to
detect and prevent.
As a result, it is important for everyone to understand the importance of
cybersecurity awareness and take steps to protect themselves online.
By staying vigilant about cybersecurity threats, individuals can help
protect themselves from becoming victims of cybercrime.
Cybercrime is fundamentally a form of digital and computational
crime, in which actors use computers or the Internet to commit crime.
Accompanying electronic technologies have made it possible for
criminals to commit crimes using these new methods.
According to the report published by Bark, 9.95% of tweens and 20.54%
of teens encountered predatory behaviors from someone online.

7. Last year, there was a 97.5% increase in online enticement reports,
according to NCMEC.
Digital theft is also an example of a cybercrime that an individual can
prevent from becoming a victim.
Examples of digital theft include phishing, virus infection, ransomware,
botnets, and keylogging.
Each threat has different ways for the individual to protect themselves
from falling victim to the crime's occurrence.
CRO Cyber Rights Organization legal and informatic teams investigate
case-by-case every application, to give survivors the best support.
How to create an effective cybersecurity culture in
the workplace?
Cybersecurity is a critical issue that companies need to address in
order to protect their data and assets.

8. Creating an effective cybersecurity culture in the workplace is
essential for any organization that wants to ensure the safety of its data
and systems.
An effective cybersecurity culture requires more than just cybersecurity
awareness.
It also requires active engagement from employees and management
alike.
According to Sophos, 54% of companies don’t consider their IT
departments sophisticated enough to handle advanced cyberattacks.
Companies should create policies and procedures that focus on
educating employees about cyber threats.
They must implement security measures and monitoring for suspicious
activity.

9. In the same way, they have to respond quickly when a breach does
occur.
They should also provide training for staff on how to recognize potential
threats and respond accordingly.
By creating an environment where everyone is aware of the
importance of cybersecurity, companies can reduce the risk of a
successful attack or breach.
Additionally, organizations should also promote a culture of healthy
cybersecurity habits by encouraging employees to report any
suspicious activity they observe or that is reported to them.
By creating a strong cybersecurity culture in the workplace,
organizations can ensure that their data and systems remain secure.
5 steps to take now for improving your
cybersecurity awareness
Cybersecurity awareness is a critical factor in protecting your
organization’s data and systems from malicious actors.
It is important to take proactive steps to ensure that your staff are
aware of the risks associated with the use of technology and how to
mitigate them.
CRO Cyber Rights Organization’s experts train NGOs and
professionals on digital human rights and secure digital
communications, among all.
Here are five steps you can take now to improve your cybersecurity
awareness.

10. Update your passwords and use multi-factor
authentication
According to data collected by Electric, 37% of small businesses have
experienced password hacking.
One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself online
is to update your passwords regularly and use multi-factor
authentication.
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online
accounts by requiring additional verification beyond just a username
and password.
This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your
accounts.

11. Additionally, updating your passwords regularly helps ensure that even if
someone were able to gain access, they wouldn't be able to use the
same password for a long period of time.
Learn how to recognize phishing & malware attacks
Considering the high number of this kind of attack, it is very important to
understand how to act if you become a victim, but also how to prevent it.
Phishing attacks involve malicious actors sending out emails or other
forms of communication.
They appear to come from legitimate sources but are actually designed
to steal personal information or infect computers with malware.
Malware is a type of malicious software that can be used to gain
access to sensitive data, disrupt computer systems, or even take control
of a device.
This is the most common type of cybercrime used to steal information.
This is the first step in many crimes of online violence: the stolen
information is not only used to access accounts or bank accounts, but
also to spy on the victims, their habits and tastes.
In this way, you have a faster and safer way to access their private
lives.
Utilize firewalls and antivirus software for protection
Firewalls and antivirus software are two of the most important tools to
protect your data and personal information from malicious attacks.

12. Firewalls provide a layer of security by blocking unauthorized access to
your network.
Antivirus software scans for malicious files and programs that could be
used to gain access to your system.
Both of these tools are essential for protecting yourself from cyber
threats, so it is important to make sure that you have both installed on
your computer or device.
Utilizing firewalls and antivirus software can help you stay safe from
cyber threats and ensure that your data remains secure.
Back up your data and keep it secure
One of the most effective ways to protect your data is to back it up
regularly and keep it secure.
By backing up your data, you are creating a copy that can be used in
case of an emergency or if the original is lost or damaged.
Additionally, by keeping your data secure with encryption, passwords
and other security measures, you can ensure that only authorized
personnel have access to it.
Stay informed of cybersecurity trends
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and staying informed of the
latest trends is essential in order to protect yourself and your
organization.

13. Cybersecurity threats are constantly changing, and staying ahead of the
curve is key to preventing any potential data breaches or other
malicious attacks.
By staying aware of the current trends in cybersecurity, you can ensure
that your systems are up-to-date with the latest protection methods
available.
Additionally, understanding the most common threats can help you make
more informed decisions when it comes to protecting your data and
networks.
The benefits of investing in cybersecurity training
Investing in cybersecurity awareness training can help organizations
protect their data and systems from malicious actors.
It also helps them stay up to date with the latest security measures to
ensure that their assets are safe and secure.
Cybersecurity training can provide organizations with a number of
benefits:
● Improved employee awareness of security threats;
● Enhanced protection against cyberattacks;
● Better compliance with industry regulations.
With proper training, employees can learn how to recognize potential
threats and take appropriate steps to prevent them from becoming a
reality.
Same thing outside the office: people who are aware of internet danger
and threat, will use it in a more responsible way.

14. CRO Cyber Rights Organization advocates professionals and
organizations to protect their data and fight for the implementation of
every digital human right.
Additionally, investing in cybersecurity training can help organizations
identify weak spots in their security infrastructure and make necessary
changes to strengthen it.
There are many software tools available that can help organizations
achieve these benefits, including cybersecurity awareness training,
antivirus protection and encryption software.
Cybersecurity education provides specialized knowledge about how to
test for vulnerabilities and how to implement a foolproof security strategy.
It is an integral part of the information technology field, as it is necessary
for people to have an in-depth understanding of the concepts in order to
secure their systems effectively.
Conclusions
Cybersecurity awareness is a very important concept in a digital world
that is constantly evolving.
In this guide, we have explained the most important aspects of this
concept to you.
These are the conclusions you can draw:
● Cybersecurity awareness involves understanding the risks
associated with digital communication, online activities, and
technology in general;

15. ● In the third quarter of 2022, the data exposed to breaches was
about 15 million;
● Keeping informations safe, practicing safe browsing and being
careful what you show online are the 3 most important step to take
in account talking about cybersecurity awareness;
● 9.95% of tweens and 20.54% of teens encountered predatory
behaviors from someone online;
● 37% of small businesses have experienced password hacking;
● Investing in cybersecurity training can help organizations protect
their data and systems from malicious actors.
The CRO Cyber Rights Organization is working to create a safe online
world, in which people can surf without risks or problems.
The first step to take is considering that to make the Internet a better
place, it requires the commitment of everybody.