DPS NEWS

WHY IS CYBERSECURITY IMPORTANT?  Cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unlawful access or criminal use and the practice of guaranteeing confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. Communication, transportation, shopping, and medicine are just some of the things that rely on computers systems and the Internet now. Much of your personal […]

CYBERSECURITY STARTS WITH YOU  Every time you use the Internet, you face choices related to your security. Friends can be selected, links clicked, websites accessed, and wireless networks can be joined. Your security and the security of the nation depends on making secure online decisions. Making the Internet more safe and secure requires all of […]

 DID YOU KNOW?  • Human error accounts for 95% of all cybersecurity breaches 1  • 77% of organizations do not have a cybersecurity plan 2  HOW DO I APPROACH CYBERSECURITY AS A BUSINESS, SCHOOL, OR INDIVIDUAL?  As cyber-attacks and their consequences grow, the imperative for cybersecurity and resilience is becoming increasingly important, not just to […]

 Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerabilities for criminals to use to attack. Phishing emails may appear to come from a […]

Today’s technology allows us to connect around the world, to bank and shop online, and to control our televisions, homes, and cars from our smartphones. With this added convenience comes an increased risk of identity theft and Internet scams. #BeCyberSmart on the Internet—at home, at school, at work, on mobile devices, and on the go.  […]

 CREATING A PASSWORD  Creating a strong password is a critical step to protecting yourself online. Using long, complex passwords is one of the easiest ways to defend yourself from cybercrime. No one is immune to cyber risk, but #BeCyberSmart and you can minimize your chances of an incident.  SIMPLE TIPS  • Use a long passphrase. […]

Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation. Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure everyone in the Nation has the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.  DO YOUR PART. […]

The Internet touches almost all aspects of our daily lives. We are able to shop, bank, connect with family and friends, and handle our medical records all online. These activities require you to provide personally identifiable information (PII) such as your name, date of birth, account numbers, passwords, and location information. #BeCyberSmart when sharing personal […]

 MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION  Have you noticed how often security breaches, stolen data, and identity theft are consistently front-page news these days? Perhaps you, or someone you know, are a victim of cyber criminals who stole personal information, banking credentials, or more. As these incidents become more prevalent, you should consider using multi-factor authentication, also called strong […]

 PROTECTING YOUR DIGITAL HOME  More of our home devices—including thermostats, door locks, coffee machines, and smoke alarms—are now connected to the Internet. This enables us to control devices on our smartphones which can save us time and money while providing convenience and even safety. These advances in technology are innovative and intriguing, however they also […]

 SOCIAL MEDIA CYBERSECURITY  Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive and “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart”? Take these simple […]

National Cyber Security Alliance encourages individuals to “Own Your Privacy” by learning more about how to protect their valuable data online Data Privacy Day is a global effort — taking place annually on January 28th — that generates awareness about the importance of privacy, highlights easy ways to protect personal information and reminds organizations that […]

You have the power to stop misinformation and disinformation. As part of a national initiative to protect the integrity and security of the 2020 election, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working with national partners to build resilience to election interferences, particularly information activities (e.g., disinformation, misinformation). The Department […]

Governor Herbert has declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Utah. The line between our online and offline lives is indistinguishable. In these tech-fueled times, our homes, societal well-being, economic prosperity, and nation’s security are impacted by the internet. The overarching theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2020 is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”  The theme empowers […]

Why do online shoppers have to take special precautions? The internet offers convenience not available from other shopping outlets. You can search for items from multiple vendors, compare prices with a few mouse clicks, and make purchases from your home. However, the internet is also convenient for attackers, giving them multiple ways to access the personal […]

DPS’ Statewide Information and Analysis Center has seen a recent spike in gift card scams both in Utah and nationwide. This scam is typically a Business Email Compromise (BEC) variant, as cyber criminals will impersonate a senior level employee and ask a subordinate to hurry and get them a gift card because they are in […]

Utah’s Consumer Protection Division is reporting a significant uptick in spear fishing scams. These scams are more common and effective right now because people are home more than usual and also tuned in to helping others in serious financial need more than usual. WHAT ARE SPEAR FISHING SCAMS These scams are done via impersonation of […]

Gift cards are for gifts, NOT payments. Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you. That’s because gift cards are like cash: if you buy a gift card and someone uses it, you probably cannot get your money back. […]

Online Shopping is On The Rise According to the National Retail Federation, almost 70 million consumers shopped online on Cyber Monday alone. So Are Consumer Losses to Online Shopping Scams Better Business Bureau data shows that consumers lost $4.7 million in 2018 to online shopping scams. In 2017, the number was $2.3 million and in […]

The Internet touches almost all aspects of our daily lives. We are able to shop, bank, connect with family and friends, and handle our medical records all online. These activities require you to provide personally identifiable information (PII) such as your name, date of birth, account numbers, passwords, and location information. #BeCyberSmart when sharing personal […]

Today’s technology allows us to connect around the world, to bank and shop online, and to control our televisions, homes, and cars from our smartphones. With this added convenience comes an increased risk of identity theft and Internet scams. #BeCyberSmart on the Internet—at home, at school, at work, on mobile devices, and on the go. […]

More and more of our home devices— including thermostats, door locks, coffee machines, and smoke alarms—are now connected to the Internet. This enables us to control our devices on our smartphones, no matter our location, which in turn can save us time and money while providing convenience and even safety. These advances in technology are […]

Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive to stay safe online and, “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.”? […]

The Internet touches almost all aspects of our daily lives. We are able to shop, bank, connect with family and friends, and handle our medical records all online. These activities require you to provide personally identifiable information (PII) such as your name, date of birth, account numbers, passwords, and location information. #BeCyberSmart when sharing personal […]

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses in order to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerability to attacks. Phishing emails may appear to come from a real financial […]

 Businesses face significant financial loss when a cyber attack occurs. In 2018, the U.S. business sector had the largest number of data breaches ever recorded: 571 breaches. (Identity Theft Resource Center, “2018 End-of-Year Data Breach Report”, 2018. ) Cybercriminals often rely on human error—employees failing to install software patches or clicking on malicious links—to gain access […]

 Internet of Things (IoT) or smart devices refers to any object or device that is connected to the Internet. This rapidly expanding set of “things,” which can send and receive data, includes cars, appliances, smart watches, lighting, home assistants, home security, and more. #BeCyberSmart to connect with confidence and protect your interconnected world.  WHY SHOULD […]

Creating a strong password is an essential step to protecting yourself online. Using long and complex passwords is one of the easiest ways to defend yourself from cybercrime. No citizen is immune to cyber risk, but #BeCyberSmart and you can minimize your chances of an incident. SIMPLE TIPS TO SECURE IT. Creating a strong password […]

SIMPLE TIPS TO SECURE IT. Have you noticed how often security breaches, stolen data, and identity theft are consistently front-page news these days? Perhaps you, or someone you know, are a victim of cyber criminals who stole personal information, banking credentials, or more. As these incidents become more prevalent, you should consider using multi-factor authentication, also […]

The line between our online and offline lives is indistinguishable. In these tech-fueled times, our homes, societal well-being, economic prosperity and nation’s security are impacted by the internet. Under the overarching theme of  ‘Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.’, the 16th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is focused on encouraging personal accountability and proactive behavior in […]

Data Privacy Day, January 28th, is led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and is the signature event in a greater privacy awareness and education effort. Year-round, NCSA educates consumers on how they can own their online presence and shows organizations how privacy is good for business. NCSA’s privacy awareness campaign is an integral component […]

It’s not just the responsibility of governments or CEO’s of large corporations that need to worry about cybercrime. Everyone has a part to play including the average person with a smart-phone. Five tips on cybersecurity for the average person. Top Tips Keep a clean machine. Regularly scan devices for viruses, spyware, keep software up to […]

In May of 2018 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released the IC3 2017 Internet Crime Report. The IC3 stands for the Internet Crimes Complaint Center. It was established in 2000 and has received a total of 4,063,933 complaints since its inception.  The IC3 is a clearinghouse for criminal Internet activity and receives over 800 […]

SITUATIONAL REPORT: ATTEMPTS INVOLVING CORRECT USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS IN UTAH The Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC) has received an increase of complaints of phishing scams involving correct usernames and passwords listed in the email. Summary The Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC) has received an increase of complaints of spear-phishing scams involving the victim’s […]

Commissioner Keith D. Squires, Colonel Brian Redd and Major Tyler Kotter recently attended the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA) conference in Phoenix, Arizona on May 7-9, 2018. The majority of states sent leaders who oversee state-level criminal investigative agencies to Phoenix for three days of training on cutting edge topics in law enforcement […]

This week Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Keith Squires will be in San Francisco, California for the 2018 RSA Conference. RSA brings the world’s top experts in cybersecurity together. There, Commissioner Squries will participate in a panel discussion on ‘Emerging Strategic and Structural Trends in State Cybersecurity’. Other panelist include Timothy Blute with the […]

It only took five days for an invisible criminal to destroy Jake’s life. Jake was a promising young college student. Generous, thoughtful and a prankster. The Utah native met what he thought was a girl online. She asked for a nude photo. He sent her one. And that’s when his nightmare began. Such cases underscores […]

The Department of Public Safety and Commissioner Keith Squires were highlighted by the New York Times for their efforts in cyber crime. Read more about why it is critical for businesses and the public to report cyber offenses. “Utah’s chief law enforcement officer was deep in the fight against opioids when he realized that a […]

The Department of Public Safety’s Cyber Crime Unit is made up of agents from two of its divisions: State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC). In partnership with the FBI, DPS agents work together as one to combat cyber crimes that affect businesses, state entities and members of our […]

In the premiere episode of CYBER24, Department of Public Safety’s Sgt. Jeff Plank discusses some of the top cyber security threats of 2017. To listen to the full podcast and subscribe to future CYBER24 podcasts, click here.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance understands that many states and communities need support in helping ensure information systems are designed to identify, prepare for, prevent and respond to cyber threats and incidents. Utah is a leader across the nation in building cyber resilience and the Police Executive Research Forum published an […]

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance understands that many states and communities need support in helping ensure information systems are designed to identify, prepare for, prevent and respond to cyber threats and incidents. Utah is a leader across the nation in building cyber resilience and the Police Executive Research Forum published an […]

Cyber-crime is on everyone’s minds today after this weekend’s worldwide ransomware attacks. While Utah was not hit specifically during this weekend’s strikes, we do see ransomware hitting Utah families and businesses on a regular basis. The victims we serve always wish they’d taken preventative steps to decrease their risk. These include: always conduct the updates […]

On Friday, April 7, 2017, the Utah Highway Patrol became aware of a telephone scam that is being generated from one of the Utah Highway Patrol phone numbers (435) 655-3445. The Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crime Unit is currently investigating the origin of the phone calls. Please be aware of […]