The City of Pocatello is joining forces with the Department of Homeland Security and agencies across the nation to let residents know about the importance of cybersecurity and online safety. During the month of October, the City of Pocatello Information Technology department will be working to educate people on how they can protect themselves on the Internet as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. According to Chris Sorensen, Chief Information Officer with the City of Pocatello, cybersecurity is everyone’s job. “What you do online can impact not only your own security but others as well,” Sorensen said. “We all need to understand the risks and learn how to spot problem areas. We all have an obligation to protect our identities online.” To protect yourself online, Sorensen and the Department of Homeland Security have these tips: • Set strong passwords with eight or more characters and a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols • Don’t share passwords with anyone • Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates • Limit the amount of personal information you share online • Use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely • Be cautious about what you receive or read online; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is For more on what you can do to protect yourself online, visit the City of Pocatello Information Technology department’s Facebook page.