ARCHIVED - An Open Letter to Canadians on Cyber Security Awareness

Our day-to-day lives have become entwined with the online world, and being secure online has never been more important.

As Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, helping Canadians understand the kinds of risks they face online and how to protect themselves is a priority.

After all, our country has become one of the biggest users of the internet in the world. But there is a darker side to that success. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in Canada, and it has been estimated that over two-thirds of Canadian adults have been subject to cyber-crime – up to seven million in the past twelve months aloneFootnote 1.

Small and medium-sized businesses account for about 98 per cent of Canadian business and employ nearly five million CanadiansFootnote 2. These businesses and their customers are a growing target for cyber criminals.

Our Government is working hard, through Canada's Cyber Security Strategy, to help industry and critical Government infrastructure protect their systems, and to help Canadians stay safe online.

The Get Cyber Safe public awareness campaign is a key component of our Cyber Security Strategy, and its aim is to provide Canadians with the simple information they need to stay safe.

As October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, I hope all Canadians will take some extra time this month to learn how to stay safe online.

I would encourage all Canadians to start with the easy step of visiting www.getcybersafe.gc.ca and getting informed of the risks and simple things they can do to protect themselves and their families on line.

I hope you will join me in staying safe and secure online.

The Honourable Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Date modified:

2015-12-02