East Central Reporter

Rep. Adam Niemerg shared information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, celebrated in October each year. He questioned, "how can you as an individual protect your data when big institutions with cyber security staff can’t even prevent breaches?" in an Oct. 3 Facebook post.

"The dreaded data breach notification letter has just landed in your mailbox," said M Niemerg, State Representative for 102nd District (R), according to Facebook. "So how can you as an individual protect your data when big institutions with cyber security staff can't even prevent breaches?"

According to Niemerg's Facebook post, he shared a link to a Republican Caucus Blog focused on Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The caucus encourages individuals to take four steps to thwart cyber criminals, with tips from the U.S. Government’s Cyber Security & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Screenshot of State Rep. Adam Niemerg's Oct. 3 Facebook post | State Representative Adam Niemerg Facebook page

The first step is recognizing and reporting phishing attempts. Phishing is a tactic used by hackers to get individuals to open emails or links that could infect devices or access personal information. Signs include urgent, emotional appeals, or requests for personal and financial information.

The second recommendation is creating long random passwords and using a password manager to ensure that cyber criminals don’t easily obtain passwords.

Thirdly, they advise using multi-factor authentication to provide another layer of protection and an additional step to confirm identity, usually with a special code only the user receives.

Finally, they suggest updating software often to prevent security risks by ensuring computers and other electronic devices are up-to-date.

October has been declared Cybersecurity Awareness Month since 2004 by the President of the United States and Congressional leaders. It has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to spread awareness of cybersecurity as a concept and encourage the public to reduce their risk while discussing cyber threats, according to CISA. The kickoff for 2024’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month was on Oct. 2.

Niemerg was first elected in 2020. According to his official biography, he describes himself as a "fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes and fighting for limited government and pension reform." He works as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial and holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.