October not only marks the change of seasons but the start of Cybersecurity Awareness Month as well. The city of Watsonville continues to invest in ensuring our digital safety. We continued work on a multi-year cybersecurity grant project, now approaching its final phase. We have not only improved systems to make them more secure but have also focused on training staff on responding to cyber events and incidents. The city participated in a regional tabletop exercise that allowed us to work with neighboring agencies during a mock incident. This strengthens our response strategies both locally and regionally and helps build communication channels for sharing information on emerging threats.
New technologies such as AI are evolving quickly and although they offer many positive benefits and opportunities for improvement, they are also unfortunately a tool that can be abused for malicious purposes. Malicious actors can use AI to craft very convincing phishing emails, text messages and even voice and video. By practicing good cyber hygiene and following some simple tips, you can protect yourself from cybercriminals. Here are some simple tips for staying safe online:
• Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts.
• Use multi-factor authentication where you can, especially for email, banking and social media.
• Update your software and devices; this helps minimize cyber risk.
• Back up important info to a safe place.
• Be cautious with unexpected phone calls, texts and emails from unknown senders.
With the holiday season around the corner, cybercriminals and scammers will be actively looking for opportunities to scam, steal money and personal information. These scams can look official and urgent, posing as delivery notifications, bank alerts or even government contacts.
If you receive a suspicious message or call:
• Slow down and avoid giving out info or clicking links.
• Go directly to a trusted source like the official website, customer service number or physical location.
• Watch for signs of a scam: bad grammar, pressure to act quickly or requests for gift cards or money.
• Talk to someone you trust before acting.
And remember, if you’ve been targeted or even fallen for a scam, you’re not alone. These attacks can happen to anyone. What’s important is to report it and help prevent someone else from becoming a victim. You can file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. When we all take small steps to stay safe online, we help protect each other and the community we care about.
As a city, we take the utmost responsibility of protecting our residents’ information with the care and effort it deserves. Our IT department is passionately invested in best practices surrounding cybersecurity. While embracing innovation and the use of technology, we continuously work and commit to make our city government accessible and responsive to all.
Kristal Salcido is the mayor of Watsonville.
