Cybersecurity
The term “cybersecurity" refers to taking the steps necessary to protect yourself from criminal or unauthorized use of your private data. The more our lives become digital, the more important cybersecurity becomes, to both New Brunswick consumers and businesses.
Common cyber-threats
Being cyber-safe helps New Brunswickers protect their personal information, such as online banking passwords, social media accounts, and online shopping passwords. These threats can come at you by email, mobile text message, or on social media. Some of the most common threats are phishing and malware, either of which can lead to hacked email accounts, compromised online bank accounts and ransomware victimization (when scammers demand payment in exchange for getting your data back).
New Brunswick individuals
Here’s how you can help protect your computers and mobile phones from hackers:
- Learn about phishing and how to protect against it.
- Make sure the software on your household and mobile devices is up to date. At your office, ask your IT manager if your computer is up to date.
- Strengthen your passwords. A weak password can make you just as vulnerable as having a $100 bill hanging out of your pocket.
- Report any suspicious emails or other unusual activity at work to your IT team. Reporting protects others in your organization.
- Report any suspicious emails you receive at home or on your mobile devices to the company they are supposedly from. Many organizations have a dedicated email address to report phishing attempts.
New Brunswick companies
Knowing about best practices and current trends in cybersecurity risk management helps companies protect their businesses from attacks, and safeguards their customers’ personal information. Most successful cyberattacks are the result of human error—like employees clicking on a link in a phishing email. These mistakes can be costly for both victims and businesses. One careless click can be enough to put small- to medium-sized companies out of business.
Here’s how businesses can help protect themselves and their employees from hackers:
- Perform comprehensive risk assessments.
- Evaluate the strength of existing policies, employee training programs and response plans.
- Build a cybersecurity compliance program, with an emphasis on emerging best practices and the latest trends in cybersecurity preparedness programs.
- Educate your employees about cybersecurity, and how to spot phishing.
If you have been a victim of a cyber threat, or an attempted cyber attack, contact your local police or RCMP.
Notice to Market Participants
Proactive management of cyberrisk is critical to the stability of market participants, market integrity, and consumer and investor protection.
In October 2019, the Commission issued a notice (see below) to its registered or licensed participants regarding cybersecurity. The notice identifies important first steps market participants can take, and includes a simple initial checklist for organizations without a current cybersecurity risk plan or strategy.
Notice regarding cybersecurity risk
Templates
The Commission has also developed the following templates to help market participants strengthen risk-management practices and increase cybersecurity preparedness.