October is National Crime Prevention Month, National Bullying Prevention Month and Cyber Security Awareness Month. These national observances spread awareness about prevention and personal safety among millions of Americans. Lone Star Legal Aid contributes to the safety of families and communities in Texas and Southwest Arkansas. Our Crime Victim Unit represents, educates, and advocates for victims of crime. LSLA also provides social services for clients that need additional help or recovery resources.
When you think of crime prevention, you might think safety lies in the hands of law enforcement, but it is important for all individuals to stay vigilant and know how to plan and protect themselves from victimization. You can be victimized online, in-person or through a third party. Each week of October is dedicated to different aspects of crime prevention such as awareness of cybercrime, violent crimes, bullying, crimes against children, firearm safety, and fraud etc.
National Bullying Prevention Month
October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. It’s a month-long observance addressing the prevention of bullying, raising awareness, and educating parents, students, and the community on bullying and cyberbullying. Bystanders are essential to bullying prevention. If you are a teacher or educator, you can address bullying at school. Educators create a safe space and classrooms for positivity, inclusiveness, and respect. Support your community by being a role model. You can encourage and inspire others to be kind. Providing positive reinforcement to children and teenagers can help protect them from bullying or being a bully.
Cyber Security Awareness Month
Cyber Security is a collaboration between the government and organizations to raise awareness about digital security and to encourage everyone to protect their personal data from digital forms of crime. This is an opportunity to create a list of resources and communications about ways to tighten security on your personal information. Again, you might think of big companies having data breaches and that this couldn’t happen to you, well, think again. Small businesses, employees and individuals can be scammed online at any time.
How to stay safe online
Hackers are getting more comfortable coming up with ways to target everyone. It can take one click to hack into your personal information and steal your data or identity. Here are the four most important ways to stay safe online.
- Use a strong password and don’t use the same password for all accounts;
- Recognize and report phishing;
- Update your software or ask your IT department to install virus protections; and
- Turn on multifactor authentication.
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Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
