October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. First established in 2004, it has grown into an international effort bringing together public- and private-sector organizations to help everyone stay safer online.
Within the United States, the campaign is co-led by CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance, promoting safer online behavior and cybersecurity best practices.
| With AI making sophisticated cyberattacks easier to create, cybersecurity awareness is more important than ever. But many of the most effective defenses are still surprisingly simple. This year’s message, “Don’t Make It Easy for Them,” emphasizes four basic habits that everyone—including our youngest students—can learn and practice: |
- Use strong passwords and a password manager
- Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA)
- Update your software
- Recognize and report phishing
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is also a great opportunity to bring cybersecurity into your classroom. Here are four ways to participate this October:
- Join the new CSTA Washington Cybersecurity Interest Group which launches on October 1, 2026.
- Encourage your students to participate in the NCCE Cybersecurity Challenge
- Explore CSTA Washington’s cybersecurity education resources at CSTAWA.org.
- Get a CompTIA Security+ Industry Recognized Credential. Access preparation materials anda voucher for a free exam ($439 value) with your Washington state library card.
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it is an essential part of preparing students to live, learn, and work in a world powered by computing.
