Cybersecurity Checklist for Municipalities

Check out the latest Cybersecurity Checklist to keep your municipality safe. 

The Mississippi Office of Homeland Security Grant

The Mississippi Office of Homeland Security's State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program grant application needs to be completed ASAP! State and local entities are encouraged to complete the attached survey and interest form to receive a portion of the $6.7 million available to combat the ever-increasing number of cybersecurity risks. Contact mohsgrants@dps.ms.gov for more information! Also, check out the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Awareness website where you can find some great information to help your municipality excel. 

 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Updates

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a new dedicated webpage with cybersecurity resources to support communities at heightened risk of digital security threats. CISA has different resources and tools that can help your municipality so be sure to check out their services tab to see what all they offer. If you have any questions about what CISA provides to municipalities, please contact Greg Mallette at, william.mallette@cisa.dhs.gov. Greg is the State Cybersecurity Coordinator for Mississippi.

Cybersecurity Update

The links below can all be used to help your municipality.

• Insider Update
• Importance of Good Cybersecurity Practices 
• Beware of Phishing Emails and Suspicious Links 
• Security Reminder for Annual Conference

What Cyber Scams to Look Out for in Your Organization

Cyber scams are scams that happen online. It could be things like weird emails and websites, or fake accounts on social media. Cyber scammers may contact you via email, text, or phone call and will often pretend to be someone or someone in an organization that you trust. Here is a look at a few different cyber scams that may appear often in 2024.

1. AI-Enhanced Scams

• In an organization, AI-Enhanced Scams involve the usage of artificial intelligence to target organizations or establishments. These scams may appoint AI to create phishing emails that mimic internal communication, create fake invoices or documents that look valid, or even manage facts to lie to employees or decision-makers. Essentially, AI is used to make the scams extra powerful at infiltrating or defrauding your organization.

 2. Government Account Takeover Scams

• Government Account Takeover Scams are schemes where scammers gain unauthorized access to government-associated accounts. They do this through a number of methods like phishing emails, malware, or social engineering. Once they have access to the account, they may steal sensitive information, commit fraud, or maybe impersonate government officials to perform scams. These scams can bring about financial loss and identity theft for people and pose dangers to the safety of government structures.

3. QR Code Scams

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of QR codes grew a tremendous amount. A recent study shows that there was a 587% rise in attacks between August and September of 2023. QR Code Scams involve scammers creating malicious QR Codes that when scanned, they lead people to websites, apps, or forms designed to steal personal information, install malware, or imitate financial transactions without the person's consent. These scams can happen through fake advertisements, phishing emails, or fraudulent stickers placed over legitimate QR Codes. 

4. Job Listing Scams

• Job Listing Scams are fake advertisements or postings that appear to offer legitimate employment opportunities. In these scams, scammers often pose as employers or recruiters and use fake job listings to trick people into providing personal information such as, social security numbers, bank account details, or to make payments for fake training or equipment. The jobs usually don't exist at all, or they may involve illegal activities. Overall, job listing scams prey on the trust and desperation of job seekers, leading to finical loss and identity theft. Make sure to do research on a job or company before applying especially if it seems too good to be true.