Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025

From: Communications Security Establishment Canada

News release

Ottawa, Ontario – October 1, 2025

This October, the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) and its Get Cyber Safe campaign launch Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) 2025 with the theme “Get cyber safe – for future you”.

Cyber Month is an internationally recognized campaign held each October to highlight the importance of cyber security. In Canada, Cyber Month encourages individuals, families and organizations to build strong habits that can help protect them in an evolving and increasingly sophisticated digital landscape.

This year’s theme focuses on the idea that being cyber safe today isn’t just about avoiding risks in the moment – it’s about setting yourself up for success tomorrow. From using a password manager to secure your accounts to enabling automatic updates that prevent future disruptions, the campaign will showcase the everyday benefits of cyber security practices that make life easier when it matters most.

Each week of October, Get Cyber Safe will spotlight a different aspect of cyber security including securing accounts and devices, spotting phishing attempts and forming habits that protect against evolving threats. Canadians are encouraged to explore how small steps taken today can safeguard both their current digital lives and their future selves.

This Cyber Month will explore the following weekly themes:

  • Week 1: Preparing your future self today – Cyber Month begins with a focus on account security. From creating strong passphrases and using password managers, to enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) and protecting social media accounts, Canadians will learn how securing their accounts today can secure their digital future online.
  • Week 2: Bringing your devices up to speed – This week highlights the importance of securing the devices Canadians rely on every day. From smart gadgets to laptops, taking small steps like backing up files and securing networks can ensure devices are ready for anything.
  • Week 3: Cyber threats are evolving – are you? – As cyber threats become more sophisticated, Canadians need to stay informed. This week will explore how to identify and report phishing, vishing and smishing attempts, as well as prepare for the risks posed by sophisticated scams and those enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Week 4: Starting new habits – Building strong cyber security habits is one of the best ways to stay safe online. This week will provide Canadians with practical tips to protect themselves against malware and ransomware which includes knowing how to safely download files, using anti-virus protection and staying alert to evolving threats.
  • Week 5: Staying updated to stay safe – The final week of Cyber Month emphasizes the importance of keeping systems and software up to date. Canadians will learn how timely updates and S.C.R.U.B. best practices (Secure, Curate, Review, Update, Block)  can help them stay secure against evolving threats and prepare for the future.

With partners across the country helping to raise awareness, Canadians will have all the tools they need to build strong cyber security habits today and prepare for whatever challenges tomorrow may bring. The goal of the campaign is to show how small actions taken now can make life and online safety easier for your future self.

Check out the Get Cyber Safe website, which offers important information and resources to Canadians on how to stay secure online in all aspects of their lives, including resources to help improve cyber security habits and prepare for the future.

Quotes

“Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated and affect all of us, from individuals to families to businesses. Cyber Month is a great reminder that staying safe online isn’t optional – it’s essential. By building consistent cyber habits today, Canadians can protect their personal information, devices, and peace of mind all year-long.”

– The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

“At the Cyber Centre, we know cyber threats are complex, but protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be. Even simple steps like keeping devices updated and spotting suspicious messages can make a real difference. This Cyber Month, take some time to learn about the threats we face and how to get cyber safe for future you.”

– Rajiv Gupta, Head of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre)

Quick facts

  • Cyber Month is an internationally recognized campaign held each October to inform people of the importance of cyber security.

  • CSE manages the Get Cyber Safe national public awareness campaign. It delivers key information via its website and various social media channels so Canadians and small-to-medium organizations can help protect their digital landscape and be safe online.

  • The Get Cyber Safe public awareness campaign was established with the simple, but important mission of keeping Canadians safe online.

  • The Get Cyber Safe website offers important information and tools to Canadians so they can stay cyber safe in all aspects of their lives. With information for everyone from parents to small-to-medium organizations, and general guidelines to follow when working from home, Get Cyber Safe has Canadians’ cyber security needs covered. The website also contains an assessment tool that Canadians can use to improve their cyber security habits.

  • The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, as part of CSE, is Canada’s authority on cyber security. With the Cyber Centre as the single unified source of expert advice, guidance, services, and support on cyber security for government, critical infrastructure owners and operations, the private sector and the public, Canadians have a clear and trusted place to turn to for cyber security issues.

  • The Get Cyber Safe Awareness Tracking Survey from 2024 demonstrated that Canadians continue to face cyber threats: 

    • 76% of Canadians say they are most concerned about identity theft and 65% of Canadians are worried about AI-related cyber crime
    • 39% of Canadians don’t know where to get information to prepare themselves against cyber threats
    • In the past year, 28% of Canadians have experienced an email scam and 25% of Canadians say they have been involved in a malware attack

Associated links

Contacts

For more information, please contact (media only):

CSE Media Relations
media@cse-cst.gc.ca

Stay connected
Follow CSE on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on LinkedIn, and follow Get Cyber Safe on the following platforms:

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2025-10-01