The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, recently announced the city’s new cybersecurity initiative, NYC Secure. The initiative will defend New Yorkers from malicious cyber activity on mobile devices, across the public Wi-Fi network. The first phase will include a free city-sponsored smartphone protection app that will help minimize these risks by identifying malicious attacks and warning users of attempts to compromise their device. Users will receive recommended steps to protect themselves, such as disconnecting from a malicious Wi-Fi network, navigating away from a compromised website, or uninstalling a malicious app. The city will also implement a new layer of security for its public Wi-Fi networks, the city’s LinkNYC network, becoming the first city in the world to provide such services to all residents and visitors free of charge.
“Our streets are already the safest of any big city in the country – now we’re bringing that same commitment to protecting New Yorkers into cyberspace,” said mayor de Blasio. “New Yorkers manage so much of their lives online, from paying bills to applying for jobs to engaging with government. NYC Secure will ensure that we’re applying the best and most effective protection efforts to help New Yorkers defend themselves online.”
NYC Cyber Command (NYC3), which leads the City of New York’s cyber defense efforts, is overseeing the development and implementation of NYC Secure.
“In order to stay a step ahead of cyber criminals that are continuously finding new ways to hack devices, we must invest in the safety of the digital lives of our residents,” said Geoff Brown, city-wide chief information security officer and head of NYC Cyber Command. “While no individual is immune to cybersecurity threats, this program will add an extra layer of security to personal devices that often house a huge amount of sensitive data.”
