As state employees - and citizens, the safety of the information on your computer, both at work and at home, should be cause for heightened concern.  As technology develops, so do the tools of potential hackers, identity thieves, cyber bullies, and other undesirables.  A cybercrime incident - in the form of computer intrusions, malware or viruses - can lead to loss of important state information, personal financial loss and even loss of intellectual property.

There are many ways a hacker can attack you, with the vast majority of attacks coming through a method called social engineering. These attacks come through email, through websites, through social media outlets, and through the use of instant messaging tools. Attackers can also use phishing scams to trick you into installing bad programs or providing them with your personal information. They're also actively searching the internet for computer systems with software vulnerabilities to exploit.   

In addition to taking normal precautions, such as visiting only trusted websites, avoiding pop-up ads, and securing your computers and mobile phones when not in use, getting educated on cyber-attack methods is a good idea.