Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3729

This page needs to be proofread.

123STA T . 3 709PROCL A M AT I O N84 27 — OCT. 1 , 2009 tion’sgr o w ing dep enden c eonc yb er a nd in f or m ation - re l ated tec h - nologies , co u pled with an increasing threat of malicious cyber attac k s and loss of pri v acy, has given rise to the need for greater security of our digital networks and infrastructures .I n the Information A ge, the very technologies that empower us to create and build also empower those who would disrupt and destroy. D uring N ational C ybersecurity Awareness M onth, we rededicate ourselves to promoting cybersecurity initiatives that ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information, the integrity of e-commerce, and the resilience of digital infrastructures. Cyber attacks and their viral ability to infect networks, devices, and software must be the concern of all Americans. T his month, we high- light the responsibility of individuals, businesses, and governments to work together to improve their own cybersecurity and that of our Na- tion. W e all must practice safe computing to avoid attacks. A key meas- ure of our success will be the degree to which all Americans educate themselves about the risks they face and the actions they can take to protect themselves and our Nation’s digital infrastructure. The Department of H omeland S ecurity ( DHS ) and the F ederal Trade Commission (FTC) support and promote cybersecurity education. B oth the DHS and the FTC have identified basic cybersecurity tips that every computer user should adopt. To learn more about safe computing practices that can help prevent cyber attacks, visit www.onguardonline.gov and www.dhs.gov / cyber. The 21 st century offers our Nation unprecedented opportunities to de- velop new solutions to the challenges we face. Today, technology al- lows Americans to reach across the globe and communicate with fam- ily and friends, customers and colleagues, in distant locations. With this freedom, however, comes heightened responsibility. My Adminis- tration is committed to treating our digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset. P rotecting this infrastructure is a national security pri- ority, and in the process, we will ensure that these networks are com- prehensive, trustworthy, and resilient. Together, we will create a more secure America, where technology can evolve in a protected and pro- ductive environment. N O W, TH ER EFORE, I, BARAC K OBAMA, President of the U nited States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2 0 0 9 as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. I call upon the peo- ple of the United States to recogni z e the importance of cybersecurity and to observe this month with appropriate activities, events, and trainings to enhance our national security and resilience. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- fourth. BARACK OBAMA