14 DAY TRIAL // Following the data breach that affected up to 110 million customers, Target has decided to invest $5 million (€3.66 million) in a new multi-year cyber security education campaign that’s about to be launched by a number of organizations.
The National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA), the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are supporting the initiative that aims at educating consumers about phishing scams and other types of cybercrime.
“The National Cyber Security Alliance applauds Target's substantial commitment to support education and awareness to make the Internet safer, more secure and trusted,” noted Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance.
“We are excited to work in collaboration with Target and our nonprofit colleagues to create and implement a far reaching campaign to get quality cybersecurity information to internet users. We believe that cybersecurity and online safety can only be achieved through sharing the responsibility and working together. This effort exemplifies that approach.”
Maria Vello, CEO of the NCFTA, commented, “Cyber-crime is increasingly complex and is constantly shifting patterns. It impacts all industry sectors and tech savvy consumers, especially with the evolution of the smart phone, Bring Your Own Device to work, the highly connected world and having an app for everything.”
She added, “Effectively addressing such digital crimes demands a new and collective response. Organizations from the public and private sectors must partner together.”
Additional details on the campaign will be made available after the organizations involved will meet this week in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, Target Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel published an open letter to sum up the steps taken since the data breach.
In addition to the cyber education campaign, Steinhafel has noted that his company will “also accelerate the conversation–among customers, retailers, the financial community, regulators and others–on adopting newer, more secure technologies that protect consumers.”