WHEREAS, many citizens, schools, libraries, businesses and other organizations use the Internet  for a variety of tasks, including keeping in contact with family and friends, managing finances, conducting research, enhancing education and conducting business; and

WHEREAS, critical sectors are increasingly reliant on information systems to support financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, health care, and emergency response systems; and

WHEREAS, Internet users and our information infrastructure face an increasing threat of malicious attack by viruses and loss of privacy from spyware and adware; and

WHEREAS, each year there are significant financial and personal privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud; and

WHEREAS, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) was established in January 2003 to provide a collaborative mechanism to help states and local governments enhance cyber security; and

WHEREAS, there are national organizations, such as the non-profit National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), policymakers, government agencies, private sector companies, and non-profit entities helping consumers, businesses, educational leaders and our youth to protect themselves online; and

WHEREAS, each one of us plays an important role in securing our cyberspace; awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of Nevada information infrastructure and economy; and

WHEREAS, the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the National Cyber Security Alliance have declared October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim October, 2008, as

CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH