Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) is an internationally recognized campaign held each October to help the public learn more about the importance of cyber security. The campaign helps Canadians stay secure online by teaching them simple steps to protect themselves and their devices.
On this page
- What is Get Cyber Safe?
- What is Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month)?
- What’s new for Cyber Month 2026?
- Why become a Cyber Month champion in 2026?
- How to participate
- Resources
The best way to raise awareness about cyber security is to have more organizations involved – including yours! Each year Get Cyber Safe picks a cyber security topic or theme to promote for Cyber Month. You can choose to use the resources that reflect the yearly theme or the generic Cyber Month resources. Either way, these resources can help make participating easier. Show your audience that you care about their cyber security by using our Cyber Month resources.
What is Get Cyber Safe?
Get Cyber Safe is a national public awareness campaign created to inform Canadians about cyber security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online. The campaign is led by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE), with advice and guidance from its Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), on behalf of the Government of Canada.
What is Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month)?
Cyber Month is an internationally recognized campaign held every October to inform the public of the importance of cyber security. Get Cyber Safe is the Canadian lead for Cyber Month.
What’s new for Cyber Month 2026?
Want to take part in Cyber Month but prefer not to use Get Cyber Safe’s 2026 theme? Select from our generic resources to help make participating in Cyber Month easier than ever.
The theme for #CyberMonth2026 is Your best defence is you.
In a world powered by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber threats can look more real than ever. Phishing emails and AI-generated scams can make it harder to know what is real and what is not.
The good news is that staying safe online doesn't have to be complicated.
This Cyber Security Awareness Month, we are helping Canadians build simple cyber security habits that can make a big difference. Many cyber incidents can be prevented with everyday actions. These include checking suspicious messages, turning on multi-factor authentication and using strong passwords.
Throughout October, we'll explore practical steps that Canadians can start using right away to better protect their accounts, devices and personal information.
Kick off
Cyber Month is here! This year’s theme, “Your best defence is you,” reminds us that small actions and good cyber security habits can make a big difference. Join Canadians across the country to build stronger defences and help make Canada safer online.
Week 1: Recognize cyber threats
Cyber criminals use tricks to make scams look real, and AI can make those scams harder to spot. This week, learn how to recognize phishing, fake messages and AI-powered scams. You will also learn why it helps to pause and check before you click, reply or share information. Learn more with these resources:
Week 2: Strengthen your defences
Strong passwords, password managers and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are powerful tools for protecting your accounts. This week, discover how these habits can help strengthen your defences and make staying secure easier.
Week 3: Protect your information
Take simple steps to protect your personal information and use online services with confidence. Good cyber security habits can help keep you safer when you bank, shop or use government services online.
- Bank on cyber security
- Phish, vish, smish – how banks are helping Canadians spot digital fraud
- How to avoid becoming the victim of an online shopping scam
- How anyone can become a confident online shopper
- How to stay cyber secure while filing your taxes
Week 3 is also Small Business Week in Canada. Explore these resources for small businesses:
Week 4: Build your cyber security community
Keep using your cyber security habits after Cyber Month and help others do the same. Share what you have learned, talk to loved ones about online threats, and report scams and fraud. These actions can help protect Canadians online.
Why become a Cyber Month champion in 2026?
Champions are key to the success of Cyber Month and the Get Cyber Safe campaign. The more Canadians learn about staying safe online, the more resilient we’ll all be against cyber threats.
The best way to raise awareness about cyber security is to involve more organizations, including yours! Being a Cyber Month champion helps show your audience that you care about their cyber security.
How to participate
- Talk about the importance of Cyber Month with employees within your organization – our internal communication messages can help
- Use our pre-crafted social media and internal communications messages and graphics to engage your audience - they can even be co-branded
- Use our hashtags #CyberMonth2026, #GetCyberSafe, and tag @GetCyberSafe to be a part of the conversation
- Reach out to collaborate, tag us in your posts and share your successes with us!
Resources
Check out our Cyber Month 2026 themed and generic resources!
Thank you for helping to keep Canadians safe online by promoting cyber security!
