The Honourable David J. McGuinty
Minister of National Defence
October 1, 2026
“Cyber threats are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, and they can affect anyone. As cybercriminals continue to find new ways to target people and organizations – including by using artificial intelligence to create more convincing phishing messages and scams – every Canadian has a role to play in staying safe online.
“Today marks the start of the Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) in Canada. Led by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) through its Get Cyber Safe campaign, Cyber Month is an opportunity for Canadians to strengthen the habits that help protect their account, devices and personal information.
“This year’s theme ‘Your best defence is you’ is an important reminder that being cyber secure does not mean becoming an expert. Simple actions can make a real difference: pause before responding to a suspicious message, use strong and unique passwords, and turn on multi-factor authentication.
“Throughout October, Get Cyber Safe will share practical advice and resources to help Canadians recognize cyber threats, strengthen their defences, protect their information and build a stronger cyber security community. I encourage everyone to use these resources, share what they learn with family and friends, and help others recognize and report scams and fraud.
“Cyber security is a shared responsibility. Governments and organizations have an important role to play, but each of us contributes to Canada’s collective resilience through the choices we make online.
“By staying informed, building strong cyber security habits and helping those around us do the same, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and the digital services we rely on every day – and build a safer, more secure and resilient Canada together.”
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