Does the US Need a "See Something, Say Something" Campaign for Cyber?

The federal government must play team leader in upping the country's cybersecurity game, according to a new study. Specifically, Alan Webber, IDC Government Insights research director for global public safety and national security, recommends the government look to Israel's model of security. The government instills in Israelis an awareness of digital threats, much like the way America has made citizens aware of physical threats with "See Something, Say Something” ads at airports, train stations and other public gathering spaces.

The federal government’s “Stop. Think. Connect.” cyberthreat warning, however, does not seem to be entering into the public consciousness. "The United States lacks a cybersecurity-focused culture," Webber said in a report. "The nation of Israel has a very high-level security culture, both physically and digitally." Israel's real-world protections include fences, security patrols and other tangible items. Israel’s digital defenses include "a cultural mindset that is suspicious of unsolicited emails and packages, looks for things out of the ordinary, and is consistently mindful of security,” Webber said. In the United States, citizens lock their doors, install surveillance cameras and call the police to report suspicious activities, he said. But that caution has not transferred into cyberspace, where Americans, largely, do not look out for suspicious e-mail headers, fraudulent websites and other online abnormalities.