Every year since 2019, the Canadian government’s national cryptologic agency, Communications Security Establishment (CSE) works with its creative AOR Banfield to incorporate cyber safety into holiday traditions.
Past campaigns have meshed cyber safety with themes of holiday cheer, like cyber safe gift tags, a festive yule firewall channel, and a gingerbread home network kit.
Past campaigns have meshed cyber safety with themes of holiday cheer, like cyber safe gift tags, a festive yule firewall channel, and a gingerbread home network kit.
This year the Ottawa agency came up with the “Get Cyber Safe Holiday Album,” to get Canadians to pay attention to actionable advice.
The proportion of Canadians who experienced cyber security incidents increased from 58% in 2020 to 70% in 2022, according to Statistics Canada, and CSE says that number increases over the holidays when people are often too distracted by celebrations to be vigilant of the threats. Common vulnerabilities during the festive season include unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks during travel, new devices, more online shopping and an increase in scams.
The “Get Cyber Safe Holiday Album” campaign includes two videos for owned OLV and social channels–renditions of classic Christmas carols revised to give cyber security advice, accompanied by colourful graphics. “Two Factor Authentication” for example is sung to the tune of Deck the Halls, while “We Wish You’d Use Strong Passwords” is a version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Activities were also set up in malls in Vancouver and Montreal Dec 9-10, with gift-wrapping stations for electronics and accompanying cyber safety Christmas carols. When shoppers stopped by to get their electronic gifts wrapped, they noticed the paper also offered advice on how to secure their new devices. The activation included a giveaway contest for recipients to win a record player, and the actual Get Cyber Safe Holiday Album on vinyl.
“By finding new ways to inject cyber security into Canadians' holiday traditions, they can stay cyber safe while keeping their holiday cheer high,” Banfield’s partner and creative director Timothy Jones, told The Message. To give this year’s message more longevity, the CSE has introduced a new holiday on Dec 27, “Unboxing Day,” in which Canadians can quietly open their new electronics after Boxing Day has passed, and set them up safely without distraction. Tips on how to celebrate Unboxing Day can be found on the Get Cyber Safe website.
