Faced with the increase in cyber threats, the Government is extending the SensCyber system to businesses and individuals. Free, this e-awareness program allows you to train yourself on the risks and good practices of the Web.
While digital technology is taking a growing place in our daily lives, even if only for everything administrative (digital identity cards and driving licenses, online taxes, etc.), cyberattacks and hacking of all kinds multiply like rabbits, exposing us to new dangers every day. Especially since the techniques of cybercriminals continue to evolve, the latter showing persistent creativity. Also, Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, the platform of the Public Interest Group action against cybermalveillance created in 2017, launched SensCyber in 2023, an e-awareness program aimed at five million public sector agents, who are the first exposed to this type of attack. The objective was to adapt the existing resources of Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr to make them accessible to the greatest number of agents and in an interactive format.
But public officials are not the only ones to be targeted by hackers. Nine out of ten French people have already been victims of at least one cyber threat. Individuals are most often hit by phishing (38%), then account hacking (17%) and fake technical support scam (10%). Note that fake bank advisor scams are increasing sharply (+78% in one year). On the business side, account takeover is in first position (24%), followed by phishing (21%) and ransomware attacks (17%). Also, Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr has decided to extend its SensCyber system, completely free, to the general public and to employees of French VSEs and SMEs in order to raise awareness of digital risks among the entire population.
SensCyber: e-awareness for all
SensCyber is available in two versions: one for communities and, now, one for VSE-SME employees and the general public. Completely free, the e-awareness module is accessible to all, on the website Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr. To access it, simply create an account on the platform and start completing the three modules offered (“Understand”, “Act”, “Transmit”). Each of them meets an educational objective:
- Understand the general principles of the most common cyberattacks and the risks they pose for the individual, in the private and professional sphere;
- Act to validate and adopt basic good practices in our daily uses (mobile phones, social networks, etc.) as well as in terms of “digital hygiene”;
- Understand the interest and the way of transmitting these values, both in a private and professional context, taking into account the porosity of uses. Identify public actors to contact in the event of attacks, to receive and support them as best as possible.
There are theoretical activities, generally in the form of short videos and infographics, and practical quizzes built around the most important threats to recreate known situations, such as phishing attempts or best practices and cyber reflexes to adopt. Developed in a short format with a duration ranging from 25 to 45 minutes, these three modules will allow all users to familiarize themselves in a short time with the challenges of cybersecurity. Once the three modules have been completed, SensCyber issues a follow-up certificate. In short, it’s all good!