The world can be just as much of a marvelous place, as it can be a dangerous one. And the same can be said about the online one, where you need to focus on your safety just as much but in a different way. For those wondering how to approach this, make sure to keep reading as we’ll be covering everything you need to know about cybersecurity.
The Importance of Staying Informed
As we become increasingly reliant on technology, more of us are spending extended periods of time online and attached to one device or another. Thus, it’s safe to say that our lives are intrinsically becoming more tied to the digital space. This means that cybersecurity is an area that all of us should understand thoroughly to avoid any threats or issues.
But this isn’t just about learning about current issues that you may encounter and how to protect yourself from them. In fact, we can learn a lot from past cybersecurity concerns, allowing you to potentially predict future ones. For instance, it’s clearly known that as technology evolves, older devices and software are more prone to attacks.
We will continue seeing this happen in our lifetime, with a prominent example of this found in a relatively new mainstream advancement in fintech – cryptocurrency. Right now, crypto is considered to be more secure than traditional currencies and payment methods. However, this is going to change once quantum computers become the new norm.
This is chiefly due to the fact that quantum computers will be able to hack through current common encryption algorithms like RSA, ECDSA, and ECDH. By exploring quantum computing and cryptocurrency, we can see how an advancement in one sector can directly impact the security of another. As it stands, there’s already a potential fix in the form of cloud-based quantum-proof encryption, which is expected to be a larger focus in the coming years.
Of course, cryptocurrency is just one example where the current encryption methods may fail, this will impact other industries outside of fintech and banking. From social media platforms to messengers to even government agencies, everything could be at risk.
Ultimately, this cements the fact that regardless of how secure something currently is, this can quickly change at a moment’s notice. Regardless if this is a future cybersecurity concern or not, as they say, forewarned is forearmed. Thus, by staying informed regarding any advancement, you can arm yourself with the knowledge you need to avoid unsavory situations.
Common Cybersecurity Threats
Even if you’re just a casual internet user, cybersecurity threats can still impact you. The most common threat that you might already be aware of is phishing scams. For those who haven’t encountered this term, this is used to describe hackers who pretend to be a trustworthy source.
The aim of such scams is to steal sensitive information, from personal to financial data. These typically come in the form of misleading emails or texts that lead you to a fraudulent site. From there, they’ll require you to input confidential details.
Malware is another popular method to achieve this. Through malicious software, usually gained by downloading something or opening a compromised link, you’ll be faced with data loss and/or further unauthorized access to your details.
This typically goes hand-in-hand with ransomware, where hackers will request a ransom to be paid to either be able to access your data or return it. Malware also typically encompasses other threats such as trojans, spyware, viruses, cryptojacking, and more.
Prevention Measures for Individuals and Their Devices
The first few things you can do are also the simplest ways to protect yourself. Starting by ensuring that every account you have has a unique and strong password. While we understand it can be challenging to memorize all of these passwords, there are tools like password managers out there that can help you with this concern.
Whenever possible, make sure to enable two-factor authentication, as this will add another layer of protection to your accounts. Apart from this, you should also keep all of your devices and software up-to-date. These updates typically also have security and bug patches that will make you less easy to hack.
Avoid connecting to public WiFis whenever possible, as it is very easy for attackers to intercept your data. Investing in a VPN can help with this though, along with installing a reliable antivirus, even on your phone. Both can act as a sort of shield against various attacks and threats.
We’d also suggest taking a look at all of the information you share online and making sure to remove anything that could be used against you or limit what is visible through privacy settings. Finally, keep an eye on your account for any unusual activity such as logins from devices that don’t belong to you.
Conclusion
Taking the steps to educate yourself on a new topic, especially one as important as cybersecurity, may seem daunting at first but is extremely useful. So, now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the right information, make sure to apply all of our tips to keep your digital life secure.
