With advancements in technology, our lives are moving more and more into the digital realm every day. We rely on our devices to communicate with friends and family, access entertainment, pay bills online and shop for groceries or clothes without leaving the comfort of our home. Covid-19 had a significant role in making us realize just how much we rely on technology and digitization.
However, this reliance also leaves us vulnerable to cybercriminals who see these devices as an easy opportunity for financial gain through identity theft or fraud.
As technology becomes more advanced, cybercriminals become even more sophisticated at their craft. It has never been a better time to be proactive about keeping your information safe and secure online.
This article discusses four reasons why you should take cyber security seriously right now:
Contents
Boom in Cyberattacks
The most important network in the 21st century, known as “5G”, faces unprecedented challenges to its security. The increase of cyber vulnerabilities for software will only make it more difficult for organizations to adapt how they secure themselves against these attacks. This is because previously, there were never so many networks or systems connected on such a global scale.
The number of IoT devices is growing exponentially, with estimates that there will be around 200 billion connected devices by 2020. This creates a unique cyber security risk. These networks are vulnerable to attack without human intervention or knowledge. Thus, this poses an increasing global threat in today’s world, where automation has become increasingly popular for many reasons, including better efficiency and cost-effectiveness over traditional methods.
The need for cybersecurity experts is increasing because of the need to tackle online scammers and hackers. I.T Professionals who have a jobare growing their knowledge via masters in cyber security online to handledifferent aspects of the field. These may include Identity and access management (IAM), Firewalls, Endpoint protection, Anti Malware and Intrusion prevention/detection systems (IPS/IDS).
Massive Damages to Businesses
There has been a massive increase in hacks and breaches of famous companies such as Microsoft, Zoom, MGM Resorts, and Twitter in recent years. This causes millions of dollars worth in damages for the company to recover its data. It can ultimately lead to C-level executives and associates losing their jobs because of the failure to protect confidential information.
Businesses may go bankrupt in a matter of 24 hours if they are not careful with their data. Moreover, hackers may leak useful client and customer information which will cause businesses to lose their integrity. Customers may even sue the company for having weak security that resulted in the exposure of confidential information,
Facebook had over $540 million worth of user records exposed to Amazon’s cloud computing service. Equifax was also hacked, resulting in the exposure of some 147 million consumers’ data! The costs for these hacks are mounting up fast; recent estimates place them at around 439 Million dollars.
The rise in Personal Security Threats
Identity theft has become increasingly common. Hackers steal personal information, usually for profit, by selling it to third parties or governments in secret deals. Personal data also proves helpful when they want to hack into your bank account. It’s always important to be aware and report any email that appears suspicious. Must use computer security policy to ensure that your data is safe and secure.
In some cases, hackers use their victims’ stolen data to extort money from family members or former partners. It’s easy for anyone to end up losing all of their money in an instant. You might think that only happens because people don’t use secure passwords or keep track of what they’re spending online. However, hackers can pretend that this information is needed when really nothing will be stopping them from draining every last penny from your bank account. Even if you are checking your balance regularly, those withdrawals will continue!
Furthermore, the security camera system can be a target for hackers too. They will often try to break into these devices to access personal information like photos and videos to help them steal your identity or take something valuable.
Ring cameras are popular these days. They are easy-to-use, small enough not to draw attention and come with an affordable price tag.
Hacking Tools and Dark Web
The world is changing at a very rapid pace. The threat of hackers breaking into your system or the data on your computer can be more than just stressful. It’s downright terrifying. People can easily find multiple hacking tools on the internet. This means that amateur cybercriminals might use them to try and launch attacks against your data or business systems.
You’ve heard about the dark web, but what is it? The internet has created an entire secret collaboration of websites accessed only through specialized browsers. This hidden community hosts several illegal operations and unlawful activities, including human trafficking for money.
The dark web is said to be a haven for hackers and cybercriminals. The risk of being a victim of these hacking schemes has become more prevalent in our society. All thanks to the content and feasibility for hackers on these online black markets. These include ransom attacks that can lock your system until you pay the ransom amount. Hackers may extract encryption keys during password recovery attempts and threaten to upload obscene content unless you adhere to their demands.
Also read: 6 Ways Technology Is Reshaping The Self Storage Industry
Final Thoughts
The need for cyber security has never been higher. Every individual must take the time to educate themselves about how they can protect their personal information, data and devices from hackers.
Technology undoubtedly has its perks, and it has made life easier for everyone. However, it does not come without threats. Every business owner needs to employ a highly skilled professional to overcome these risks. On the other hand, people need to be more careful when giving away information or using password verification codes.
There has never been a greater need to invest in protecting our computers and other devices against malicious attacks. Whether it is to protect yourself from malware and hacking or to prevent cyberattacks from bankrupting your business, cyber security worth is crucial than ever.
