The number of innovations and technologies on the market today has far surpassed any time in our recent history. In the upcoming year we will see an advancement in the amount of innovations unlike anything we have ever seen before. This growth is, in part, due to the sheer number of tech companies being founded every month and their efforts towards innovation and progress.
This is not to belittle the efforts of established businesses who do whatever they can to push technology to its very limits. We have companies like Apple, Amazon, Google and Microsoft creating breakthroughs in every industry at a consistent rate. This breeds an environment of technological adoption and proliferation that has surprised analysts all over the world.
You can’t go anywhere anymore without seeing someone use a smartphone or a laptop. Almost all homes have some type of internet connected device like a smart TV or video game console. It has gotten to the point where even our refrigerators and automobiles are connected to the internet and use profiles to share our data with companies all over the world. This has led to some concerns as people unfondly remember the breach of Target’s databases and the hack of Equifax.
These events have caused many individuals to stay alert as the next attack may be right around the corner. Indeed, the risk of exploitation is much higher now that everyone has an interconnected device that can scan your personal data at any time. That is why it is completely necessary for individuals of all ages to become aware of cybersecurity.
As a matter of fact, it will become requisite that all people have some knowledge of cybersecurity protocols and practices so that they do not fall victim to a hack or exploit. In this article, we hope to elucidate the things you need to know so that you do not end up with your identity stolen or your information compromised.
The rate of change in the technology industry is so fast that it can be hard to keep up. There is a new smartphone released every couple of months and new internet devices released constantly. Our kitchen appliances have internet connectivity and the proliferation of smart personal assistants has led us to an increased network of information gathering devices.
As a result, the number of ways we can be exposed has more than quadrupled in the last 10 years. This is a great concern as the amount of exploits levied against us can completely swallow us if we are not readily prepared. What has become readily apparent in the past few years is that everyone is a target to hackers.
These people target everyone from teachers to corporate executives and everyone in between. This means that no matter who you are, you are a target and can be exploited at any time if you are not careful. This coming year we will see the number of smartphones and internet connected devices increase dramatically. Access to these types of devices around the world is becoming an easier feat and as a result will increase the amount of hazards that can be laid upon us. It is no wonder then, that cyber security companies have come out in full support of educating the general public on how to protect your information, protect your web-browsing experience, and keep your privacy private.
It is important to understand that all of your information can, and should be, encrypted. There is never a time that your information should ever be accessible to the general public. Even your smartphone can be encrypted so that only you can access its files. The same goes for your computer and your tablet, they should be encrypted and password protected at all times.
Even so, this is oftentimes not enough to prevent a hack because hackers use more than just code to break in and steal information. Usually, the most effective way to hack someone is by using social exploits. These are simple tricks like posing as a repairman or asking for information over the phone. There have been a number of social hacking attacks in the last few years of some note. Famously, hackers will use Banks as their covers for extracting information from individuals who might have an account with a specific branch.
This is done simply lying and can be avoided by first making sure that the call is genuine and by never exchanging your information over the phone. This will prevent a social hack from working altogether and can prevent that hacker from attempting it again. The trick to this is being very cautious with your information and passwords. Though it seems simple enough it is oftentimes a very efficient way to steal data and information.
Ultimately, you do not need to be a computer expert to be a cybersecurity expert. As our devices become ever connected to one another it will become crucial that we are strengthened with our security policies. If we can make sure to encrypt all of our files and be cautious with people we do not know then we can all reassure ourselves about the problem. But this year will see so many new innovations in the technosphere that it will be hard to wrap our heads around it. Through the excitement of it all, we must not forget to be careful and concerned for ourselves and our neighbors. As long as we use our heads then we won’t lose what is most precious to us, our privacy.
[su_box title=”About Ellie Martin” style=”noise” box_color=”#336588″][short_info id=’101290′ desc=”true” all=”false”][/su_box]
Ellie Martin is co-founder of Takanta. Her works have been featured on Yahoo! , Wisebread, AOL, among others. She currently splits her time between her home office in New York and Israel.
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