How Does Cyber Security Work to Keep Us Safe?

According to the 2016 Symantec report, consumers around the world lost over $158 billion to cybercrime in one year, and in the U.S, the figure was over $30 billion. These statistics led the former FBI Director, James Comey, to refer to the internet as the most dangerous parking lot today and went ahead to warn Americans to be aware of compromised websites, scams, and malware among other cyber threats.

Cyber attackers aren’t always after money. Today, cybercrime has evolved from theft of digital funds to data--for instance, when the Qatar National Bank systems were attacked, the personal details belonging to employees were stolen. Cyber-attacks are becoming more complex, and a new trend hackers are using is the onion-layered attack, which involves creating attacks using different channels. While you may be able to unearth one attack, there are other threats in different and technical areas, which you may not be able to spot or deal with effectively because you are tied up fighting fires elsewhere. For you to address these challenges, you will require deep cybersecurity expertise.

From Basic Password to Complicated Encryption, Here’s why Cybersecurity Knowledge is Important

For a long time many people thought that passwords were dead, but as it turns out, no one so far has come up with something better. Therefore, passwords are still your first line of defense in the protection of your data. Unfortunately, many people are still using weak passwords (and in most cases reusing them) while others continue using the default passwords they were provided with. According to a 2016 report by Verizon, weak, stolen or default passwords help cybercriminals to steal private data and use it for their own benefits.

To protect your data, you need cybersecurity knowledge to help you with:

Securing your password

Cybercriminals have tools that can crack weak passwords. What’s more, when they manage to access your email account, they can use it to reset passwords in your other online accounts. Therefore, if you use a single password for all your accounts, then you will be making things easier for them.

• Don’t store your passwords in spreadsheets, text files, or other unprotected documents which cybercriminals can easily steal or delete.
• Don’t save passwords in browsers. This isn’t a safe way to remember your passwords because cyber-attacks often target browsers.
• Avoid using passwords that include birth dates or other personal information about you that hackers can easily find online.
• Don’t use password hints. Most likely there’s a ton of your personal information online, and it won’t be difficult to find the name of your pet or which high school you went to. Probability will easily give you away faster than you anticipate.

Tips on how to build a reliable and robust password

Instead of making these common mistakes, follow these guidelines to help protect yourself online:

• Always use longer passwords: Ideally, your passwords should be between 10 to 15 characters long. The longer your passwords, the longer they will take to crack.
• Make your passwords gibberish: Don’t use predictable passwords including real words, regardless of how unfamiliar they may seem.
• Ensure that your passwords are unique: Use one password for one account.
• Remember to enable the two-factor authentication: Although it’s a hassle, it’s one of the best ways of keeping hackers away from your information.

Backing up your data

One of the most important data protection tips is data backup. This involves creating a copy of your data so that if your device is stolen, lost or compromised; you won’t lose important information. Therefore, you should create a backup on an external hard drive.

Securing your wireless network at your business or home

Both small business owners and individuals should secure their wireless networks with passwords. Strong passwords prevent unauthorized individuals from hijacking wireless networks. If you have a Wi-Fi network at your workplace, ensure that it is encrypted, secure, and hidden. To secure and hide your Wi-Fi network, set up a router or wireless access point, so it doesn’t broadcast your SSID.

How Cybersecurity Education Helps in the Digital War against Hackers

According to Homeland Security, most of the traditional crimes are today being committed through cyberspace. As more and more Americans become reliant on modern technology, we become prone to cyber-attacks such as spear phishing, corporate security breaches, and social media fraud, which makes cybersecurity an important area.

By choosing a degree in cybersecurity, you could help in the war against cybercrime by:

• Designing and evaluating computer-based systems or programs to meet security needs
• Analyzing systems, identifying risks, learning how to secure them
• Developing security and recovery policies that are appropriate to information systems

Are you interested in helping to make the internet a safer place? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security, consider ECPI University for your educational needs. With accelerated classes and a year-round schedule, you could graduate with a bachelor’s degree in as little as 2.5 years. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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