Learn Cyber Security the Right Way With a Formal Education in the Field

As we continue to conduct more of our daily lives online, it’s important to understand that our private information is vulnerable now more than ever before. Cases of data breaches and identity theft have been on the rise and have affected several businesses including Yahoo, Sony, and Equifax.

According to CNBC, the global economy incurs approximately $450 billion annually due to cybercrime. As a result, governments, companies, and organizations have invested more in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity involves securing internet-connected systems, including electronic data, software and hardware, networks, and other confidential information from cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity Affects Everyone

Although most of the data breach headlines of recent years involve giant retailers such as Home Depot and Target among others, cybersecurity affects every person. Your cellphone, computer, or tablet contains vital information that hackers can use such as names, email addresses, and birthdates.

For instance, if a cybercriminal acquired your contact information, they would send text messages or emails to all your friends and family members encouraging them to click on a link that contains malware.

How Cybercriminals can Attack you

In these uncertain times where cases of cybercrime are on the rise, it’s important to know some of the ways cybercriminals can launch an attack and take a proactive approach to protect yourself in the digital world.

Phishing

This is one of the oldest tricks used by cybercriminals. Phishing is done through a fake email masquerading to be from a legitimate source such as your bank or a company like Amazon. These emails will request you to click on an embedded link to verify that you’re the owner of your account and input your login information.

Weak IP addresses

Another way that hackers can gain access into your network is through weak IP addresses. Cybercriminals start from 0.0.0.1 upwards until they can identify a weak IP address and make a connection. Although there are over 4 billion IP address combinations, hackers rely on their computers to do the work for them.

Password hacking

Although this is a trial and error method, hackers can still get your login information through this way. Most people often use their birthdates as passwords, which makes it easy for hackers to guess. Therefore, ensure that you always use a combination of numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters. Additionally, change your passwords regularly and avoid using a single password for all your online accounts.

Become a Cybersecurity Expert

With the level of internet espionage, the cybersecurity field has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years. This means that the demand for cybersecurity experts will continue rising and you should highly consider this profession. Becoming a cybersecurity professional requires a combination of ethics, knowledge, and the ability to think like a hacker all of which you can obtain through formal cybersecurity education.

If you have basic computer skills but new to cybersecurity, formal cybersecurity education can help you jump-start your knowledge through instruction and insight from real-world cybersecurity professionals. Although you can become a cybersecurity professional without formal education, you might not have any credentials to prove you can do what you claim to. Additionally, formal education is well-structured and more organized than informal cybersecurity education.

If you want to become a cybersecurity expert, you will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science. Mathematics and English lessons are also needed. A typical cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program will include classes such as introduction to operating systems, ethical hacking, and wireless security. In addition, it will include studies in computer applications, statistics, college algebra, physics, programming, and positive psychology.

Formal Cybersecurity Education for Working Adults

While brick-and-mortar institutions are considered as formal education environments, advancement in technology today has led to online colleges that also provide formal education. This means that nontraditional students such as working adults can easily access formal education. Online and hybrid classes could provide you with the flexibility you need to sharpen your cybersecurity skills in a formal educational setting.

Other Benefits of Online Cybersecurity Education for Working Adults

• Learn new skills and improve your existing ones: If you work in the cybersecurity field but don’t have formal training, online formal education will help you develop new skills which can boost your earning potential.
• New career opportunities: Earning an online formal education in cybersecurity is a good way to reinvent yourself if you want to change careers or qualify for new job positions either at your current workplace or at a different organization.
• Relevance to your job: Online cybersecurity education may be more practical because you will relate to what you do best every day at work and at the same time improve your job performance.

Are you interested in cybersecurity education? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track, ECPI University offers this educational program in an accelerated format. For more information on how to get started, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Cybersecurity Track - Bachelor’s

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