Author: Jeslyn Guo
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! In our previous article (make this a link to the previous article), we detailed the history behind this national event. Additionally, we discussed critical information about Week 1: Be Cyber Smart and Week 2: Phight the Phish. If you are interested in learning more about these topics, feel free to check it out before proceeding!
The theme of Week 3 is explore, experience, and share. The goal for this week is to highlight the roles of cybersecurity practitioners in our world today and to share the increasing opportunities for those interested in cyber.
Cybersecurity is one of the most diverse and growing fields today. It truly is a field for everyone, with a wide range of skills in demand. As technology is rapidly advancing and our cyberspace is becoming more intricate, there is greater demand for cybersecurity professionals than there are people to fill the jobs!
Working in cybersecurity is not simply coding behind a computer all day – it is much more than that. Cybersecurity is needed in every large corporation or business, meaning that it can intersect with almost any other field. Some notable examples include medical device cybersecurity and cyber for banking. To learn more about pursuing a career in cybersecurity and discover various career paths, check out our other blog posts!
The theme of Week 4 is cybersecurity first, about strengthening the existing systems that keep our nation’s safe. It is crucial to keep cybersecurity at the forefront of our thoughts as we move forward in the digital era. Prior to creating an online account, purchasing a new device, or downloading a new app, stop to consider the necessary steps to protect your privacy and security. Cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought!
Mobile devices, due to their widespread popularity, are some of the most susceptible systems to attacks. When purchasing a new device, make sure to keep your phone locked through password and only install apps from trusted sites (App Store, iTunes, etc.).
Downloading applications that are unreliable may download a virus onto your mobile device, giving up sensitive information. Additionally, avoid keeping information like credit card passwords or other confidential data on your mobile device as it is small and more vulnerable to being stolen. Finally, this applies not only to operating mobile devices, but be sure to only join WiFi networks that are secure and you trust. Public WiFI can sometimes be unencrypted and be susceptible to hacks.
We are more interconnected than ever, yet with this power comes great responsibility. This October is a great time to reflect, assess, and learn about our growing interconnectedness and your own personal cybersecurity. Keeping our cyberspace safe is a shared duty, and we must each do our own part to stay safe.