Introduction:
In the wake of the pandemic, I found myself spending more and more time online. As our in-person contacts dwindled, our online contacts skyrocketed, and the world shifted to a year lived digitally. The threat of the virus kept majority of us indoors and to ourselves for the year, making life feel safer in many ways, but are we actually safer online?
FBI Warns pf Teleconferencing and Online Classroom Hijacking during COVID-19 Pandemic. A need for Zoom passwords to enter conference rooms became apparent as accidental attendee after accidental attendee joined meetings they weren’t invited to and may have became privy to information that wasn’t theirs to hear.
Hacker attacks increased during COVID by an alarming 300% during the Pandemic with a cyber attack happening every 39 seconds, as reported by the FBI.
Personal Interview:
How do you feel about being online, since COVID began, and the world shifted to a year lived on the web? Do you feel safe?
“Accessibility has increased which has been a gift to many, including myself. I’ve been able to attend more events than I could have pre COVID but I’ve also noticed more and more issues with things online- incorrect emails being sent out, news of new hacks, more personal social media posts, zoom meeting crashers and more! With all of that, it makes me wonder if we are safe spending so much time here.” – Kayla Song, Corporate Retirement Planner
Tips & Tricks:
- Use different passwords that do not include known information like your name, date of birth, or address.
- Don’t open files from email addresses or individuals you don’t know, be aware of phishing scams.
- Visit online websites you trust & beware of where you enter your information.
- Never reveal your full name, address, DOB or other information on social media.
Conclusion:
Cyber security is the silent hero protecting all of us and our data whether we spend a few minutes or multiple hours online and without it, the internet would be more dangerous than we can imagine.
However, cyber security alone can not and will not protect our data. As we continue to shift to a more digitally focused world, it is important that we practice our own due diligence in keeping ourselves and our data safe online.
References:
39+ Cyber Security Statistics That Should Worry You [2021] (techjury.net)
