Cyber Security Isn't So "Secure" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Cyber Security Isn't So "Secure"

Watch what software you download, what ads you click on, and what unusual bugs creep into your computer. Private information might not always be private once you release it on the internet.

87
Cyber Security Isn't So "Secure"
Linked In

You might have clicked on this article when you saw it as a Facebook ad. Maybe you noticed it on my Facebook page. Maybe someone sent it to you as a link. Maybe it’s just something you glimpsed in passing while flipping through 50 other tabs.

In whichever way you managed to stumble upon this article, ask yourself these questions: Did I see any strange advertisements? Did I get any notifications to block pop-ups? How does my bank account look?

Chances are, you are 99% safe. You should have some sort of antivirus protection on your computer, you probably didn’t make any payments on the Odyssey website and I hope you didn’t click on any of those annoying advertisements that keep breaking up my article.

But let’s flash back to earlier in 2017. First there were the Shadow Brokers, a mysterious group that stole a few disks of top secret National Security Agency information regarding vulnerabilities in major software like Microsoft Windows, and dumped it on the internet.

The Shadow Brokers made computer systems WannaCry, introducing the infamous WannaCry ransomware that locked people out of more than 200,000 computers across the world and forced them to pay some amount of money to get back in. Victims consisted of people in banking, hospitals, and telecommunication industries, but WannaCry is most notable for its damaging effects on the British National Health System. When WannaCry locked hospital employees out of their computers, ambulances had to be redirected and operations cancelled.

WannaCry malware demands bitcoin payment in exchange for unlocking the files.

The Shadow Brokers and WannaCry paved the way for Petya, whose main target was Ukrainian infrastructure and infected Microsoft-based systems.

Don’t forget the Equifax breach, in which hackers seized names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and even license information of around 143 million people. Equifax had failed to promptly install a security fix that most corporations use. The hackers discovered this flaw 2 months before Equifax did, allowing them to take advantage of the time window and put many people at risk for identity theft.

And then Russia hacked over 10,000 Twitter accounts belonging to people in the US Defense Department, targeting their interests with advertisements that—when the victims clicked on them—allowed Russia to take control of their phones, computers, and Twitter accounts. And in September, Facebook released a blog post announcing that more than 3,000 advertisements between June 2015 and May 2017 were linked to Russia. Currently, Facebook is working to double it safety and security staff to 20,000 employees.

CNN Tech advises seven tips from hackers including turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them and use a two-step authentication with multiple passwords. These tips, along with watching what you click, can help you avoid getting hacked.

I hope you managed to get through this article without accidentally clicking on the minefield of random advertisements. Watch what you post online, where you enter personal information, and what you set your passwords as. Privacy is only privacy until it is leaked.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

27 Things 'The Office' Has Taught Us

"The Office" is a mockumentary based on everyday office life featuring love triangles, silly pranks and everything in between. It can get pretty crazy for just an average day at the office.

846
the office
http://www.ssninsider.com/

When you were little, your parents probably told you television makes your brain rot so you wouldn't watch it for twelve straight hours. However, I feel we can learn some pretty valuable stuff from television shows. "The Office," while a comedy, has some pretty teachable moments thrown in there. You may not know how to react in a situation where a co-worker does something crazy (like put your office supplies in jello) but thanks to "The Office," now you'll have an idea how to behave ifsomething like that should happen.

Here are just a few of the things that religious Office watchers can expect to learn.

Keep Reading...Show less
Grey's Anatomy
TV Guide

Being pre-med is quite a journey. It’s not easy juggling school work, extracurricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, research, and MCAT prep all at the same time. Ever heard of “pain is temporary, but GPA is forever?” Pre-meds don’t just embody that motto; we live and breathe it. Here are 10 symptoms you’re down with the pre-med student syndrome.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading

Books were always about understanding for me, about learning the way someone else sees, about connection.

412
High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading

I keep making this joke whenever the idea of books is brought up: "God, I wish I knew how to read." It runs parallel to another stupid phrase, as I watch my friends struggle through their calculus classes late at night in our floor lounge: "I hope this is the year that I learn to count." They're both truly idiotic expressions, but, when I consider the former, I sometimes wonder if there's some truth to it.

Keep Reading...Show less
school of business
CIS Markets

Coming from someone majoring in business at a school that thrives off of business majors, I know how rough it can be sometimes. Being a business major can be awesome, and awful, simultaneously. We work our tails off to be the best, but sometimes the stress can just tear you apart. Here are some struggles faced by business majors that will sound all too familiar.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Things To Know About The First Semester Of College

10 things that most incoming college freshmen have no idea about.

1692
campus
Pexels

Starting college is pretty scary and fun at the same time. You are free of your parents(in most cases) but this is the first time you have no idea what the heck is going on. Here are 10 things you may want to know going into your first semester.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments