Source: duke.edu
Technological innovations within information technology improves access to information, streamlines communication, and provides security for processing data through computer networks. Many technology users interact with multiple devices throughout their daily lives, which presents challenges for cybersecurity professionals to ensure the protection of data, and the secure retrieval of information on the internet. Smartphones and tablets make it convenient for users to launch applications and connect to the internet. The devices, similarly to desktop and laptop computers, require a secure internet connection, firewall and anti-virus software in order to protect them from vulnerabilities within networks. While technology continues to help users’ complete tasks in their daily lives, the need for information security increases as the availability of technology grows. Information technology impacts the lives of millions of users in a variety of ways that influence personal and professional use of technology.
The emergence of online social networks presents new opportunities for users to share information, challenging cybersecurity professionals to protect users from vulnerabilities within websites and applications. The development of social networks has grown to reach an audience of billions of users worldwide. Due to technological innovations, social networks have become one of the most frequently used applications available on the internet. Using social media involves creating a profile in which to share personal and professional information with an online audience. Data points include full names, birth dates, location and information about employment and education. Social networks provide methods of sharing information with people known to the user, as well as anyone who does not have a restriction due to changes in privacy settings. Cybersecurity professionals at the major social networking companies establish policies that protect users and the business from threats which may appear on a website or application. One of the essential ways in which cybersecurity professionals can impact security on social networks would be to establish appropriate policies within the company privacy policy that explains how to keep information secure by adjusting the privacy settings. Even if a user sets the privacy settings to restrict the availability of information to existing contacts only, they would still need to avoid phishing attempts from any other profile on the social network. An attack may occur as a phishing attempt from a profile in which the user may be familiar or an external threat agent. Cybersecurity professionals establish policies and make recommendations on how users can protect their online information from attacks.
One of the most common forms of communication through information technology involves the use of email. The average internet user possesses more than one email account, all of which require security in order to function properly. Cybersecurity professionals ensure the protection and encryption of information reaching servers that connect users to email accounts. In addition, cybersecurity professionals can influence the policies regarding effective email use and make recommendations on what signs to look out for when examining email in order to prevent breaches in data.
Information technology has grown significantly relative to streaming and downloading content. Prior to subscription-based services that connect users to entertainment content, some popular programs on the internet would give any user access to illegally downloaded material. Such programs would subject users to law suits, fines and interactions with law enforcement. Downloads would often carry viruses due to the unsecure sharing of illegal downloads. Today, companies offering legal access to audio and video files have replaced many unsecure programs. Cybersecurity professionals at companies that offer subscriptions or individual downloads are responsible for encrypting files, ensuring that users can experience entertainment content without transferring viruses to user’s devices.
Internet search engines that display news content have replaced the need for users to have access to multiple printed newspapers. Companies like Google and Yahoo crawl the internet, index pages within their search engine and aggregate newsworthy content for display on websites and applications. Readers are connected to secure websites that do not include any viruses or malware. The companies offer the ability to report any website possessing any threats to readers. Cybersecurity professionals can respond accordingly to any reported threat and eliminate it to safeguard the browsing experience of all internet users.
Improvements within information technology allow internet users to safely make purchases over the internet. It is more popular than ever to buy products online and have them shipped to a residence. Cybersecurity professionals ensure that e-commerce portals are secure, protecting user’s personal and financial information: names, addresses, as well as credit and debit card numbers.
Cybersecurity has a direct impact on the daily lives of technology users. By eliminating exposure to various threat agents, cybersecurity professionals help users to protect and share information without the risk of an attack. Information security remains an integral component of businesses across many sectors. As technology continues to grow, the need for cybersecurity experts will expand in order to minimize any potential risks present within new technologies.
