Why Do I Need Cybersecurity

Millions of accounts hacked! User data leaked! Massive data breach! The need for cyber-security has never been greater than now.

It’s probably safe to say that our days begin and end with us peering at some digital screen or another. We wake up to alarms on our phone, check our emails on it, order groceries, services and various other items on them, pay for these utilities online, and capture and store pictures and videos on them, more often of a personal nature than not. We’ve practically given away huge chunks of our lives on the cloud, and it’s very rare for anyone to stop and think of the possibility of our data falling into the wrong hands.

But it’s happening here and now, in front of our very own eyes. You’d have to be living under a rock if you don’t know about the massive data dumps that have been posted on the internet recently. Large amounts of confidential data, not limited to names and physical addresses, but also sensitive information such as credit card details and account passwords have been compromised, and have generally stemmed from a security breach of a large corporation’s servers. And considering our increasing reliance on computer systems and “smart” devices, including smartphones, televisions and other electronic devices that are part of the Internet of Things, we’ve only started providing more ammo to hackers and cyber-terrorists, looking to create havoc and disrupt our routine.

Such incidents only further emphasize the need to safeguard our data and proceed with caution when giving away personal details on the internet. For those who still are unable to fathom the gravity of the situation and the threat these cyber-criminals pose to our life, we’ll just take a look at some incidents of mass hacking that have had severe consequences for all parties involved.

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