Kashif Ansari is a proud member of the Internet 2.0 Conference's organizing committee and is deeply interested in learning how technology is changing the world and the revolutions it brings about. The Internet 2.0 Conference's upcoming editions are prepared to examine some of the industry's hottest topics, including what the future of cybersecurity holds, the need for cloud computing expertise in the blockchain, and reducing the damage that fraudsters and scammers can do to your company.
How Safe Is Your Space? The Dark Side Of Cybersecurity No One Told Us About
In the age of passwords and face locks, where privacy is our ultimate end goal, ever wondered how safe we really are? Is adding a ten-character, impossibly complicated password your ultimate weapon to protect all your data and privacy?
Mostly, that’s what we would love to believe. Unfortunately, the reality cannot be further from the truth. The 2021 Thales Data Report reveals that almost 45% of US companies suffered a data breach in the past year. And this data is expected to be higher, thanks to hundreds of undetected data breaches that somehow never get reported.
When everything around us is nothing but data, one might wonder exactly how protected and safe we are. Technology conferences like our upcoming Internet 2.0 Conference have strived to shed light on such topics. At the same time, it aims to enlighten the masses about the many facets of technological evolution and what the future may hold.
A successful cybersecurity strategy thrives to add several layers of protection and security across different networks of data, computers, software, etc. On the other hand, failing to do so exposes the whole data system to cyber threats lurking around the corner.
Cybersecurity has always been a subject of interest and discussion over the years. Even in the upcoming technology conferences, tech events, and seminars, an efficient effort has been made to bring light to this subject. But the question is, what difference have these discussions brought about? And how safe are we every time we access the internet? Let’s find out!
The Concept Behind Cybersecurity
The concept is fairly simple and yet not. In theory, cybersecurity is an attempt to protect the cyberspace around us. Here cyberspace means the networks of data, protecting systems, etc that surround us.
Cybersecurity is supposed to be the wall that stands between the data we share and those trying to access it. It is like a multi-layered bubble wrap around our data, providing us with layers of security from attackers lurking around the web.
However, the effectiveness of cyber security has been in question for a long time.The reason can be attributed to the ever-increasing data breaches, frauds, and scams rising in numbers steadily.
Is Cybersecurity A Need?
We live in the world of a digital revolution. Everything is now digitized to simplify our lives and our way of living. However, this simplification does come at a cost many of us aren’t aware of. The cost being the privacy and safety of our data. It may not seem threatening just yet because really why would anyone want our data anyway?
However, when data breaches lead to catastrophic consequences, it is then we realize the importance of protecting the information we blatantly share for the sake of a simplified life. Sometimes it’s carelessness on our part. But sometimes it’s simply the lack of proper knowledge leading to devastating repercussions.
Cybersecurity is designed to deal with cyber threats of all categories given how steadily both the inherent and residual risks have been rising. Along with that, we are also experiencing an ever-increasing upsurge in global connectivity and data sharing. In circumstances like this, cyber security is the safety net we can jump into.
As discussed at the Internet 2.0 Conference, judging by how inherently we rely on technology these days, the vulnerability factor can be startling, making cybersecurity a need rather than an option.
Nowadays, attempts are being made to bridge the gap between lack of education and awareness about cyber security and cyber safety through informative tech conferences and events organized across the globe.
The Reliability Quotient
The cusp of the whole concept of cybersecurity boils down to this one question: Is cybersecurity really reliable? Is it strong enough to protect the millions worth of data shared over the web every second of the day? There have been countless debates on this subject and yet so far the stats aren’t very motivating.
While companies providing cybersecurity services would like to claim how safe and protected we are from any possible chance of threats, the rising data on data breaches, scams, and fraud speaks otherwise.
According to tech events in the USA, data breaches can prove to be devastating for the companies and organizations affected. But even more for the commoners who trust these organizations with their invaluable data. Over the years, there have been instances of shocking data breaches affecting millions of people in their wake.
The 2013 Yahoo data scam can easily be the biggest example of a data breach to date, affecting approximately three billion accounts. Another noteworthy mention is the 2019 Facebook breach that impacted approximately 533 million users.
Facebook has been under scrutiny several times. In 2019, it was found that two datasets from Facebook apps had been exposed. Information such as phone numbers, account names and Facebook IDs were leaked affecting approximately 533 million users. However, in 2021 the data was posted for free, indicating new and real criminal intent surrounding the data. Given the sheer number of phone numbers exposed to the dark web, security researcher Troy Hunt added functionality to his HavelBeenPwned breached credential checking site allowing users to check whether their phone numbers were included in the leaked dataset.
Instances like this point to a giant question mark on the reliability of cybersecurity when it comes to protecting our data. And shockingly enough cases like these are just a small pool that somehow gets exposed. More often than not, data scams and frauds never get reported or acknowledged. The picture won’t look pretty if they were.
Even though cybersecurity was supposed to be the airbag that protects us from facing situations like these, its integrity is slowly starting to be questioned. In fact, many are starting to consider it as more than just a technical threat. The CyberSec report published by Gartner in 2022 reveals that 88% of executives at companies now consider cybersecurity to be a direct threat to business operations rather than just a technical problem. Other stats shared by the same showed that 2022 has seen an increase in cyberattacks originating with third-party affiliates and services.
Challenges With Cybersecurity
The subject of cybersecurity has been exploited by experts worldwide. Never-ending debates have attempted to establish its efficiency in data protection against the many loopholes that are often overlooked. In fact, in the upcoming technology conference, Internet 2.0 Conference, cybersecurity is one of the subject matter for an expert-driven panel discussion that aims to dive deeper into its latest trends and advances.
It has been sufficiently established that cybersecurity is a need in today’s technology-driven world. And the importance of it cannot be underestimated. Yet the many challenges that it faces have rendered it almost ineffective on many occasions.
One of the most common problems with cybersecurity is carelessness and lack of knowledge concerning the perilous consequences of data breaches. Cybersecurity can be an effective weapon to prevent instances of cybercrime and scams but only when it is implemented the right way.
Another problem that arises with cybersecurity is recognizing the fact that simply anyone could be a target of cyber attackers. It need not be big organizations and governments. As such many don’t even consider paying heed to the importance of cybersecurity rendering it ineffective right from the beginning.
The whirlwind growth in technological advancements is also one of the tribulations that make the entire concept of cybersecurity subject to scrutiny by experts. Any kind of data that one may need is accessible at the touch of a few buttons.
The dominance of social media in our lives added to heavy reliance on services such as cloud computing, smartphones, the Internet of Things, etc, makes us vulnerable and exposed to the dark world of technology. In situations like this, the technology of cybersecurity is often rendered useless.
This makes one wonder exactly how effective cybersecurity actually is in protecting our data or if we are living in the dark oblivion that nobody wants to expose or talk about.
Final Analysis
The effectiveness of cybersecurity will forever remain subject to debate. Cybersecurity providers would love people to stay oblivious and believe that all is well. But the several instances discussed above point to a completely different scenario.
Keeping that in mind, it wouldn't be wrong to conclude cybersecurity is a fragile thread that is vulnerable enough to fall apart at seams if not handled carefully.
The best way to prevent that from happening is to have the proper education on not just cybersecurity but on the entire idea of mindless reliance on technology and the cost that it comes at.
The anticipated 2023 tech conference, the Internet 2.0 Conference is a great way to educate yourself. And not just about cybersecurity but the whole realm of technology and how it is shaping our present and future.
With insightful panel discussions and keynotes provided by some of the biggest industry experts, Internet 2.0 Conference is surely one of the tech conferences of 2023 to look out for.
So don't forget to join this three-day-long event in the US and Dubai and educate yourself because prevention is always better than cure, isn’t it?