Spyware. Spam. Trojans. Ransomware. Invaders from the cyber highway all of them. and they’re just a tip of the iceberg of risks you run as you begin to navigate the internet and subscribe to any of packages that make life and living so much more fun. For it’s not always safe fun out there. there’s always a cybersecurity risk.
Cyber-security is generally defined as the protection of software, hardware and processes from Cyber theft or Sabotage. Cyber-risk is manifested in many forms through the spread of spyware, spam, the spread of viruses and trojans, ransomware and rootkits. The growth of cybersecurity, unfortunately, rises with the spread of Internet availability. More people are now more vulnerable to cyber attacks than ever before.
The effect of not being security-conscious on online platforms could range from minor consequences such as being monitored by teenage hackers to very delicate issues such as ransomware attacks or literally shutting down huge organizations by defamation or loss of digital assets.
Cyber-security has gradually become a major concern because a large proportion of organizations are unaware of the threat that cyber-security poses. As close to 45% of organizations in civilized societies think they are not a viable target. Unfortunately, cyber-security is increasing at an alarming rate in Africa than in any other Continent, with South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya taking the lead. According to research estimates, Cyber-crime costs Nigeria alone at least $500 million per annum.
There is a need to generate more awareness regarding cybercrime in a bid to curb the scourge that cybercrime has become. There are many ways to improve cyber-security amongst us. Things, like being security conscious with our Bank cards and only performing transactions behind sites that are SSL security certified, could curb the frequency of cyber theft. Ensuring we have the latest security updates installed on our devices and reporting spam would definitely help Security Providers in creating more efficient security patches that malign the efforts of cybercriminals. Ignoring links from untrusted sources would also go a long way to reducing individual vulnerabilities.
Overall, generating immense awareness is key to ensure that cyber-security becomes a phenomenon that can be controlled and at best reduced to the barest minimum.
Image Credit – negativespace.co
