Sharing is caring: spread the word about cyber threats

18 Sep 2017
18 Sep 2017

As humans, when we care about something, we’re often eager to share our viewpoints with others. From humanitarian causes to social justice campaigns, political perspectives and more, we often feel that what’s important to us should also be important to others – so we’re eager to spread the word.

The evolution of sharing

Sharing information is an age-old inclination that’s been practiced in various ways over the centuries. We still use traditional methods today – word of mouth, telephone calls, printed media, and more. But in terms of how frequently we share information, they are often eclipsed by electronic media – such as email, instant messaging, and – in particular - social media.

With billions of interactions each day on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and countless other platforms, anyone and everyone can become a publisher – allowing them to reach large and varied audiences with content that amuses, inspires, and spreads awareness.

In today’s times, one of the most critical issues for technology users is cybersecurity, so it’s important to use your social networks to spread awareness of online dangers.

Why should I care about cyber threats?

Even if you’re not in the IT field, cybersecurity threats are still a cause for concern. If you use any internet-connected technology, the fact is that you could be a target for hackers and criminals operating in the online world.

Data breaches have occurred at major companies whose services you may use: Google, Apple, Dropbox, LinkedIn, Adobe, and many more. If your login credentials or data are compromised in such breaches, criminals may use your information for malicious purposes, or sell it to unscrupulous marketing companies who can then harass you with unsolicited advertising.

On a more personal level, cyber criminals also target individuals – with identity theft, online banking fraud, phishing, and even physical harm.

Keep calm and spread the word

You wouldn’t want to be a victim of such crimes, so it’s important to learn how to protect yourself from the risks. However, it’s equally important to spread this awareness to others within your social circles – friends, family members, online acquaintances, and even parents or elderly relatives who use technology.

Knowledge is power, so spread the word and empower people in your networks. The little bit you do can help to make the online world a safer place, and can protect the people you care about from falling victim to 21st century criminals.