Cyber Security: How to Protect Yourself and Build a Career Protecting Others

Published on: July 26, 2023

You've probably seen news stories about hackers stealing valuable financial info from major corporations or attacking servers to shut down services and commerce. Perhaps you've had friends or relatives who have fallen victim to identity theft or phishing scams, suffering financial setbacks or at least the significant inconvenience of having to work with banks and credit card companies to restore their accounts. It may even happen to you. 

It almost seems contradictory. We're more aware of the need for cyber security than ever and take constant measures to ensure it. Yet, there's more news about businesses, organizations and people falling victim to cyber-attacks than ever. 

This phenomenon is partially a result of hackers and cyber scammers growing more sophisticated in their attacks, but it also is a symptom of how much of our lives are now lived in online spaces. From bank accounts to student registrations to social media, just about every aspect of our lives is online in some form or another, creating many more opportunities for hackers and other bad actors. 

So what can you do to protect yourself? And what kinds of opportunities exist for dedicated tech professionals to create strategies, processes and tools to protect people from these threats? We spoke to Ashlie Page, Outreach Specialist at Husson's School of Technology and Innovation, to find out the answers to these questions and more. 

 

How To Protect Your Data Online

From virtual private networks to multi-factor authentication and more (don't worry, we'll explain in a minute), there are many precautions you should take to keep yourself and your data protected online. There are so many things to do, in fact, that your first impulse may be to throw in the towel and not do anything at all. 

"People tend to feel a little overwhelmed because there's so much that we really can and should do in order to keep ourselves safe online," Page says. "But really, the cost of not following these best practices is often a little too much to ignore." 

Instead, Page suggests focusing on a few key areas. One of the first and most important is using unique and strong passwords for every website where your data is stored. "That's a big one," Page says. "I think many of us tend to reuse different iterations of the same password across different accounts." That means, though, that if your password is compromised for one account, then your password and data are compromised on all of your accounts. Of course, having separate passwords for every site you login in to is a major challenge, so Page recommends using a password manager to keep track of it all.

Along with using unique passwords, setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA), or at least two-factor authentication, is highly recommended. Typically with MFA, after you input your password, the website sends a verification code to your phone or email that you then must input to gain access to the account. Though this extra step can take a few extra seconds of your time, it can go a long way toward keeping your information protected. 

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are another great security tool. These are primarily useful when you need to go online using public networks, like at a coffee shop, the airport, or even a library. On a public network, your system and data are more easily accessed by others on the network, making you particularly vulnerable. However, going online through a VPN keeps your system and data private, encrypting your data and keeping it safe. 

Though VPNs are highly recommended in public spaces, Page does not that they are probably not necessary on secure home or business networks, which are already private and connected. 

Page also stresses the importance of "cyber hygiene." That refers to what information we share online about ourselves. "It can seem innocuous, like sharing what street you grew up on or the name of a childhood best friend. But those are kinds of things you are asked for online security questions," she explains. As such, posting too much personal information can give hackers a potential leg-up to accessing your data.

 

Finding Opportunity in Cybersecurity

These methods are just a few of the ways you can bolster your online security. And while Page cautions against growing overly paranoid about online threats, she also stresses that you "really can't be too secure online. Every layer of protection you can put on top of the other, it helps to bolster your security. Because if an attacker is able to mitigate one of those layers of security, you've got another to barricade it."

That security is increasingly important, as being hacked may not only cause financial difficulty or inconvenience but could even impact your job search, as employers are wary of hiring people who may inadvertently compromise their company's data. "More and more prospective employers put a high value on people who are cyber aware and practice good cybersecurity skills and hygiene," she explains. So ignoring cybersecurity can actually dampen your ability to find work as well."  

The good news, though, is that with these increasing threats, there are also many more career opportunities for talented individuals to help people and organizations protect themselves from these threats. "There are a lot of different careers inside the cybersecurity field as a whole. Students that are interested in getting into cybersecurity could work potentially as security analysts, penetration testers, security engineers, incident responders, governance risk and compliance, threat intelligence analysts, security architects and security consultants, just to name a few," Page says. And though these are technology fields and careers, succeeding in them doesn't necessarily require advanced math skills. "There's a role for everybody in tech, whether you see yourself as a computer programmer or if you're more of a people person that wants to be on that kind of business side of things."

 

Prepare for a Career in Cybersecurity with a Degree from Husson

Regardless of your area of interest or the specific role you want to pursue, building a career in cybersecurity starts with a foundation of knowledge in computer science and technology. In Husson's Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Software Development programs, students learn about the fundamentals of cybersecurity that can then be expanded into a specialized and rewarding career. Even students in the Extended Reality program develop skills that can be easily applied to this field. 

So don't stress about cyber security. Learn the skills to protect yourself and make a living helping to protect others. Request more info or apply online today to get started. 

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