How Has Online Security Continued To Improve

You might know the Creeper as a monster in Minecraft, a DC Comics superhero, or a horror movie character. However, Creeper was also the first computer virus released to the public. It could move between computers and networks, showing the end users a simple text: “I’m the creeper: Catch me if you can.” 

You might think that’s an excellent plot for a movie (Catch Me If You Can is literally a movie title), but the rest of the story is even better. The inventor of the email, Ray Tomlinson, wrote the first antivirus to catch the Creeper. And that’s how the relationship between cybercriminals and cybersecurity started. Now, let’s see how it evolved over the years. 

The 2000s

Most internet users connected in the early 2000s. That was a blissful era when everyone was experimenting with the technology. Nobody cared about cybersecurity because it was cool to have complex passwords, antiviruses, and firewalls. Some people experimented with torrenting games and putting them on CDs. That is how most malware like MyDoom, Code Red, and ILOVEYOU spread around. No regulations or finance entered the online markets, so the damage was insubstantial. The whole world still worked on paper and physical files, meaning data breaches were ineffective.

The mid-2000s

The mid-2000s were when the internet landscape changed. The famous Nigerian prince phishing attack appeared, and the floodgates opened up. Data breaches, malware, and sophisticated threats started appearing on the internet. Immediately, firms and financial organizations stepped up their game to standardize firewalls, access controls, and passwords. The mid-2000s were a breeding ground for DDoS attacks on firms and malvertising – a form of organized scam. One of the largest breaches happened in 2007 when TJX paid 41 million dollars because hackers stole the information of 45 million customer credit cards.

The 2010s

The cybersecurity niche started to mature in the 2010s. Around that time, professionals began to dabble in machine learning and artificial intelligence and improved prevention and detection methods. However, attacks like NotPetya and WannaCry showed serious holes in infrastructure because they caused more than 10 billion dollars of damage. Data protection laws and compliance requirements, such as GDPR, to protect personal information came in. Cybersecurity experts were in high demand, and every company was investing in hiring or training people who could protect data. 

The present

After the pandemic in 2020, we’ve entered the new normal. And that means cybersecurity is a necessity for every profession. Teams are constantly investing in technologies or personnel to prevent threats. Remote work happened, and every company was vulnerable. It increased the attack surface of every organization and added more problems when it came to keeping data and systems protected. But that’s also the time when every company enforced cybersecurity training. 

Many companies switched to cloud software and became more secure when another market change happened – ChatGPT. The large language learning model (LLM) that OpenAI created made a ripple in the cybersecurity space that hasn’t stopped. Suddenly, scammers had access to perfect English phishing texts, and hackers had access to unlimited entries to penetrate companies and use AI for evil. Not to mention the propensity for deepfakes, fake news, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) scandals. To keep up with that, new security software entered the market, and experts are exploring ways to confirm whether sources on the internet are legitimate or not. Everything we know about the internet could change. 

How to protect yourself? 

Cyberdefense must keep up with the newest cybersecurity risks. Technological trends will keep evolving, especially as more technology is deployed daily. Automation, quantum computing, blockchain, and IoT devices require a more thorough approach to cybersecurity. 

For starters, every individual must use a firewall, anti-malware software, virtual private network (VPN), multi-factor authenticator (MFA), and password manager. These are the five pillars of modern cyber defense. It’s not just about laptops, computers, and mobile devices. It’s about protecting IoT devices and smart TVs. So, if you don’t have a VPN service, it’s time to get one now. The same thing is true about everything else. 

Hackers and cybercriminals are always out for the low-hanging fruit. They’ll target the device you’re protecting the least. That could be your printer or your smart lamp. And you don’t want to be the person who lost their entire bank account because of a wireless printer. 

Lastly, you’ve got to stay on top of the current trends. Most attacks succeed because they’re socially engineered. Read up on phishing examples and all the ways hackers can pretend to be your friends or family or impersonate official businesses. Don’t trust anything on the internet by default, and you’ll be safe until the next evolution in cybercrime happens.

Feature Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash