Cybersecurity a necessity now more than ever, tech experts say

Oct. 27—Although October is set aside as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a myriad of stories and events from the past few years have already driven many individuals and businesses to make more serious efforts to protect themselves.

Cybersecurity is ultimately about privacy. Specifically, cybersecurity is about protecting vital information from being shared online, because much of this information makes people and companies more susceptible to scammers, whose goal is often to steal money and private information.

Professor Baoquiang Yan, who teaches cybersecurity at Missouri Western State University, said that it has become more common for scammers and hackers to use data against unsuspecting victims in order to do analysis.

He noted that hackers "do recon" (reconnaissance) in order to find the best approach to scam people out of money. For individuals, he said, this often comes in the form of phony e-mails that direct people to dummy sites that look authentic, but are actually just a collection center for vital information, including credit card and bank account numbers.

"Be suspicious about messages from strangers," Yan said. He added that hackers even try to disguise themselves as government agencies, like the IRS. However, the IRS will never ask for money over e-mail or text, he noted.

Troy Cook, chief technology officer of Midwest Data Center, noted that given the ongoing sophistication of cyberattacks and hacking of businesses and of individuals, cybersecurity protocols are no longer a luxury; they are a necessity. Cook noted that even small businesses cannot afford to be without proper protection and evaluation in regard to cybersecurity, adding that his company, along with most others in the cybersecurity industry, offers free evaluations to help business owners determine which solutions will give the most effective protection of data and of money.

"Businesses and individuals should not be afraid to ask for help," Cook added.

Both Yan and Cook emphasized that protecting ourselves online begins with education: becoming increasingly aware of the various methods and threats that exist in all online platforms. They added that even in companies, the trend now is for hackers to go after individuals through what may appear at first to be harmless emails. Clicking on the wrong link or giving information to a dummy site can cost individuals and companies thousands of dollars and can jeopardize privacy for a long time.

Cybersecurity tips begin with deleting any emails from unknown sources right away without responding to any links or requests. Secondly, individuals should independently check claims or requests made through email with authenticated sources. Finally, it's important to limit the amount of personal or private data shared through social media to prevent hungry cyber attackers from finding creative ways to get your information.

Charles Christian anchors the evening news for News-Press NOW and also serves as an ordained minister at United Methodist Churches in Union Star and Helena, Missouri. Charles can be reached at charles.christian@newspressnow.com. Follow him on twitter: @NPNowChristian.