Cyber Security

Cyber security is a hot button issue in our modern technological society.  As the amount of personal information people store and share in cloud based sites and digital marketplaces increases, so does the risk of having that information stolen.  Not only are individuals storing information, but large companies and retailers are storing vast amounts of data about their customers in massive data centers.  These massive data centers have become a major target for hackers looking for personal information.  A recent example of this was the major data breach at the big box retailer, Target.  Targets data center that stores customers private information and credit card numbers was hacked into and all that info was stolen.  This lead to a major backlash from not only Target's customers who were exposed to credit and identity theft, but also all the way up to Congress who are now trying to understand the modern cyber threats and pass legislation to prevent it.

Who are the hackers and why do they want the data?  There are several reasons why a hacker would want to gain access to this type of data.  One reason is they want your credit card information so they can make purchases using your accounts.  Another reason is because they want to sell your credit card information to other people who will use it for those same reasons.  Also, this data can be sold to other companies who are looking for data about your previous purchases for the purpose of future marketing.

As our lifestyles are becoming more and more digital, it becomes increasingly important to understand and develop Cyber Security.  The biggest challenge in cyber security is that it is a reactive type of security.  No matter what type of system that is developed to keep people out, there could always someone who finds a way.  The best way to deal with that is to be very quick to react and adapt to new forms of intrusion.

References:
US Department of Homeland Security. http://www.dhs.gov/cybersecurity-overview