Seven Very Common Misconceptions About Cybersecurity

When most average internet and technology end-users hear terms such as cybersecurity, internet security, digital privacy, information security, etc. they immediately think of something complex related to the field of information and technology that is better left to the industry professionals. From many believing that it takes to be tech-savvy to understand the complexities of the cyber world to people thinking their data and information isn’t valuable. Different people have different opinions, perceptions, and understandings when it comes to cybersecurity. Many mistake cybersecurity to be some sort of quantum physics while others believe it is easy and important to implement digital security in their everyday life.

Cybersecurity always has been and likely will remain to be a hot area of importance in years to come. The cybersecurity industry is flooded with leaders pitching different ideas, introducing new security solutions, and revealing new statistics every now and then, millions of blog authors online sharing their opinions, and cybersecurity consultants advising to practice certain security practices to ensure internet and data security. All of these developments, stats, and trends can lead to confusion and many misunderstandings for not-so-tech-savvy average end-users.

To make your life a little bit easier. Here are the top seven very common misconceptions about the cybersecurity industry that you need to stop believing in.

Misconception 1 - Your data is worthless

You may be of those people who may only have little to no knowledge of how cybercriminals can use even the harmless-looking data or information to execute and facilitate their malicious attacks. Almost every website, application, or online service you use collects your critical data such as email addresses, names, date of birth, address, phone number, and so on. Imagine all this information ending up in the hands of cybercriminals. The possibilities are countless of what they can do with your information. Even if you create fake emails with fake names, if it is hacked, hackers can extract your IP address and pinpoint your location and device that can further complicate things. All data is important and so is data and information security.

Misconception 2 - Cybersecurity is complex

You do not have to achieve cybersecurity certifications or go through years of security training to protect yourself from cybersecurity risks. By implementing the basics of security such as creating strong passwords, using firewalls, antivirus, and not sharing your devices or data with others while making security-conscious decisions can help you to protect your digital footprint and data.

Misconception 3 - Breaches are a result of poor technology

Cybersecurity breaches can happen even if you are using the latest technology gadgets or applications. In fact, human mistakes and acts of negligence can make even the strongest technologies vulnerable to attacks of cybercriminals. Experts blame human mistakes to be the cause of 95% of security breaches. You will remain vulnerable to cyberattacks and risks like data theft/loss, identity theft, etc. if you do not implement best security practices while using the internet and applications.

Misconception 4 - Cybersecurity only means digital security

Cybersecurity does not just only mean protecting your digital assets such as identities, personal information, and data. Hackers are clever, they can use real-time impersonation techniques and can physically compromise your devices and data. Leaving your devices unattended or allowing others to use them can put you at the risk of data theft and other complications. Likewise, hackers can pose as friends and can physically tamper with your devices without your consent. Therefore, cybersecurity also includes protecting your devices physically to lower the risks of unauthorized access and usage.

Misconception 5 - Mainstream websites are safe

Hundreds of millions of people use social networking sites and applications like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. thinking these websites are secure and their personal information is safe. While the reality could not be further from the truth. Even the most established companies and websites are suffering from security breaches. It is better to limit and control how much and what type of information you publish online on various websites and applications.

Misconception 6 - Antivirus is enough for security

In today’s hostile cyberspace, it is a mistake to think that just installing the latest antivirus can protect your devices and data from cybersecurity attacks. Attack vectors of cybercriminals have evolved over time and have become more capable of causing irreversible damage on a larger scale. Depending on antivirus or firewalls alone to protect your digital footprint and data is not enough as cybercriminals can easily bypass even the most secure traditional security solutions. Implementing best cybersecurity practices is also important.

Misconception 7 - Security threats are easily detectable

If you consider yourself a tech-savvy individual with a good level of cybersecurity and threat awareness, you may feel confident in believing that you can easily identify cyber threats when you see them. Well, hate to burst your bubble, but this is where you are wrong. Cybersecurity education is a continuous process as the cybersecurity industry itself keeps changing and evolving. The threats you may know about can become obsolete after a couple of years or months as hackers use to leverage new technologies and new attack vectors to fulfill their malicious goals. Therefore, regularly learning about digital security measures and keeping yourself current with the latest cybersecurity threats and trends is the key to maximize your digital security and privacy.

As we live in a so-called digital era, mixed opinions and misinformation on the internet are very common. It always serves to learn about the cybersecurity industry trends and developments from reputed and official sources to ensure you only feed your brain the right information. Not only can this reduce the chances of myths and misconceptions but can also allow you to gain verified information and knowledge.