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What Is Cyber Security?

What is cyber security, and why is it so important? This guide will be a quick crash course for those feeling out of the loop.

By James LizowskiPublished 7 years ago 2 min read
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Cyber security has never been a bigger industry — and thanks to Russia, it's now one of the biggest news topics in tech. E-commerce platforms are also buzzing about cyber security and how to prevent attacks on their systems, too.

But, what is cyber security, anyway?

If you're a tech-averse person, it can sound pretty intimidating, but it really isn't. Cyber security is fairly easy to understand as a concept, and it's relatively easy to explain at its highest levels.

This article will help newbies to the tech world understand what cyber security is, what it's used for, and why it's so important to the world of online banking, commerce, and even the future of smart homes.

What is cyber security?

Whenever you surf the net, download an app, or use any website for any kind of transaction, you're sending personal data about yourself through the net. That information is sensitive, and can easily be used to hurt you or hurt the businesses that work with you.

Moreover, every site you used is also built on data and programs. Computer programmers work to ensure that the data can't be accessed by people and organizations who shouldn't access it — however, even the best programs have loopholes that people can exploit.

Hackers and other groups work to gain access to data in order to use it for their own personal gain. More often than not, these people do major amounts of damage to peoples' bank accounts and other peoples' companies. They might even sell your personal information on the Dark Web!

Cyber security is practice of making it difficult for hackers and other groups to steal information or break into programs and sites illegally. It protects you, your bank account, and the companies you enjoy.

What is cyber security done with?

Cyber security is done via hardware tools, software programs, and with a little help from common sense. There are cyber security tools out that that help scramble data, make it harder to "sniff" passwords, and also make it harder to make mistakes that could lead to a cyber attack. The number of tools are endless, and that's for another article.

Software used in cyber security can be found on almost every computer. You probably already know what cyber security software is. It's antivirus programs like Kaspersky, McAfee, and Avast! It's antispyware gear, too. Basically, these are the programs that help keep your computer safe.

Lastly, there's also a human element to cyber security. A little bit of common sense goes a long way, so not answering strange emails for Nigerian princes might be included as a cyber security practice to consider, too.

So, that's what cyber security is.

What is cyber security? It's what keeps you protected from the bad guys. It's really that simple. On the other hand, protecting yourself from those bad guys — that's not so simple. However, that's for another article off in the future.

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About the Creator

James Lizowski

Spends his days making his own Star Wars figurines. His craft has driven him to look towards the future, drawing inspiration from past technological advances.

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