Cyber Security Issues You Can Solve as a Cyber Security Student
Home Depot, The National Security Agency, Target, and even the FBI, cybercriminals are successfully penetrating even the most protected government agencies and high-profile companies. The recent NSA breach was alarming, and you don’t need a cybersecurity expert to understand that there is a dire need for cybersecurity professionals now more than ever.
Cyber-attacks have been grabbing headlines for the last few years, and according to recent research, there aren’t enough cybersecurity professionals to help fight cybercrime in the years to come, and the current skilled workforce isn’t sufficient to fight today’s threats. It is estimated that companies will face a shortage of nearly two million qualified cybersecurity professionals by the year 2022.
The evidence is in the numbers; there is a need for more cybersecurity experts. To increase these numbers, the government and education institutions are encouraging students to attain the necessary qualifications and join the cybersecurity field. To pursue a career in this field, a degree is essential. While it can be a significant investment in both money and time, the ROI is almost guaranteed. According to Forbes, the increasing number and sophistication of cyber threats are expected to grow to $170 billion by the year 2020 which means salaries are soaring and the job outlook is strong.
Cybersecurity Threats You Can Handle as a Student
Phishing: One of the things you will learn is never to open random attachments or click on links in suspicious emails. You need a compelling reason to click or open such an attachment. Cybercriminals know this, and when they want you to divulge sensitive information or install malware, they use phishing techniques or pretend to be something or someone to lure you into taking an action that you wouldn’t normally do. Because they heavily rely on human curiosity, it can be difficult to stop. To combat phishing, never open emails links or attachments that you haven’t verified the sender.
Malware: This refers to malicious or harmful software such as ransomware. Attackers use different methods to install malware on your PC, but most of the time you will have to take some form of action to install it. This can include clicking a download link or opening an attachment that looks harmless such as word document, but it contains malware. However, an antivirus can help detect malicious file attachments early.
Sometimes virus and malware can get into your computer without being detected by the antivirus, especially if you don’t keep them current. The number of new threats also makes it easy to outsmart security software. To protect yourself from cybercriminals, it’s important that you enable daily scans to add an extra layer of security. Daily scans will detect, isolate and remove infections that have escaped your security software’s attention.
Credentials Reuse: As a student, you have many logins and passwords to remember, and you may be tempted to reuse your credentials to make your work easier. Cyber attackers can get your credentials from a breached website (easy to acquire from black market websites), and can, therefore, use your credentials on other websites and be able to log in. To avoid such occurrences, security best practices demand that you always use unique passwords for all applications and websites.
How Formal Education will Help You Learn Everything about Cyber Security
If you want to contribute to the war against cybercrime by keeping companies safe from cyber terrorists, formal education will equip you with all the skills you need. To pursue your degree in cybersecurity, you will need a strong background in math or computer science. A formal cybersecurity program will feature elements of computer science, computer engineering, and management. They also have softer areas such as legal and ethical issues. Public speaking and technical writing will also be part of your career requirements because you will have to communicate complicated technical jargon to individuals who aren’t as tech-savvy.
The internet is full of information, and it is undoubtedly one of the greatest resources for learning. While the internet has changed the phase of education, it hasn’t replaced the need for formal education.
Benefits of a Cybersecurity Degree vs. Learning on Your Own
When teaching yourself, you can misinterpret information and overlook some important points. You can overcome these challenges through formal teaching programs. Additionally, professional experience is important, formal education is essential for certifications and advancement in a corporate environment.
Want to Help in the War against Cybercrime?
Are you interested in joining the digital fight against cyber criminals? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security, ECPI University offers this degree at an accelerated rate. For more information about this exciting program, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Cybersecurity Track - Bachelor's
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.