As technology continues to evolve and pour into almost every aspect of our lives, the need for cyber/digital security has become more critical than ever. Cybersecurity is no longer just a concern for IT professionals, but for everyone who uses technology to communicate, conduct business, and store sensitive information.

Our youths are being taught about IT more and more, it is already a mandatory part of our education, but teachings on IT security are still not integrated as much as they should be.

Although, the younger generations are mostly aware of the digital threats they can be facing when using their computer, phones, tablets, etc., as they were growing up with technology.

Older adults might face a small deficit in knowledge, when it comes to IT and IT security, in this ever-evolving world of technology.

That’s why adult education is an essential component of cybersecurity because it can help individuals understand the risks associated with using technology and how to protect themselves and their assets. Adult education programs can provide training on a variety of topics, including safe online practices, data protection, password management, and identifying and preventing cyberattacks.

Ironically, It is important to note, that sources report that the education sector has become an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals. As schools and universities rely more on technology to deliver educational content and manage administrative tasks, they become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. It’s therefore essential that teachers, parents, and students work together to promote safe and secure online behavior.

For teachers, this means incorporating cybersecurity education into the curriculum and providing regular training on cybersecurity best practices.

Parents also have an important role to play in promoting cybersecurity in education. They should have open and honest conversations with their children about the risks of the internet and how to stay safe online. But here we come back to the fact about the importance of adult education on cybersecurity. If a parent was to promote cybersecurity to his child, he should have proficient knowledge of at least the basics of cybersecurity.

Students themselves need to be aware of the risks of the internet and take steps to protect their personal information. This includes practicing good password hygiene and avoiding clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrusted sources

The importance of cyber security has never been so critical as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The COVID-19 pandemic has made online working and learning essential, but this has also created new privacy and data protection challenges.

Another source states that the education sector has seen a significant increase in cyber attacks, with 7.2% of total breaches reported in recent times.

To address this, it is important to increase awareness of internet security and educate users about cyber threats and the vulnerability of computers and data. This will help to bring about behavioral changes needed to tackle the challenges of our ever-expanding digital society and culture.

Apart from the education sector, applications used by consumers, such as online shopping and social media platforms, are the most at risk of being hacked. The reason behind this is that these applications often have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers, who are constantly looking for ways to steal data or cause harm.

Attacks on web applications have increased over the years, for example, 22% more attacks happened in 2020 than in 2019. This trend is continuing and will to continue, as the use of web applications becomes more widespread.

To reduce the risk of attacks, companies need to invest in secure coding practices and regularly test their web applications for vulnerabilities. Additionally, consumers – everyday users – should also take steps to protect themselves, such as using strong and unique passwords for each online account, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious of suspicious emails or messages.

For companies to invest in secure practices, and for consumers to protect themselves and think critically when browsing the web, proper education on the matter needs to be distributed.

To conclude, in almost every aspect of online use of technology, cybersecurity, and risk awareness need to come into play.

To be active and strive in a digital environment, we all need to be comprehensively and properly educated on cybersecurity and digital risks.

Education should be even more emphasized on adults, trainers, educators, teachers, and university professors, so they can properly transfer the knowledge to the younger generation, who are and will be getting increasingly accustomed to the digital world.

References:

Cybersecurity in Education: What Teachers, Parents and Students Should Knowhttps://bootcamp.berkeley.edu/blog/cybersecurity-in-education-what-teachers-parents-and-students-should-know/

The influence of social education level on cybersecurity awareness and behaviour: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9245513/

Consumers Survey Results: Web Applications Most at Risk of Getting Hacked & Consumers’ Online Risky Behavior: https://www.invicti.com/blog/news/consumers-web-applications-most-risk-hacked/