Cybersecurity

Similar to physical belongings, it’s important to protect our digital information from unintentional loss, theft, and harmful manipulation. What are some of the ways to keep our information secure?

Whether it be using complex passwords, VPNs, or firewalls, there are many ways to protect personal data from those who might threaten it. As more and more data is being collected on the Internet and digital devices, methods of protecting this valuable data from attack is increasingly necessary. In this section, you’ll gain a better understanding of how data is stored and protected, ultimately making you a safer and more aware user of technology.

• Lecture

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  • Lecture Notes

• Notes

  • Cybersecurity

• Supplementary Resources

  • Nick Rosener on An In-Depth Guide to Personal Cybersecurity
  • Andrea Valdez on Everything You Need to Know About Facebook and Cambridge Analytica
  • Lily Hay Newman on The Worst Cybersecurity Breaches of 2018 So Far
  • Patrick Lin on Why Cyberattacks Could be War Crimes

• Thought Questions

  • Should basic computer security knowledge be common knowledge? Is it?
  • Does security come at the cost of convenience?
  • Many companies are now using cookies and other storage of user information to personalize their services. What are the implications of the collection and application of this data? (Hint: Read this article on cookies for more information on them.)
  • How does SSL work to secure personal information sent over the internet? (Hint: Use this guide to SSL if you need a refresher on SSL.)
  • How do we detect breaches in cybersecurity? (Hint: Check out this article on common types of security breaches and this article on tools and tips for identifying them.)

• Problems

  • Defender of the Web