It's a (Cyber) War Zone Out There

Cyber attacks have been around nearly as long as the internet (way waaaay back in the day we would hack into our college servers but that was before cyber security was even a thing and professors would ask nicely that whoever was accessing their servers please stop doing that).  Unfortunately the cyber attacks we are seeing these days are no joke and instead of being an annoyance that needs a quick fix, the things hackers are doing these days can impact--in a very bad way--ordinary people's everyday lives.

Can you imagine showing up for surgery and having it cancelled due to a cyber attack on your hospital?  It's happening now.  Can you imagine having your critical data held hostage?  The nuclear power plant down the road being hacked?  The major food companies being brought to a stand still?  Those things are happening too.

In the grand scheme of things, the ordinary person is pretty helpless when it comes to relying on the powers that be to secure our major infrastructure.  However, on a personal level, there are things you can do to preemptively head off major issues when it comes to massive cyber attacks...

• Begin with basic data protection and security steps to secure your private information.  And for even more personal security tips check out this list.
• If you are a web developer (or just a hobbyist) consider these tips.  
• I'll add a few more web dev tips: host your site names and websites with different companies, always back up your websites, if your web host is repeatedly hacked switch to a better one.
• Here are even more ways to stop cyber attackers from gaining access via your computer.
• Realize that hackers can also target your smart phone, your medical devices, and even your car.
• Protect your smart home from cyber attack.
• Prep your home for a "back to the stone age" scenario.  Do you have cash at home in a secure location (in case banks are shut down)?  Can you open your garage door/home if the power is out?  Can you still cook and heat your house if the power grid goes down?  Do you have alternate modes of transport if your car becomes hacked and therefore undriveable?  What would your home security plan be if all of your electronic security measures (security cameras, security sensors, etc) ceased to function?
• Do you and your family members have ways to entertain yourselves (woodworking with hand tools, knitting, reading actual books, etc) if there is no internet/electricity?  You would be amazed at how many people can hardly function without their cell phone/social media/laptop/video games/Kindle/etc.
• Be proactive in keeping your business secure from cyber attacks (or encourage your employer to do this).  Some tips on how to do this here.
• Stay up to date with the latest cyber security news: good resources here, here, and here.  If you really want to dive into the weeds consider attending DefCon, BlackHat, or InfoSec