Why Cybersecurity

 

Let’s Talk About Guarding the Human Side of Tech

Last month, a close friend—a small business owner—called me in a panic. One of her popular messaging app hacked, entire customer database, including some payment details, gone. She hadn’t backed up her files, phone, the messaging app and her entire livelihood was at risk.

That moment wasn’t just about “data.” It was about the hours she’d spent building trust with her customers.

The MGM Resorts breach. Hackers didn’t just “disrupt systems.” They stranded guests who couldn’t check into rooms, paralyzed slot machines in Vegas, and reportedly cost the company $100M. All from a single social engineering attack.

This is why cybersecurity matters to me.

We live in a world where a phishing email can wipe out a family’s savings. Where a hospital’s network outage during COVID meant doctors couldn’t access patient records. Where even your smart fridge could become a hacker’s backdoor.

It’s not just firewalls and encryption. It’s about protecting the human moments that tech enables:

• The grandma video-calling her grandkids overseas.
• The farmer in rural Countries accessing microloans via mobile banking.
• The nurse relying on connected devices to monitor ICU patients.
• The truck driver/Uber whose GPS was spoofed, rerouting his cargo to thieves.
• The teen whose college fund (School fees) was drained after clicking a fake link.

We’re not just protecting data. We’re protecting:

• The paycheck deposits in your bank account.
• The wedding photos stored in a cloud.
• The local charity that can’t afford to lose donor records. etc.

I don’t love cybersecurity because I’m obsessed with code. I love it because we’re the guardians of normalcy. Every time we patch a vulnerability, train someone to spot a scam, or design safer systems, we’re protecting real people’s lives from chaos.

The scary part? The “bad guys” aren’t slowing down. AI-generated deepfakes are making scams eerily convincing. Ransomware gangs now target schools and nonprofits. Even your car’s software can be weaponized.

But here’s the hope: Every one of us can do something.

• If you’ve ever taught your parents/colleagues/friends not to click suspicious links? You’ve contributed.
• If you’ve argued for better password policies at work? That’s cybersecurity.
• If you’ve stayed curious about how tech really works? You’re already part of the solution.
• When you enable two-factor authentication on your mom’s email/social media platforms? That’s cybersecurity.
• When you advocate for employee training at work? That’s cybersecurity.
• When you question that “too-good-to-be-true” DM? That’s cybersecurity.

I don’t do this work because I love firewalls. I do it because security is the foundation of everything we build. Without it, innovation is just a house of cards.

So why cybersecurity? Because it’s not a “tech issue”—it’s a human issue. And right now, the world needs more people who care about both.

So next time you hear “cybersecurity,” think beyond code. Think about the locksmith who keeps a neighborhood safe. The parent teaching their kid to look both ways before crossing the street. The community that watches out for one another.

That’s what we’re really protecting.

Stay safe. Stay curious.

If you’ve ever survived a “why is my computer beeping?!” call from a relative, you’re basically already in the club.

If you’ve ever yelled “DON’T CLICK THAT LINK!” at your screen while helping a relative… you’re already one of us.

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