Future Skills

CHAPTER 4DIGITAL THREAT AWARENESS

As the world becomes more digital, so too do the approaches taken by criminals and other nefarious characters. And this brings with it many digital threats that impact our personal and professional lives—from having our personal account credentials stolen to organizational systems being hacked. On top of this, there are issues like digital addiction on the rise.

In this chapter we'll look at the biggest digital threats that apply to everyday life, then move onto the key techniques employed by cybercriminals. Because we're covering multiple digital threats within the same chapter, you'll notice I've included the “how-to” tips in with each section, rather than in a standalone section at the end of the chapter.

What Is Digital Threat Awareness, and Why Does It Matter?

Digital threat awareness essentially means being aware of the dangers of being online or using digital devices—and having the tools to keep yourself (and your organization) safe. This is vital because more and more of our lives involve a digital element. We bank online. We shop online. We use digital communication tools. We read the news online. We track our personal fitness with digital tools. We order the Friday night takeaway from our phones. We receive updates from our children's schools via social media. We make doctors' appointments and order repeat prescriptions online. Our digital footprints are bigger than ever.

And this digital footprint spans both personal and working ...