World Computer Security Day: Experts share key insights on safeguarding online accounts

As the world celebrates the 2024 edition of Computer Security Day, some leading experts in cybersecurity are shedding light on the increasing importance of protecting online accounts and personal information. This annual event, first observed in 1988, aims to raise awareness about cyber safety in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The Guardian highlights presentations from three distinguished cybersecurity experts—Ayo Agunbiade (Canada), Dr. Kehinde Ayano (United States), and Dipo Adewumi (United Kingdom)—offering practical tips to help individuals and organizations enhance their online security.

Ayo Agunbiade, a seasoned cybersecurity advisor with multiple certifications, emphasizes the prevalence of identity scams in today’s digital world. From phishing emails mimicking banks to fake giveaways on social media, scammers employ various tactics to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information.

Agunbiade explains that these scams often begin with unsolicited communications, creating a false sense of urgency, or offering outlandish promises. He advises individuals to exercise caution, especially when faced with suspicious links or messages that appear too good to be true.

To safeguard personal accounts, Agunbiade recommends creating strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. Regularly updating devices with antivirus software is another critical step. He also highlights the importance of verifying unsolicited communications and avoiding the sharing of sensitive information online or over the phone unless the recipient’s legitimacy is confirmed.

For those who suspect they may have been scammed, he suggests immediately changing passwords, securing financial accounts, and reporting incidents to authorities.

Dr. Kehinde Ayano, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Assistant Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, underscores the importance of cultivating cyber hygiene to prevent cyber threats. He explains that passwords, as the first line of defense, should be strong and unique, avoiding easily guessed information such as names or birthdays. Multi-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security through codes or biometric scans, is another crucial tool for protecting online accounts.

Ayano also warns against clicking on links or downloading attachments from unverified sources, as phishing attacks are a common method used by cybercriminals to steal credentials. He stresses the need to keep software updated to address vulnerabilities and suggests that individuals regularly monitor their accounts for unauthorized activity. By being cautious with personal information shared online and using secure networks, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Dipo Adewumi, an accomplished cybersecurity risk professional, focuses on the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Robotics. While these advancements bring significant benefits, they also introduce vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Adewumi notes the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, including ransomware and zero-day exploits, which target both individuals and organizations. He emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity awareness training to combat human-targeted attacks like phishing, which often rely on user error to succeed.

Adewumi also highlights the need for businesses and individuals to adopt strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates as basic measures to close security gaps. He calls for greater investment in cybersecurity technologies and manpower, especially in developing economies that often lack robust defense systems and are easy targets for global threat actors. Collaboration across borders is essential, with governments, private organizations, and academic institutions playing a key role in combating cybercrime and securing digital environments.

The experts agree that cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but a continuous process requiring vigilance, adaptation, and global cooperation. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and costly, the 2024 Computer Security Day serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding personal and organizational information. By embracing best practices and fostering a culture of security, individuals and institutions can contribute to a safer and more secure digital future.

The world has never witnessed the kind of technological advancement in history as it is being experienced today in terms of mind-blowing innovations, sophistication, complexities, disruption, and exciting socio-economical benefits. However, while the world celebrates and adopts novel technologies such as Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, Robotics, and Augmented Reality otherwise known as “emerging technologies”, it is highly imperative we accept that these emerging technologies come with inherent security risks that potentially endanger man’s well-being or its existence. Cybersecurity, a field within the technology space is aimed at preventing or mitigating these inherent security risks.

The Rising Threat Landscape
Cyber threats have become more sophisticated and frequent. Attack vectors like phishing, cyber fraud, ransomware, and zero-day exploits target vulnerabilities in systems, often leveraging human error to breach defences. The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024 highlights that the average cost of a data breach has risen to $4.45 million globally, underscoring the financial impact of inadequate security measures. Critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, and financial industries are among the most vulnerable, with attacks posing a threat to vital services. For instance, electrical infrastructure hacks could have disastrous social and economic repercussions, ransomware assaults on hospitals could impair patient care, and a distributed denial of service could bring a financial institution’s operations to a complete halt. Individuals are also not exempted from threats like cyber fraud that could wipe away one’s life savings overnight.

Cybersecurity awareness training is crucial to combating human-targeted attacks like phishing and its variants. A well-informed user base is often the first line of defense against cyber breaches.

Individuals and businesses should prioritize strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regular software updates to close vulnerabilities.

Developing economies should be deliberate about strengthening their economies by investing more in building both manpower and technologies to combat cyber threats. These economies, because of inadequate defence systems, are easy targets for global threat actors

The future of a secure digital world transcends the capability of the conventional armed forces, cybersecurity plays a crucial role through its best practices. Emerging technologies such as quantum encryption promise stronger safeguards, but they also bring new challenges. Governments, organizations, and individuals must remain adaptive to an ever-changing threat landscape. “Secure Our World” reminds us that cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but a continuous process. We can safeguard our world and guarantee a more secure digital future by cultivating a culture of security and making significant investments in defences.