The IT Nerd

The increasing connectivity and digitalization of our everyday lives and business processes are creating a world of new possibilities. At the same time, that world is also becoming more vulnerable. That’s why cybersecurity nowadays is more important than ever. But Ariel Hochstadt, tech enthusiast and co-founder of VPNmentor.com, thinks that many people are becoming indifferent to data breaches, hacks, and leaks. All of that might lead to even more cybersecurity issues worldwide. Ariel Hochstadt’ interview with another tech enthusiast, NordVPNs digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson.

Daniel Markuson: Lately I’m overwhelmingly surprised by the so-called privacy paradox. Even though people express privacy concerns and fear identity theft, they still reveal their sensitive details online very easily. Why, in your opinion, is it so? Do you think people know enough about digital privacy, cybersecurity, and various online threats? And why is cybersecurity more important than ever?

Ariel Hochstadt: Today cybersecurity is more important than ever because we are more digital than ever. It starts with the essentials, like phones, tablets, computers, and extends all the way to technological milestones designed to improve our lives – smart homes, smart cities, you name it.

But do people know enough about online security and privacy? I’d say no. Honestly, you don’t even need to be an expert in the field to make your own reasonable conclusion – for example, how many friends or relatives do you have that still struggle with their phones or laptops? How many of them have asked you about this annoying pop-up or inappropriate notification that keeps appearing “out of nowhere”? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

What people need to realize is that their smallest, seemingly benign actions are potentially tracked and analyzed every second – including basic stuff like mouse clicks or touchscreen taps. These days, cybersecurity companies can determine if you’ve been hacked just by detecting the slightest change in your mouse movement. We use this knowledge to help people stay safe, but that’s not the case with hackers, identity thieves, and other groups with bad intentions. In general, I believe people don’t pay enough attention to their digital lives – at least not until it’s too late.

Daniel Markuson: One of the craziest scams I’ve heard about is the so-called sextortion scam. Mainly because it bears a strong resemblance to an episode of the popular sci-fi series Black Mirror. Even though the blackmail threats are completely fake, so far this scam has been remarkably effective. Some sources say that criminals have netted more than $4 million in Bitcoin payments in just three months. This number may be even higher now. Do you remember other impressive or crazy scams, hacks, or other incidents that happened lately?

Ariel Hochstadt: That’s a pretty tough question! There’ve been a lot of them this year in particular, but the craziest one for me has to be the US Geological Survey employee that indirectly put a nasty piece of malware on government networks. They’d watch porn on a work computer – I think the number of adult websites visited was around 9,000. This is crazy enough by itself, but what really boggles my mind is the apparent lack of any filters or effective security measures to prevent this from happening. If crucial government infrastructure can be affected by poor judgment and malware, just imagine what threats average users are exposed to on a daily basis.

Daniel Markuson: We had an impressive first few months of 2019. First, the news about the Collection 1 containing the login information of 770 million people. Then a shady hacker put up for sale nearly 620 million online accounts stolen from 16 popular websites – later adding a second batch of 127 million records. Reports about various data breaches are coming in every day. What, in your opinion, can we expect in the future? Will 2019 get any better and safer?

Ariel Hochstadt: I’m afraid things will get worse in 2019, and in my opinion, there will be three major reasons as to why. One, there will be an increase in the number of devices and amount of sensitive information (passwords, banking credentials, etc.) online, while the common threats will remain the same – something as simple as a phishing email is still considered the most effective start to a ransomware attack, for example. Two, a whole new sector – crypto – is rapidly growing. The types of malware directed at crypto have increased more than twice this year, and unless the whole market suddenly drops dead, more headaches are certain in the near future. Three, there’s a real chance of “hack fatigue,” in other words, many people are likely to become indifferent to data breaches, hacks, and leaks. Both 2017 and 2018 had their share of cybercrime news and serious scandals, and the combination of constant headlines and blatant sensationalism works wonders for people’s tolerance to cyber threats – not in a good way, though.

With that said, the recent surge in debates and discussions is definitely a step in the right direction. I firmly believe that VPN sales will continue to grow – especially in the mobile sphere, where there’s a lot of untapped potential. I can also see other security measures, like anti-virus programs, making a strong comeback. In general, my opinion is that people are looking to improve their privacy and security online, but demand has shifted towards simple, efficient solutions along with the ability to trust a reputable provider.

Daniel Markuson: Every single day you Google things, visit blogs, buy online, pay bills, or browse Facebook. However, browsing the internet is turning into more of a minefield. This means security takes (or at least, should take) a high priority for us all. What are your personal methods to stay safe online every day?

Ariel Hochstadt: It’s pretty common stuff, honestly! *laughs* I always use a VPN, particularly when I’m using public/unsecured networks. I keep my passwords organized and encrypted with the help of a manager app, and I run an anti-malware scan at least once a week. Sometimes, the simple solutions work best, but if there’s one piece of advice I’d like readers to take to heart, it’s this – be consistent and responsible. Don’t click mindlessly on links in suspicious emails, and definitely try to avoid apps and websites that bombard you with annoying ads. I believe that if you don’t have a game plan for staying safe on the internet in 2019, you aren’t doing the global web community any favors. Lastly, it may sound a little rich coming from someone who’s invested in the cybersec field and does this for a living, but I advise reading up on new cyber threats and relevant cybersecurity news – staying up to date with the situation can certainly help to prepare you for new risks online.