THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Paranoia still your best defence against cyberattacks

Paranoia still your best defence against cyberattacks

Many of us believe cybersecurity problems can be solved with technical wizardry. But it is not enough to just beef up system defences.

Individual Internet users must make it their responsibility to prevent cyberattacks with a daily ritual.
The truth is, many firms still don’t take cybersecurity seriously, treating it as an afterthought. Meanwhile employees often lack basic housekeeping habits, which hampers their ability to protect themselves online.
Government and employers should insist that their employees apply updates and fixes when flaws are found, and force them to change their passwords monthly.
Regulations should be in place to make firms disclose hacks on their computers and to make sure they fix the problem.
Even more importantly, firms, government agencies and workers must cultivate a mindset of paranoia, where the default assumption is that everything on the Internet of Things is vulnerable.
It is impossible to make computers completely safe. Good security cultures take time to develop, and we must start now.
It is also time for software developers to pay more attention to the security of their products.
Currently, licence agreements typically disclaim any liability on the part of the software firm if things go wrong, even if the products are designed to protect computers against viruses.
Perhaps the authorities could allow for legal recourse when a product proves vulnerable, resulting in significant costs to users.
Freelance bug-hunters could also be hired to claim bounties should they discover viruses or hacks.
Francis Cheng
Straits Times/ANN

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