【Technology English-16】The future of cybersecurity (網路安全的未來)

The future of cybersecurity | FT Around the world, cybercrime is on the rise. By 2050, smart cities and homes will be the norm. Your fridge will tell a drone to pick up fresh milk when you run out, and lampposts will change the intensity of street lights when smartphones and, therefore, humans are nearby. In this hyperconnected world, the threat cyber-criminals pose will only grow. In the home, smart devices, including voice assistants, vacuum cleaners, and toilets, will be easy pickings for hackers. While these poorly secured gadgets do not store sensitive data themselves, they link to others that do and are vulnerable access points for criminals. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword. While AI systems can help to identify incoming threats, attackers could also use them to unearth vulnerabilities. In future, foreign powers or cyber-criminals could cripple a country's electricity network by taking over the AI that controls it, or they could cut off the water supply or even cause traffic chaos on the roads. AI could also help identify fraudsters by generating deepfakes. These digital doppelgangers are currently a novelty, but the techniques used to create them are rapidly improving, with increasingly realistic depictions of people. So far, they've mostly been used as part of revenge pornography. But a realistic digital avatar could be a useful cover for wheedling key details such as passwords or bank details out of targets. But the struggle to keep systems secure is not hopeless. By 2050, much poorly written and outdated code will be removed and replaced by more secure alternatives. Even passwords could be phased out, obsolete, and less secure than facial recognition software. Deepfakes could be beaten by constant verification systems that track eye movement, faces, and keystrokes to ensure the person behind the keyboard is who they claim to be. But that risks putting cybersecurity over privacy. Policymakers and designers must work hard to ensure that this does not become a binary choice. References (optional) What is blockchain? Modern technology allows people to communicate directly. Voice and Video calls, Emails, pictures, and instant messages travel directly from A to B, maintaining trust between individuals no matter how far apart they are. When it comes to money, people have to trust a third party to be able to complete a transaction. Blockchain Technology is challenging the status quo in a radical way. By using math and cryptography, blockchain provides an open, decentralized database of any transaction involving value: money, goods, property, work, or even votes, creating a record whose authenticity can be verified by the entire community. The future global economy will move towards one of distributed property and trust, where anyone with access to the internet can get involved in blockchain-based transactions, and third-party trust organizations may no longer be necessary. The uses of blockchain technology are endless. Some expect that in less than 10 years, it will be used to collect taxes. It will make it easier for immigrants to send money back to countries where access to financial institutions is limited. Financial fraud will be significantly reduced, as every transaction will be recorded on a public and distributed ledger, which will be accessible by anyone who has an internet connection. Think of it as wills and contracts that execute themselves or dated proof of existence for ideas, much like a patent. Blockchain will become a global decentralized source of trust, but not everyone is ready to embrace it. A huge proportion of trust services, from banking to notaries, will face challenges in price, volume, and in some cases, their very survival. Public authorities could find it more and more difficult to enforce traditional financial regulations due to the new possibilities offered by the Bitcoin network, to bypass traditional financial intermediaries. Unimagined new networks will evolve to meet society's needs more cheaply and potentially more securely. Will governments, financial and legal institutions embrace blockchain? What will happen to the ones who don't? Blockchain - summary It is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain.

What does a blockchain do? What is blockchain technology? Blockchain technology is an advanced database mechanism that allows transparent information sharing within a business network . A blockchain database stores data in blocks that are linked together in a chain.
What is Cryptography? It is the process of hiding or coding information so that only the person a message was intended for can read it . The art of cryptography has been used to code messages for thousands of years and continues to be used in bank cards, computer passwords, and e-commerce.
Pros and Cons of Using Blockchain For Your Business Blockchain technology: What it is, benefits, and its cross-industry applications
What are the benefits of blockchain? Blockchain is a secure, transparent, and efficient way to share data across multiple parties.  Blockchain cannot be altered or reversed, which means participants can trust the data that they are presented with. In addition, blockchain’s confidential nature protects users from identity theft, making it attractive to consumers and businesses alike.  Blockchain enables businesses to transact in real time at any hour of the day, any day of the year. This is a contrast from bank transfers and payments that are only available during business hours and have cutoff times.  Blockchain also lowers costs for businesses, especially those that have high-value, high-volume transactions that cause fees to add up.  According to a forecast by research firm Gartner, by 2026, the business value added by blockchain will increase to over $360 billion . Then, by 2030, that will increase to more than $3.1 trillion. With current and future trends, blockchain is predicted to make a big revolution in the coming decades. Advantages of IoT Devices There are several advantages of these smart devices and some of them are given below. IoT encourages the interaction between devices, called machine-to-machine interaction. It provides good automation and control. Integrated with more technical information, so it is better to operate. IoT possesses a strong monitoring feature. It saves a lot of time. IoT helps to save more money by reducing manual tasks and time. Automating daily life tasks makes for good monitoring of devices. Increased efficiency and time-saving. Good features make for a better quality of life.
Disadvantages Though there are several advantages, there are certain disadvantages too. Enlisted below are the various demerits: Internet of Things devices do not have any international compatibility standard. They may become highly complex resulting in failure. Internet of Things devices may be affected by privacy and security breaches. Reduced safety for users. Reduction in the employment of manual tasks, thus resulting in job reductions. Internet of Things devices may take control of life in due course of time with increasing AI technology.
18 Most Popular IoT Devices In 2024
22 IoT Devices Connecting the World Top tips for staying secure online Top tips for staying secure online. Use a strong and separate password for your email. Install the latest software and app updates. Turn on 2-step verification (2SV) Password managers: using browsers and apps to safely store your passwords. Backing up your data. Three random words. Links What Is the Future of the Blockchain Revolution? Top 10 Internet Safety Rules & What Not to Do Online
Online fraud attempts are up 25% in the US—here’s why 15 Applications for Blockchain Technology 13 Profitable E-Commerce Business Ideas For 2024 Discussion Questions (Cybersecurity) A2 Level (Elementary) What is cybersecurity? Why is it important to have passwords? What is a computer virus? How can you keep your computer safe? What should you do if you see something strange on your computer? Why shouldn’t you share your password with others? What is a hacker? How can you protect your personal information online? What does a firewall do? Why is it important to update your computer? What are some safe websites you know? How do you know if an email is safe to open? What can happen if your computer is not secure? Why is it important to log out of websites? What are some rules you should follow when using the internet? How can you make a strong password? Why should you be careful when downloading files? What does it mean to encrypt data? How do professionals protect computer systems? What should you do if you lose your device?
B1 Level (Intermediate) Discuss the different types of cyber threats. How do firewalls protect your computer? What are the dangers of using public Wi-Fi? How can you recognize a phishing attack? Discuss the importance of data encryption. What are the consequences of a data breach? How can you secure your mobile device? What are some common cybersecurity myths? Discuss the role of antivirus software. How can businesses protect themselves from cyberattacks? What is two-factor authentication, and how does it work? How does social engineering work in cyberattacks? Discuss the impact of cybersecurity on online privacy. What should you do if your personal information is compromised? How can you safely use social media? Discuss the importance of backing up your data. What are some signs that your computer might be infected? How do governments protect against cyberattacks? What is the role of cybersecurity professionals? What are the future challenges of cybersecuirty?