Safer Internet Day Starts with Better Personal Choices

As cyber threats continue to evolve, Safer Internet Day gives families the chance to empower each other on using technology correctly.

Tennessee Tech Cybersecurity Expert Eric Brown said cyber threats happen every single day. Brown said one of the biggest dangers that happens, is public WI-FI networks. Brown said these networks have the ability to track your information. To stay safe, Brown recommends a Virtual Private Network.

“I can start that VPN first and then I can do my work, and I can safely do my work because with a VPN, all of my traffic while it may be traveling over that public network is encrypted,” Brown said. “And I don’t have to worry about someone seeing what I’m doing. It’s encrypted traffic.”

Brown said two generations have now been raised to live their lives openly on social media. Brown said this can range from sharing a picture of a pet to posting about the last concert you attended. Brown also said now is more dangerous than ever, as leaving information online means people can and will use it against you.

“It grew out of our own convenience, ‘oh I can communicate with all my friends art once in one post,’” Brown said. “Well yes, and someone can gain more information about you in one post.”

Brown said cyberthreats have evolved over time, from the Nigerian prince scam to online scams. Brown said threats have evolved because of human connectivity. Brown said the more connected people are with all these tools, the easier threats have become to propagate cyber attacks.

“The more that we have moved to those platforms, the more cyber issues have come up,” Brown said. “We have to be more diligent not only in the design of the apps, and making them more secure, but where were using those apps and just be aware.”

Brown said in addition, AI threats are starting to take place all over. Brown said he sees language models generating more efficient emails to fool people. Brown said some of those emails look legit and, sadly, do get people to click the link.

“Anything that can help me write a better email to convince you to clink a link is a tool,” Brown said. “So we not have these large language models, and thats the general category were talking about when were talking about AI. Were talking about large language models like Chat GPT or those type of, gemini.”

Brown said there is a document online that was created for members of the Department of Defense that can be found publicly through United States Special Operations Command. Brown said the document has “smart cards” to help navigate the online world.

“It was a document developed to outline online safety measures for members of the department of defense,” Brown said. “But the things they recommend in that document are good for anyone including privacy settings for social media, search engine privacy settings and things like that.”

Safer Internet Day happens in the month of February and aims to not only create a safer internet but also a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively, according to Connect Safely.