I graduated from George Washington University this past weekend with a Master’s in Cybersecurity focusing on Policy and Compliance.
Our commencement speaker was Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. This was a full circle moment for me as his book, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice & Redemption, was the common book (a book given to all students) the year I started undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University.
During his address on Sunday, Mr. Stevenson encouraged everyone to do uncomfortable things.
In the context of Cybersecurity, having different passwords for your accounts may be uncomfortable, but it will protect you from financial fraud and identity theft- the most common types of fraud for individuals. Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native women are most likely to be victims of cybercrime.
He noted that “hopelessness is the enemy of justice” when we accept the status quo and underestimate our ability to be changemakers, that is when injustice wins.
This made me think about the infrastructure bill and the push to provide broadband access to underserved populations. It is essential to remember that if broadband access is not coupled with cybersecurity training, it increases the likelihood that newcomers to the digital space are susceptible to becoming victims of fraud. The two issues are interconnected and should be addressed to ensure all users’ safety and security.
While access to high-speed internet connectivity is necessary to enable digital participation and fair economic growth, it also increases vulnerabilities to cyber threats.
In fact, 91% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email to an unexpected victim.
Bridging the digital divide goes beyond mere broadband access—it requires equipping marginalized communities with the knowledge and resources to navigate the digital world securely. Digital literacy programs and cybersecurity training initiatives must accompany investments in broadband infrastructure- empowering individuals with the necessary skills and tools to fully participate in the digital age and protect themselves from cyber threats.
One of the biggest challenges within Cybersecurity is not harm caused by malicious actors but rather the hurdle of convincing people to look past the inconvenience necessary to protect themselves and acknowledge that they can be a target of cybercrime.
So behalf of all my classmates, please create passwords that are sentences- they are significantly harder to crack.
Congratulations to my fellow class of 2023 graduates!
