News Knowledge brings security. Be a Human Firewall 24/10/2023

João Gabriel, Consultant at GPA Law Firm, shares his thoughts on European Cybersecurity Month.

In addition to various one-off initiatives this month, including the #BeSmaterThanAHacker campaign, cybersecurity should be a year-round concern.

As stated by the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre (CNCS) in the fourth edition of the Risks & Conflicts 2023 Report:

"The main challenges to cyberspace of national interest in 2023 and 2024 relate to:

1. The increase in the attack surface
2. The sophistication of some threat agents
3. The difficulty in attributing responsibility and
4. The lack of cybersecurity literacy and specialists."

In other words:

1. There are more connected devices, more online services, in other words, more doors to defend.
2. Technological advances benefit society, but they also make life easier for attackers.
3. We all like our privacy, including the attackers, who hide behind masks and motives, just like in a spy film.
4. If, on the one hand, access to online services or technology cannot be denied to anyone for lack of knowledge, on the other hand, using technology without the ability to understand the risks of using it can turn those who are forced to use new technological means into victims.

How can we meet these challenges?

There is no straightforward answer or magic formula, but knowledge, its dissemination, study and investment are certainly an asset in facing them. And if knowledge doesn't take up space, in this case it can close doors, preventing more users from becoming victims of opportunistic criminals.

A firewall is a technological system that creates a barrier preventing attackers from entering networks and systems, whether at home or at work. Knowledge is a human system that creates a barrier that prevents attackers from entering our lives.

Understanding your surroundings, including how to use technology, without making it easy, such as using strong passwords, locking your devices, not connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, being suspicious of emails from strangers, allows you to become a Human Firewall.

Want to know if you're a human firewall? The European Cybersecurity Agency and the European Commission are offering this quiz: https://cybersecuritymonth.eu/quiz