Recently, United Airlines, the New York Stock Exchange, and The Wall Street Journal were shut down for several hours for technological reasons. Although hackers weren’t the cause for these glitches, cyber attacks are increasing and people should take precaution. Though the U.S. government spends several billion dollars on cybersecurity, the government continues getting hacked. Even the Hacking Team, a company that creates and sells spy tools to several government agencies, was hacked recently. As we rely more and more on computer systems, it is easier for hackers to access information and corrupt a nation. For instance, many Starbucks lovers use the Starbucks app to pay; however, hackers are able to access bank information through this app.

Also, there is a high likelihood that a major cyber attack will happen in the future, which will not only affect data and information, but also affect infrastructure such as public transportation systems and air traffic control systems. For example, hackers managed to hack into the control systems of a German steel mill by using a spear phishing scam. Consequently, the blast furnace went out of control and created a huge damage to the mill. Additionally, this predicted cyberattack will likely cause thousands of lives and property to be destroyed, costing thousands of dollars. To prepare for this, there should be more awareness of cybersecurity so people can take action and prevent having their information stolen by hackers.

All in all, people need to realize how important cybersecurity is in the world today. As technology advances and people begin to depend on it more, it becomes crucial to invest in cybersecurity because there will be even more cyber attacks. People need to protect their information and be prepared for the worst-case scenario of a cyberattack.