Our lives constantly evolve from student life to career, becoming a parent, or experiencing the loss of a loved one. With each life transition, our online identity also changes, meaning how we use the internet and how others perceive us online.
But many people don’t realize that these life shifts bring new types of cybersecurity risks. I want to explain in a simple way how our use of online platforms changes over time and how we can stay safe along the way.
Student Life: Eager to learn, less cautious
As students, we use the internet for studying, social media, YouTube, or gaming purpose. But during this phase, we often don’t think much about security. For example:
• Using the same password everywhere
• Clicking on unknown links
• Logging into public Wi-Fi
What’s the risk?
This makes us easy to targets for hackers and scammers.
What should we do?
• Use strong and unique passwords
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Avoid unknown links and unsecured public Wi-Fi
Working Life: More responsibility, so security becomes essential
When we start working, we use tools like office email, video meetings and LinkedIn. Now, it's not just our own data at stake, we’re handling sensitive workplace information too.
What is the risk?
• Hacking, phishing emails, ransomware
• Leakage of companies confidential data
What should we do?
• Follow your company’s security policies
• Keep work and personal accounts separate
• Use a VPN to protect your internet connection
Parenthood: Love comes with a need for caution
As parents, instinctively we feel delighted, proud, and often together as a family, capture these beautiful moments to share on social media. This is something to reflect on:
•By sharing your child’s photo, memories or name, it is possible to have identity theft.
•Outsiders can gain access to your baby monitor or CCTV if they are not secured.
What we should do?
•Avoid sharing your child's personal information.
•Secure smart devices (e.g., CCTV) by changing their default passwords.
•Choose reputable apps and devices that prioritize security features.
Losing a loved one: Emotional pain and an opportunity for hackers
Enduring the loss of a loved one is extremely painful. This emotional time causes us to think less while we are online.
Managing the remaining online accounts of the deceased person becomes a daunting and uncharted task.
What’s the risk?
•Identity theft of the deceased becomes easier for hackers.
•Scamming people who used to know the deceased becomes easier to execute.
What we should do is?
•Understand the procedure for managing a digitally deceased loved one’s identity before they pass.
•Utilize Google and Facebook’s memorialized accounts feature when needed.
Just like how we adapt to new changes in life, our online interactions and how we need focus our attention on cybersecurity adapt accordingly.
So, we need to raise our security awareness and modify our practices as needed. Cybersecurity is far more than just technology; It’s an attitude, a way of life. Awareness enables us to safeguard not just our personal selves but the entire family as well.
The writer is a cybersecurity professional
