Think: Prevent, Detect, Correct

Claudiu’s Observation: Cybercrime and data breaches are all preventable, but there is no magic bullet solution simply because smart people are behind it all. Some of these entrepreneurial criminals are hard workers, but they can’t – or won’t – target people and organizations that think in layers. This week I had the privilege to speak with 5 talented reporters about diverse topics from forged bank drafts to car theft.In each case, TV and radio audiences could understand that there is no single solution to targeted crimes.

The following links touch upon the complexity of presenting cybersecurity topics in a way that most audiences find digestible, but also show opportunities to bring clarity to all media coverage by illustrating the importance of thinking about the risk, the harm and the impact of crimes before vividly and unambiguously illustrating these simple layers of protection.

What Hidden Societal Impacts Await With The “Scourge Of Ransomware”? | Claudiu Popa | Cybersafety Expert

Our latest Media Cybersecurity Briefing applauds the Royal United Services Institute and the National Cyber Security Centre for exposing the layered harms caused by ransomware. This paper, often overlooked, serves as a vital anchor for journalists, urging a deep dive into the shocking consequences of extortion and shedding light on the real societal impacts beyond the monetary losses.

Claudiu PopaClaudiu Popa

Calls mount for better car security standards as feds schedule auto theft summit

New federal standards that could make Canadian vehicles a harder target for prolific car thieves are one of the outcomes stakeholders hope for as the Canadian government invites provinces and industry officials together for a national summit.

Toronto

Rising Threat Of Counterfeit Checks Sparks Joint Advisory

Authorities in Canada and the United States issue a joint Public Advisory to tackle the surge in counterfeit checks and money orders linked to fraud schemes. The advisory informs consumers about the risks, emphasizing precautions against depositing or transferring funds from these deceptive instruments and highlighting potential liabilities. Read More

To be clear, the media has an exciting role to play in encouraging the public to adopt preventative measures to stay safe from crimes, even in a climate where statistics are uncertain. But while critical thinking can be an effective prevention mechanism, it takes situational awareness to monitor and detect crimes as they occur.

Finally, corrective mechanisms including personal strategies and societal safeguards round out the simple approach to layered thinking that audiences have a great opportunity to understand… as long as they are accompanied by clear, vivid and unambiguous examples.

When interviewing certified professionals with relevant expertise, always ask:

For professional analysis and media soundbites by a certified security and privacy expert with 35 years of experience, click here to request an interview with Claudiu Popa, author of the Canadian Cyberfraud Handbook, CEO of Datarisk Canada, President of Managed Privacy Canada and co-founder of the KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation, Canada's only non-profit dedicated to bringing digital literacy to vulnerable sector audiences via accredited data protection professionals.