For me it was the Internet!

The other day I went out to dinner with my wife and eldest son. While we were waiting for our food to arrive, our son asked us what we thought the current greatest technological achievement is; specifically, a technology that we never would have imagined as kids. My answer was simple, the Internet. A worldwide network of interconnected computers where information could be shared had no doubt changed the world in much the same way the industrial revolution did two hundred years earlier.

Then, I went on to say, for all its glory, the Internet has created a new breed of miscreant. Like humans have for centuries, there are those who use technological advances for personal gain by stealing from others. The Internet has opened the door to a new criminal, the cybercriminal. Operating in an environment where you need not see your victim, one where you can wreak havoc from the other side of the globe, has its advantages.  

When a mugger robs someone in the street, it's usually up close and personal. He (usually a male) looks at, and often selects his victim carefully. Cybercriminals need not worry about physical characteristics, but instead how well someone is safeguarding information assets. There are still too many unprotected victims who fall prey to cyber crime because they have no idea just how to protect themselves as they travel the information superhighway. Malicious hackers and malware are waiting for their next victim. Firewalls, encryption of sensitive data and good AV software can mitigate the dangers of the Internet, but will never fully eliminate it. You need to use some common sense, too. Don't leave your laptop unattended and be sure to keep all your OS, apps and AV software up-to-date at all times.