/First Cybersecurity Summit keeps hackers and terrorists at bay

First Cybersecurity Summit keeps hackers and terrorists at bay

Security experts in Mississippi warn that cyber threats can also occur closer to home. Consumers often don’t know how to deal with them. Melissa Wiggins from Mississippi College, a professor of computer science, said that “I think everyone pretty much believes it’s someone else’s responsibility.” The 2018 Mississippi College Cybersecurity Summit will be held Tuesday night and Wednesday. It will provide a user-friendly way to understand cybersecurity threats and issues for businesses, government, and everyday consumers. Topics such as cybersecurity policy, protection, and cybersecurity from the state government’s perspective, anti-terrorism strategies, small business risk management, regulations in the banking industry, policy and protection, and cybersecurity for small businesses will be covered at this event. The summit will open Tuesday night with a panel discussion that will discuss cybersecurity issues that could expose the average person to an attack. Wiggins stated that panelists will discuss the use of online tools like social media and games by radical organizations and terrorist groups to recruit their members. Maeghin Alarid, a policy analyst at Toeroek Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be speaking. She was a Defense Nuclear Weapons School terrorist instructor and is a published researcher. The summit is expected to attract up to 300 participants. Wiggins, who is also the chief organizer of the summit, stated that many data breaches are caused by consumers and small businesses not paying attention to security, or not having the necessary background. Wiggins stated, “We want people understand that it can be complex, but also simple, to ensure we keep our identities, financial information, and ourselves safe.” We want businesses and industries to realize that there are many things they may not have considered. This is a relatively new field.” Wiggins stated that this conference is the first in Mississippi to educate consumers in a consumer-friendly manner about personal cybersecurity risks and national threats like cybersecurity warfare. After attending the Montreat College RETR3AT Cybersecurity conference in North Carolina, Wiggins was inspired to organize this summit at Mississippi College. Wiggins stated that the summit will offer cybersecurity tools and resources in relation to a wide range of topics and industries, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, business, and cryptocurrency. Wiggins stated that people use social media, email and internet banking on their smartphones. It is essential to have a secure device for these activities. Wiggins stated that hackers could use insecure devices to steal money. The launch coincides with Mississippi College’s new graduate and certificate programs in cybersecurity studies. This field is growing rapidly in the United States. Wiggins stated that the event will focus on educating the public about the new jobs in the industry. Cybersecurity is a growing concern for Mississippi. ProPublica reported last fall that hackers could gain access to names, addresses, birthdates, and the last four digits from social security numbers that were shared by the Mississippi Secretary-of-State’s office with a voter clearinghouse. One of the panels will be moderated by Joe Stradinger (CEO and founder of EdgeTheory content and media company). It will focus on “Bitcoin Blockchain & Cryptocurrency”. According to Stradinger, many small and medium-sized companies could be shut down within six months after a cyberattack. Stradinger stated that there are few things in life that could really ruin you. It affects all aspects of our lives, including our children, our families, and our businesses._x000D