Will Hackers Accidentally Make The Internet Safer?

Cyber security is more than just unique passwords or avoiding connecting to insecure networks. It may even be shocking to see just how close behind hackers can be, but the truth is that none of us is very far from the possibility of an attack. Any account is vulnerable, from your banking apps to your online retail profiles.

As consumers, we expect our favorite online vendors to keep their security up to date; it comes alongside terms and conditions, after all. But the simple truth is that no ones information is truly safe on the web. With computing and connectivity power growing exponentially every year, cyber criminals are just one step behind the latest security upgrades.

Some of us may already understand the tremendous risks that come along with protecting sensitive information online. Many users take advantage of VPNs, virtual private networks, to keep themselves safe. Relying on technology that creates a secure network while already using a public network, VPNs are a popular means of creating a virtual peer-to-peer connection. But even with access to VPNs, no one is really out of reach from a data breach.

The solution to the security problem lies with blockchain technology. Emerging in 2009 to support privacy with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain creates a a custom key for users; a key that is nearly impossible to hack. Blockchain technology will take the trust out of the equation of cyber security. The data silos like Google and Facebook will no longer be able to store big banks of data and therefore will no longer be a top target for cyber criminals.

By encouraging a decentralized web- a web that doesnt rely on giants like Google and Facebook to protect our information, blockchain will completely change the way we view our data. Users will own their data, and by extension, will become responsible for their data. Major breaches that affect millions of users all at once will become a thing of the past. Instead of hackers targeting large servers with access to millions of peoples data, they will have to move on to attacking individual users, and with a much lower likelihood of success.

But heres the real kicker: security and commerce have a symbiotic relationship. The threat of cyber attack is so real and imminent that entire companies have built their platform on protecting clients; mainly their big ticket clients. Security software needs cyber threats to make money, and companies rely on security software to protect them and their clients. Blockchain is a present solution, but how quickly it can be implemented is anyones guess.

So how does cyber crime actually make the internet better? With the baddies always just a password away, the endless race towards total cyber security encourages us to become smarter and more efficient with data. At some point were going to have to realize that what we are doing isnt working and needs to change. Take a look at this infographic for more on the ever changing landscape of cyber security , what the future holds for our data, and how we can keep ourselves safe.