Why Digital Defense Is A Must
EBONY S. MUHAMMAD
So what sparked my passion in Digital Defense and Cyber Security? Along with being a proud member of the Nation Of Islam and the Farrakhan Twitter Army, there have been a few significant events. Several years ago The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan stated during the 24th installment of The Time and What Must Be Done lecture series his thoughts on Edward Snowden who exposed the NSA's domestic spying scandal. He stated:
"In the early part of June 2013, do you remember on the news a young man named Edward Snowden, 29 years of age, who was working for a company (Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and technology consulting firm) that did work for the National Security Agency (“NSA”)—and he 'blew the whistle' on the NSA spying on American citizens? Oh, they are trashing that young man today… And some believe that they will seek him out to kill him."
He continued:
"I don’t know what his religious persuasion is, but if any man was a 'follower of Christ,' it would be him. Jesus said: 'If any man would be my disciple, he must first deny himself'—this young man denied himself a $200,000-a-year job; denied his girlfriend, denied his family; denied his place in his own country so that he could make the American people know that they are being spied on—and to listen to the officials of the National Security Agency on television, saying to the government: 'Oh, no… We are not doing this to the American people! I mean, we are just looking, you know, where the ‘terrorists’ are!' You are such a noble liar! You can’t help it; you love to lie. But you know what? The American people are not being fooled."
The more we know of how these agencies, and sometimes individuals, are using our information and connectivity to violate us, the better equipped and protected we can be. The more security-minded we are concerning our social media engagement and what is being captured, the more mindful we can be of what and how much we post. The more educated we are about our wireless and email connections and smartphones and smart devices, more we can protect our privacy. It is because we are only made aware of the key features stated on the product, that we unknowingly leak personal data that is then bought and sold and exploited. It's about becoming familiar with how Cyber security attacks are made by social engineers/hackers/agencies using aspects of our everyday life against us. Therefore, I seek to provide an easy-to-understand approach to Cyber Defense.
My background in Forensic Psychology (stemming back to 2004) is certainly another area of my life which gave birth to my passion in Digital Defense. I saw up to 17 clients a day diagnosing or re-diagnosing what doctors determined were symptoms of mental illnesses. I performed psychological evaluations every single day, which involved observing verbal and non-verbal responses. I was trained on how to recognize when a client was malingering (to pretend illness to avoid work or consequence). Most of my clients were in or from maximum security/super max prisons, the courthouse and those who were newly released back into society. I also had clients who were among the general public. I was to ensure their rights weren't being violated, to make sure they were well represented concerning their mental health in the court of law. I was there to help them live and function as best as possible.
The incredible thing about Forensic Psychology, which is now a major component of Cyber security, is that we are given the skills to understand and connect motive to action/behavior in such a way we can predict, prevent and protect the unsuspecting, both mentally and physically. Understanding this, I've been blessed to speak with and help survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking. Now, in addition to that, I can apply these skills to those who want to increase their awareness and security around their digital life. Now, I'm able to educate others with tips to stay keenly aware of potential CyberSecurity threats. These easy-to-apply skills can protect us in our everyday lives, considering we use our devices, emails, and wireless connections to do almost everything. Just as important as our time is our information. Therefore, protecting it should be a priority!
Digital Scribe Co. also features the "Digital Scoop" blog and email updates, which includes articles detailing actionable strategies of protecting yourself, your family and business. Topics I'll cover include, but aren't limited to:
How to Secure Your Smartphone
Smart Devices or Surveillance? (i.e. Alexa, Siri, etc.)
Password Protection + Privacy
Insider Threats
Working Remotely + Travel Tips
Cyber Stalking
Email Phishing/Spear Phishing
Social Engineering - Tactics Used
The Benefits of Incognito Browsing
Social Media and Oversharing