Apply Sunscreen

My Advice For The Next Generation

Apply security on your systems as religiously as you’d wear sunscreen in a desert. In a world where we carry not just photos but finances, identities, and pieces of our lives in our pockets, shielding it all isn’t optional. You think you’re invisible online, that the apps and accounts you log into every day form a protective cocoon around your privacy. Think again. Hackers, scammers, and spies out there aren’t who they used to be, and today’s cybercriminals are sharper, faster, and just a little bit hungrier than you’d care to imagine. So protect your data as if it’s your job - because it is.

Beware of the “This Won’t Happen to Me” delusion.

It’s almost like an unspoken digital creed we all carry, the belief that our devices are somehow immune, that our lives are far too boring to interest a hacker. But trust me, even the smallest, most ordinary data is someone else’s pot of gold. Think of all the times you’ve reused a password or opened a link with just the slightest sense of suspicion. Every click, every keystroke counts. Don’t give them the ammunition.

Encrypt everything.

Secure what you can, even the stuff you think no one would care about. Encryption is to the modern world what locked doors and shades were to an earlier era. Think of it like wearing sunglasses—not because someone’s necessarily watching you, but because if they are, let them see as little as possible. And for heaven’s sake, back it up. Make sure that every piece of information you value has a backup, an escape plan of sorts, in case of a digital collapse.

Trust isn’t what it used to be.

Once upon a time, you could trust a friend not to go through your things when you left them at their place. Now, even the apps you download to “make life easier” are tracking your every move, your every click, and every question you ask. Look carefully at what you agree to when you click “accept,” and never assume that those who promise “security” have your best interests at heart.

Guard your identity, even from yourself.

Think about your online presence, your digital “you.” That collection of photos, accounts, social media musings—it’s your own version of a self-portrait, more accurate than you’d guess. With every login and every like, you’re giving away pieces of yourself, creating a trail that will follow you in ways you may never fully understand. Protect it, keep it close, and remember that once something is out there, it’s a lot harder to pull it back.

Beware of the shortcuts.

We love them. We live in an age of passwords that save themselves, quick logins, and “Yes, I read the terms” clicks. But those shortcuts can cost you more than time. When it comes to security, taking the long route—changing passwords, verifying sites, reading agreements—often saves you the hassle and heartbreak of dealing with a compromised account or a drained bank balance. Sure, a strong password seems like a hassle, until it’s the thing standing between you and a world of trouble.

Cybersecurity isn’t something someone else does for you. You don’t have to be a tech wizard, but being tech aware is no longer optional. Don’t assume that big companies have it all under control, that if something happens, someone will fix it. In cybersecurity, the last line of defense is always you, and by the time someone else has to step in, it’s often too late.

Don’t let complacency be your undoing. In the digital world, getting comfortable is as risky as leaving your front door wide open and wondering why the world walked in.