Separating the ‘Cyber’ From Cybersecurity

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It’s no surprise that placing the word “cyber” ahead of words like “security,” “attack” and “crime” often elicits a response of increased alarm. Sure, an in-person attack can be violent and gruesome, but a cyberattack is initiated by a person or group of people you can’t see and can wipe away scores of personal data, potentially leaving victims to pay the price financially and emotionally for years to come. And while there are physical limitations to crimes that occur offline, cybercriminals are only limited by the scope of cyberspace. They’re constantly inventing new, sophisticated ways to gain entry to systems and staying one step ahead of even the most experienced technology professionals.

So it’s no surprise that credit unions would want to direct an ample amount of resources toward things like firewalls, anti-virus software, and teaching employees how to spot suspicious links and avoid falling for social engineering schemes. With all the success cybercriminals have been enjoying lately hacking into the systems of seemingly secure organizations, credit unions shouldn’t have to worry about people hunting through their members’ snail mail with the goal of stealing money, right?