Gamers across the Country are finishing up school, getting ready for their summer break and preparing for the increased amount of time spent on playing online games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops. However, there is a small issue preventing many from actually getting the opportunity.
Although reports have not been released as yet to the extent of the damage, immediately upon recognizing the break in security Sony had to shut down their network to ensure that all members of this community are not having their personal information such as credit card information stolen. Although hackers are known for “phishing” through e-mails and creating fake links to install key-loggers to steal information, apparently they have recently decided to take the whole scam process to new heights. Why not take their information without making people have to click on a link, or open an e-mail? Why not just take it from a database that is supposed to be secure? This brings me to my next point. Millions of people use the gaming console and even more use the internet. Yet the U.S. Government has yet to do anything about hackers or cyber warfare that is directed to individuals or a community of people. Why? Because The U.S. Government feels that self preservation is more important than protecting the people. All things considered, without a Government there will be no protection from other threats such as terrorism. I believe that there is alternative route our Government can be taking but they refuse to do so for reasons beyond my comprehension. It is possible to increase network security for both the Government and the Public at the same time. So why should the Government be more important than the People? Why not increase the security of both at the same time? I have recently noticed that out of all engineering fields around the Country there is one in particular that has an increase in career opportunities, and paid the most at the same time. It’s called Computer Science, and it also entails computer security. I believe that the Government can turn this whole thing around and promote cyber security for both the Government and the people and create jobs in the process! It’s as simple as starting a budget to give anyone who is interested in computers to try and get a degree using the Government’s money within the Computer Science field. Not only will this increase an interest for the subject across the Country but it would also create awareness, jobs, and give people a better insight into how dangerous the technology of today really is; in the end, after about 4 years, it might even help stimulate the economy. I think our Government should be interested in protecting the people of its Country from these threats of Cyber Warfare. How is anyone supposed to stimulate a National Crisis of poor budgeting by spending more money? People are scared because there are so many different ways to have your money stolen from you whether you are looking or not. I honestly believe that due to recent events in Libya, and foreign Governments constantly restructuring with the help of the United States that in twenty years there will no longer be wars of guns and missiles, but one of bytes, viruses, and networking intrusions. We need to start building our knowledge and forces to fight the wars of tomorrow, today.
