Digital Defense

The course is not specific to any major but is designed for anyone who uses technology. Awareness is key.
~Dr. Anna C. McFadden

This online course seeks to maximize awareness and minimize risk for the typical technology user.

You are so excited about your brand-new phone, tablet or laptop. You quickly load it with all kinds of handy apps — downloading them is a cinch. But have you given thought to your electronic safety? Do you read the fine print on the apps you install? Most people do not.

Few of us who use technological devices regularly are aware of the huge risks they carry with them. Strangers can track a person’s habits and movements when a pet lover simply posts a single picture of her cat on Instagram. Students risk their privacy when they bring their own devices to campus rather than using university labs. Companies can lose control of sensitive information when they allow employees to use their own rather than company devices at work. 

How can a small-business owner avoid security breaches that plague even giants like Target and Home Depot? Or how can the average technology consumer protect against breaches to which even Hollywood stars are vulnerable?

There are solutions to these and other risks, but few technology users have ready access to even the most basic security training. Technology Privacy and Security is a new online course that Dr. Anna C. McFadden of the Institute for Interactive Technology developed to maximize awareness and minimize risk for the typical technology user in any field. 

 “Whether you’re a tech-savvy teenager or an experienced adult who uses technology to manage work and personal affairs, it’s important to realize that just because you’re adept at using mobile tools does not mean you have the privacy and security skills you need to protect yourself,” McFadden says. 

The course teaches safety basics such as creating and managing passwords and access codes, avoiding phishing and fake websites, and managing malware. It also teaches more sophisticated security strategies regarding tools such as apps, online banking and social media. The course focuses on solutions that include effective policy development, user education and technical applications that can solve and prevent security failures.

“The course is not specific to any one major but is designed for anyone who uses technology,” McFadden says. “Awareness is key. Making sure all users in a family or an organization are trained is the strongest deterrent to a security breach.”