ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - A group of 15 Vilseck High School students gathered to learn about the importance of cybersecurity in their daily lives, Nov. 6, 2024.

In his second time presenting to Vilseck High School, Collin Guy, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria's director of Integrated Technology, explained the core principles of cybersecurity and shared practical advice on safe online practices.

October was the 21st Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and its goal is to make cybersecurity accessible and understandable for all as it impacts nearly everyone.

"The key pillars of cybersecurity are known as the CIA Triad, which stands for confidentiality, integrity and availability," said Guy.

During the presentation Guy provided insights into safe online practices, the significance of strong passwords in conjunction with multifactor authentication (MFA) and password managers, and the necessity of regular software updates to protect against security vulnerabilities.

"A lot of people use technology to access important information like bank accounts, medical records, and other confidential information," Guy said. "You should not protect those things behind something that a stranger could easily associate with you. For example, if you have ever shared videos of your dog on social media, then 'Fluffy' is not a suitable password."

He advised using passphrases or simple but lengthy passwords rather than complicated ones.

"Humans cannot easily remember 15 random letters, numbers and symbols, but I bet each of you can sing a song lyric by heart - easy for you to remember, but hard for a bad guy to guess." Guy said. "And whenever possible, use multifactor authentication apps or password managers to securely store and manage passwords."

Guy presented case studies, giving students a real-world perspective on how cyberattacks occur and are mitigated. He discussed the future of cybersecurity, emphasizing emerging threats and the evolving landscape of digital security.

He also talked about the evolving benefits and dangers of Artificial Intelligence and future job perspectives in the field of cybersecurity.

"In the past year alone, we've seen breakneck advancement in publicly available artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E," Guy said. "By the time you all enter the labor force, I expect artificial intelligence to be ubiquitous in most major industries, and people who know how to effectively leverage AI and detect when it has been used will be a very marketable skill. Businesses and organizations will need to provide quality control for their AI-generated content while also knowing how to detect AI-crafted and manipulated content such as phishing bots and 'deepfake' photos or videos."

After the presentation, students had the opportunity to ask Guy questions. Zackery Spencer, 17, shared his thoughts on the presentation.

"The presentation was inspiring, especially since it was delivered by the director," said Spencer. "The most surprising part was the statistics on how many people neglect their devices and skip updates."

Motivated by this, Spencer plans to improve his password management:

"I rely on my computer for schoolwork. If I don't secure my passwords, I risk losing everything. I need to make it harder for others to access my information."

Spencer also pointed out that making friends online is a major security risk for teens.

"People you meet online, like in games or messaging apps, might only want your information," he said. "You could end up hacked or sharing personal details with someone who isn't who they seem. This is less likely with friends you meet in person."

Cybersecurity education strengthens individuals' online defenses, contributing to the overall security posture of the community.

Cybersecurity Statistics

To underscore the importance of these practices, Guy shared these statistics with students:

Public Attitudes Towards Cybersecurity

According to the "OH Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behavior Report 2024," public feelings towards cybersecurity are mixed:

• 81% of people consider staying secure online a priority.
• 44% feel overwhelmed by information and, as a result, minimize their online actions.
• 46% feel frustrated while trying to stay secure online.
• Only 48% of individuals receive annual cybersecurity awareness training, but 83% of those who do find it useful.
• Only 36% of individuals feel cybersecurity is a personal responsibility.

Online Behaviors

• 35% of individuals use personal information in their passwords and reuse passwords.
• 60% have never used a password manager.
• 24% have never used, or have stopped using, multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• 43% assume devices are secure by default.
• 36% dismiss or delay software updates.
• Only 45% have enabled automatic software updates.
• 30% believe there is no point in protecting themselves as their information is already online.
• Only 45% consistently backup their data.

For more information cybersecurity and the stats shared in this article, visit:

• Secure Our World Resources & Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 Toolkit | CISA
• Oh Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2024 - National Cybersecurity Alliance
• https://cysed.org/the-need-for-more-youth-focused-cybersecurity-education-and-training-programs/

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