Summary
- The importance of cybersecurity is growing with every passing year.
- By 2025, cybercrime is expected to cost $10 trillion annually to the world economy.
- As our lives become more immersed in the metaverse and AI-powered apps, cybersecurity in the age of AI becomes more than just a luxury; it is a necessity for our living environment.
- To mitigate these challenges, Safer Internet Day 2026 will be held on February 10th, 2026, in different parts of the world.
Is AI Revolution a Double-Edged Sword?
The recent surge in the use of AI has left a remarkable impact on us. While there are so many benefits of AI, some AI applications have also armed criminals to cause harm to people.
Today, phishing emails and messages have become way more convincing. It is getting difficult to identify fake emails because generative AI writes perfect text with no grammatical mistakes.
Moreover, deepfakes have also made it easier to do vishing, or voice phishing, to steal sensitive data and personal information.
More and more people are using chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini today. While these chatbots have made life easier, they have been flagged unsafe due to data security issues.
Keeping all these rising issues in mind, it is critical to know the use of modern safety tools that can protect us. It is there that the importance and know-how of cybersecurity in the age of AI become vital for all of us.
Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Why Is Cybersecurity Importance Skyrocketing?
The importance of cybersecurity is growing with every passing year. The core reason is that human dependence on machines is growing, and so is the use of AI in electronic devices.
For instance, you must have noticed that today almost every new electronic device is now a smart device. Today, we have smart fridges, smart home assistants, smart security locks, smart watches, etc.
The more our dependence on these smart devices grows, the more our vulnerability will grow. Why? Because each and every one of these devices can help hackers to steal your digital identity.
Earlier, hackers used to break into your desktop computers, laptops, etc. Now the situation is much more critical because criminals try to steal your digital identity.
This means that criminals might create the illusion that they are you. Once in that position, fraudsters can transfer funds between your accounts, request loans and credit cards, and divert mail. They can also purchase items, vacations, and even homes.
The threat is so big that even the large corporations and governments are finding it difficult to completely control cybercrime activities.
What is shocking is that the scale of these frauds is skyrocketing with each passing year.
Cybercrime was expected to cost $10 trillion in 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015, according to the World Economic Forum.
How Can You Make Safe Choices?
All these new developments demand that we be aware of the changing situation. The bottom line is that you don’t trust any phone call, email, or message that looks suspicious. Call the concerned person yourself without giving out any sensitive information in a hurry.
It is now easier for hackers to crack your password. Some experts even say passwords are now a 2024 thing. Today, it is all about passkeys, which often involve biometrics to protect your identity.
Whenever you see anything suspicious or AI-generated, always verify it. We would recommend you improve your AI literacy so that you can do the fact-checking yourself without any delay.
Don’t forget that there is nothing wrong with being skeptical about something. We need to encourage this fact-checking behavior because it is our own responsibility to protect ourselves and our family.
What is Safer Internet Day?
Safer Internet Day 2026 will be held on February 10th, 2026, all over the world. The theme for this year is ‘Smart tech, safe choices—Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI.’
Considering the importance of cybersecurity in the age of Al, the European Union is also taking up this cause at the highest offices. This year there is also a special focus on the use of safe and better internet for kids.
Edison College Has Launched a New Cybersecurity Program
Edison College’s newly launched Cybersecurity Diploma Program is specially designed while keeping in mind the current challenges.
It is prepared to train students according to the fast-changing requirements of this dynamic field of study.
The 71-week training curriculum blends academic understanding with hands-on practical experience, preparing graduates to face real-world cybersecurity concerns.
Conclusion
Safer Internet Day isn’t just for kids or IT experts; it is for all of us. The misuse of AI has affected almost all of us, and therefore we need to share our knowledge with others, too. If you want to play your part, try to share one tip that you learned today with your friend or a family member so that we can help each other.
Contact us today for more information.
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