There’s always risk when using technology, but your perception of the exposure will determine how active you are at minimizing the danger. Today’s guest is Stephen Cobb. Stephen is a best-selling author and award winning technologist with over 30 years experience in digital security and data privacy. He has authored more than a dozen textbooks on PC and LAN security as well as software usage. As a CISSP since 1996, he co-founded two successful security startups and earned a Master’s in security and risk management. Stephen now researches harm caused by the abuse of digital technology.

Show Notes: * [1:02] - Stephen shares his background and how he wound up in the world of cyber security. * [3:17] - In the earlier days of his career, he learned the niche of the risks of technology. * [6:13] - Privacy violations were becoming a HIPPA category. * [9:14] - Stephen shares more about the companies he worked for and his experience in cyber security. * [10:44] - Stephen continues researching risk perception. * [12:01] - Understanding the limits of technology and human behavior have helped guide his research. * [13:02] - Covid was a very eye opening experience in that it revealed who was willing to exploit and who was willing to come together. * [14:26] - The new ideas of solving problems are coming out of smaller companies. * [15:41] - Growth of security is evolving but is it keeping up with the use and diversity of technology? * [17:23] - Different countries have a different approach to tracking cyber crime. * [19:05] - The data isn’t accurate as much cyber crime goes unreported. * [20:23] - Stephen believes the amount of monetary loss from cyber crime can be doubled in individual wellbeing. * [21:41] - The effect of being targeted has led to health problems. * [24:30] - Some countries are doing a better job cracking down on cyber crime, but many kinds of scams, particularly romance scams, continue to go unreported. * [25:50] - Crypto currency has been abused since it’s onset. * [26:51] - Tech support scams are also going strong. * [27:25] - Crypto scams are cumulative. They don’t replace a scam, they add to existing ones. * [31:48] - People aren’t thinking about what a mess that malware will create in upcoming technology. * [34:08] - Cyber crime is now organized crime. * [37:04] - Stephen describes his experience showing NPR the industry of the Dark Web. * [38:52] - People continue to be shocked and amazed by how organized the industry of cyber crime is. * [40:10] - There has been a drop in enthusiasm and trust in technology companies from the general public. * [44:10] - When we push technology on people who do not have a lot of experience with it, security becomes complicated and it becomes an ethical dilemma. * [46:39] - Nothing has been done to make these ethical issues become morally reprimanded. * [48:10] - Cyber crime is a huge challenge that is a relatively recent phenomenon. * [50:40] - Although foreign scammers cannot be arrested in your country, Stephen still thinks they should be sought after. * [52:08] - We need growing economies and full employment in all countries.

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