The entertainment industry incorporates bits of realism into media for special effect purposes, however these depictions significantly influence public perception of what cybersecurity is and what goes on behind-the-scenes in technology. Anything that isn’t common knowledge risks being misconstrued in the media, and cybersecurity isn’t an exception to this.

Exposure to technology in society is widespread, however the majority of technology users do not have a solid understanding of anything beyond the user-interface level for a variety of reasons, therefore any exposure, regardless of the authenticity, to topics such as hacking or cybersecurity through the media will impact perceptions. Being exposed to something you’re unfamiliar with through media, even with the understanding that it may not be accurate, will shape your beliefs concerning it because that’s all you know.

As a result of limited media exposure, I believe many people have misconceptions about cybersecurity, such as the average intelligence level of someone in that field, how it functions, the scope of capabilities, and threat perception.