The media is a social force that shapes our attitudes and practices surrounding cybersecurity. The Media can both positive and negatively influence our understanding of Cybersecurity. Starting with the positive some feature films and television shows use real world cybersecurity terms to emulate what an actual conversation would sound like. This is especially important when the media uses real world cyberattacks as part of a plot, it needs to make sense. Scenes have the potential to educate the viewer, it is likely that the viewer uses the internet to some extent. Displaying phishing attacks, credential stuffing, and other trending attacks can give the viewer an idea of what to lookout for. Some films even go as far as showing the thought process of a hacker and tools used. It is up to the viewer to put the lesson into practice.

Even though the media can be educational and provide examples of what to be on the alert for, there are some negative impacts that the media has on our attitudes towards cybersecurity. First, cybersecurity film is often dramatized and glamorized to fit into the sci-fi genre. The Hollywood depiction of hackers can give a false sense of what the job or crime entails. Often solutions are fast forwarded for time’s sake, but this removes the realism. Lastly, films often contain misinformation or exaggerated situations. The impacts of the media could lead a viewer to take cybersecurity more seriously or even cause a viewer to fictionalize cyberattacks.