How Media Influences Our Understanding of Cybersecurity
After watching the video “Hacker Rates 12 Hacking Scenes In Movies And TV: How Real Is It?” I
understood how social media creates nonrealistic expectations and excessive panic about cybersecurity
by misrepresenting the reality of hacking. Typically, movies misrepresent the complexity and speed of
hacking. Numerous movie scenes portray hackers immediately accessing secure systems in seconds,
when it can actually take quite some time. Hacking is typically a slow process, requiring patience and
trial and error. The video explained that in the real world, cybersecurity professionals examine intricate
code over time, making it a highly technical skill instead of a trick. Another misrepresentation that
movies display is that hackers work by themselves. Cybersecurity often involves collaboration among
teams. Older movies did, however, call attention to online threats before it became a popular issue like
it is in today’s time. In general, I believe the media shapes people’s understanding about cybersecurity in
negative and positive ways. While it often sensationalizes hacking and spreads misinformation, it can
also show the importance of cybersecurity and online safety. I think if the media portrayed our
understanding of cybersecurity more accurately, it could help people better understand online threats,
take necessary precautions, and reduce unnecessary fear and confusion.