Computers and technology have had both beneficial and harmful effects on everyday life. There is no question that technology has advanced human society more than we have known and provided us with limitless potential for what we can achieve. However, all the good that comes with technology is also met with negatives. As technology develops with time, it is developing both positively and negatively as well. The following list discusses three ways that computers have improved global safety as well as three ways that they have decreased it:

Safer:

·   Cybersecurity: Technology has exponentially advanced with time. We are now allowed to engage in daily tasks and communicate easier than ever. With this constant activity and transfer of data/information, it is necessary to secure and protect this information. Computers have made it possible for companies, organizations, and individuals to protect themselves from cyber-attacks by creating several security measures like firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication.

·   Public Safety: Computers and technology have made it possible to monitor the current standing of the world in terms of health and make projections of what the world will come to if certain things change/ do not change. For example, society can monitor traffic (traffic patterns), air quality (pollution), and other environmental factors (forecasted natural disasters) which all contribute to public safety.

·   Quality of Food: Technology is now used to determine if foods are safe or unsafe to eat, as well as the distribution processes around the world. Additionally, computers can identify foodborne illnesses associated with particular foods, and what can be done to either prevent or cure one from that illness.

Less Safe:

·   Spread of Misinformation: In the world today, countless people, ranging from all age groups, access the internet each day. More specifically, a wide range of people engage in social media daily. Social media involves the sharing of all information that occurs regularly, regardless of the platform. An issue that computers have presented is the spread of misinformation. It is quite easy for someone with a decent following to get on social media and spread rumors or state something that has not happened, and then have it believed by thousands of people. Acts like this can have profound consequences for public safety, as well as political stability because they can send the general population into a craze.

·   The Dependence on Technology: Since the world is so technologically advanced, people have grown to depend on technology for everyday tasks. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, when technology fails or gets disrupted by something, society will not know what to do. We rely on technology so much it is like we would not know how to live without it.

·   Cybercrime: Technology has allowed criminals to carry out their illicit behavior in much simpler ways. Rather than having to do a crime in person, they now have access to an entire database online. They can now steal personal information, commit financial fraud, and launch cyberattacks on businesses and governments just from a computer. This puts the world in danger, as it is difficult to prevent every instance of cyber-attacks and threats around the world.