Joseph Flores
03/12/2024

After watching the video, write a journal entry about how you think the media influences
our understanding about cybersecurity. Has this understanding changed over time? What
is different in the older pieces of media vs more current media?

As I finished watching the videos, I thought about how much of a significant influence the media
has had on our understanding of cybersecurity and the art of hacking. It really is crazy how the
portrayal of hacking in various forms of media, such as movies and television shows, has shaped
the way I initially thought hacking was all about. Not only that but as hacking became more
common and the world became more connected than ever, the way that the media portrayed it
also changed.

Back in the day, when hacking was a relatively new and upcoming trend, older media pieces
over-exaggerated it. I remember watching watching movies in which hacking was oversimplified
and made to seem easy and quick. Things like breaking into the “Mainframe” with a few
keystrokes with the user interface showing 3D figures, which more or less looked like more of a
video game than actually hacking, all the while evading detection by sophisticated security
measures. While all of this was entertaining, looking back at it, it painted a somewhat unrealistic
picture of hacking and cybersecurity at its core. They focused more on the thrill of hacking than
the accuracy of technical details, which, unfortunately, isn’t always so glamorous.

However, as technology advanced and data and security breaches increased, cybersecurity has
become ingrained in our daily lives. More and more people are aware now of the risks of hacking
and the importance of cybersecurity. We no longer have this view of hackers as socially elusive,
lonely individuals in their parents’ basement. We know that these individuals have complex
motivations, whether political or financial. Shows like “Mr. Robot” delve deeper into hacking
culture and demonstrate the more technical aspects of hacking and cybersecurity. They also
highlight the real-world implications of cyber threats, emphasizing the potential for devastating
consequences in national security, privacy, and personal safety.