Computers in today’s society are constantly evolving and being developed. Consumers today, in some shape, have a computer with them at all times. The current world today is heavily dependent on the usage of technology for many reasons such as directions, storage of information, educational purposes in schools, and even emergency personnel that are actively responding to calls, just to name a few, are all examples of how technology is rapidly being used today. How have computers made the world more safe? One is through communication. Users are now able to encrypt their communications secret from hackers through the usage of public and private keys, for example, only assuming that the private key hasn’t been compromised. A second way is how law enforcement agencies on any level are combating crime. Post 9/11 has given authorities more access to monitoring potential threats of terrorism in the world. Education is another example. Now individuals are able to take classes from virtually anywhere they are and get the same knowledge that individuals are in the physical classroom. Additionally, electronic textbooks save trees from being cut down to print paper textbooks. 

Users are the main reason why computers become compromised. Although computers have made the world more safe in a variety of ways, computers also have the same negative effect. For instance, individuals store a multitude of personal and sensitive information on their devices. When these devices become exploited, hackers have a wealth of information they have gained access to. Everything that we do online follows us. It’s called a digital footprint. This footprint can reveal things from our past that we may have posted out of anger and spite on social media and ruin potential career opportunities. The main way that technology has had a negative impact on the world is in children. With everything being right at our fingertips, children are constantly being exposed to information and material too quickly causing them to act irrationally. Additionally, social media has led to bullying, insecurities about how we look, and a lack of social engagement with others because we become too enveloped in what is going on in the virtual world instead of what is right in front of us.