Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society
CYSE 200: Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society provided an interdisciplinary exploration of how technology intersects with cybersecurity across cultural, political, legal, ethical, and business contexts. By analyzing the global implications of cybersecurity and its impact on society, I developed an understanding of the broader effects of cyber technology. This section highlights how I achieved the course objectives through reflective writing, weekly discussions, and other coursework.
Course Material
Course Objectives and How I Achieved Them:
1. Describe how cyber technology creates opportunities for criminal behavior
How I Achieved This:
I analyzed real-world cybercrimes, such as phishing and ransomware attacks, in weekly journal entries. These exercises helped me understand how cyber technology is exploited by criminals and how organizations can mitigate risks.
2. Identify how cultural beliefs interact with technology to impact cybersecurity strategies
How I Achieved This:
Through my reflection essay, I examined how different nations’ cultural attitudes toward privacy influence their cybersecurity policies, comparing the U.S. and EU approaches to data protection.
3. Understand and describe how the components, mechanisms, and functions of cyber systems produce security concerns
How I Achieved This:
In weekly journals, I detailed how specific system vulnerabilities, such as software flaws and unpatched systems, create risks. Quizzes reinforced my understanding of these mechanisms.
4. Discuss the impact that cyber technology has on individuals’ experiences with crime and victimization
How I Achieved This:
I explored the psychological and financial toll of cybercrimes in a journal entry, focusing on identity theft and online fraud. This work deepened my understanding of the human element in cybersecurity.
5. Understand and describe ethical dilemmas, both intended and unintended, that cybersecurity efforts produce
How I Achieved This:
My reflection essay analyzed ethical dilemmas in mass surveillance, such as balancing national security with individual privacy rights. This helped me consider unintended consequences of cybersecurity policies.
6. Describe the costs and benefits of producing secure cyber technologies
How I Achieved This:
In a journal entry, I evaluated the trade-offs between cybersecurity investments and operational costs, highlighting the importance of risk assessment in budget allocation.
7. Understand and describe the global nature of cybersecurity and how it has produced and inhibited global changes
How I Achieved This:
My journal entries included analyses of international incidents like the WannaCry attack, emphasizing how global interconnectedness both facilitates and hinders cybersecurity efforts.
8. Describe the role of cybersecurity in defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior
How I Achieved This:
Through discussions and writing, I reflected on how cybersecurity policies define acceptable digital conduct, such as ethical hacking and the use of encryption.
9. Describe how cybersecurity produces ideas of progress and modernism
How I Achieved This:
In a reflective essay, I discussed how advancements in AI and quantum computing are reshaping cybersecurity, presenting both opportunities and challenges for societal progress.
This course helped me bridge the gap between technology and society, giving me with a well-rounded perspective on cybersecurity challenges and solutions. By exploring the global, ethical, and cultural implications of cybersecurity, I am prepared to address these issues in my future career. Moving forward, I aim to use this knowledge to develop strategies that prioritize both security and societal well-being.