Jonathan Greene
GS1145
Research Essay-April 11, 2015
Research Essay (New Awareness in Cybersecurity) The Internet has become a hacker’s playground, and cybersecurity is no longer a choice for major companies looking to protect themselves and their customer’s (US News, 2015). Hackers are costing consumers and companies between $375 and $575 billion, annually, a number only that is only going to increase as online information stealing expands with increased Internet use. When it comes to cybersecurity, it’s not just credit cards or personal data at risk. Internet-connected transportation systems, medical devices, electronic health records, household appliances and wearable technology need to be protected in addition to the power grid, financial institutions and government secrets (US News, 2015). In an effort to increase awareness to the need of cybersecurity, CyberPatriot – (The National Youth Cyber Education Program), for example, was established in 2009 by the nonprofit Air Force Association in an effort to generate interest among high school students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and encourage them to consider careers in cybersecurity. The organization originally thought that high school was the right age group for shaping attitudes about cybersecurity and, more broadly, STEM as a career opportunity. An October 2013 study commissioned by Raytheon, a major U.S. government defense contractor, determined that high school students might be too late to reach. The Air Force Association realized the importance of reaching out to students of a younger age and in 2013, the organization conducted a “highly successful” pilot program that allowed middle school students to participate in CyberPatriot (US News, 2015). The biggest problem in the field of cybersecurity at present is knowledge of and a desire to have a career in the field