Since publication of his first book, HACKED AGAIN, Scott Schober has dedicated himself to educating anyone who would listen by telling his own story of being hacked in the hope that others can learn from his own mistakes. Now joined by his brother Craig, the two have set their sights on the biggest target of all, small businesses.There are 30 million small businesses currently operating in the … operating in the United States. Some of them are single owner/operated while others collectively employ hundreds of millions. This book is for all of them and anyone who makes it their business to stay safe from phishing attacks, malware spying, ransomware, identity theft, major breaches and hackers who would compromise their security. We are all in this together which is why cybersecurity is everybody’s business.
Scott and Craig Schober examine a multitude of cybersecurity issues affecting all of us including:
• Cyber Insurance
• Internet of Things
• State Sponsored Hacking and Spying
• Card Skimmers & Identity Theft
• Social Engineering
• Ransomware
• Phishing Attacks
• Vital Password Creation
• Robocalls
• Cryptocurrency
• Virtual Private Networks
Scott and Craig Schober delve into the details of the latest cyber breaches that made headlines and continue to affect your small business and all consumers such as:
• Ashley Madison Hack
• Yahoo Hack
• Marriott Hotel Hack
• Anthem Hack
• Equifax Hack
• Uber Hack
Throughout CYBERSECURITY IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS, Scott and Craig not only contextualize the impact of these cyberattacks on your small business and daily lives, but also provide expert insight and a plan of attack for fending off future security breaches. Through tips and advice gained since his last book, Scott offers hope in the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.
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As the title of the book suggests, Cybersecurity really is everybody’s business. Being aware of cyber-crime is something that I’ve become more and more interested in over the years as a digital citizen, and it’s something that everyone needs to be exposed to in a relatable way.
Onto the review:
Is this book written for the right audience – would this book make sense to someone that knows nothing about tech or cyber-crime?
Scott’s book is an ideal place to start if you’re curious about cybersecurity for small businesses. If you’ve already made yourself familiar with Scott’s previous book, Hacked Again, this book is a solid next step in advancement and understanding of the world of cybercrime and how it can impact you as an individual and your business.
If you’re a novice when it comes to cybersecurity as a topic, you’re probably better off reading Scott’s previous book first, which is about Scott’s personal experience of being hacked called “Hacked Again.” You can view a sample and purchase that book here on Amazon.
For any small business owner with a basic understanding of what cyber-crime is, this book should be next to your bed and on your reading table. Scott is extremely good at taking a step back from the complexity of cyber-crime and hacking and applying an expert’s opinion in such a way that makes it extremely easy to digest. While the world of hackers can be a scary place, Scott tackles this fear, breaking it apart bit by bit by discussing real-world scenarios and offering valuable advice on how to best avoid these situations.
One of the most important things I’ve found as someone acutely aware of how easy it is for hackers to commit such crimes is that there isn’t enough information out there for the little person. There is very little information available for people who don’t own businesses or have large bank accounts with thousands of clients. What I like about this book is that Scott knows that there is a considerable lack of understanding that exists among the general public, and he is actively trying to share what he knows to combat and bridge that gap.
Scott’s message is that you don’t have to be technically savvy to understand how critical cybersecurity is. If you don’t think you have something a hacker may want, think again. If you have money or data to exploit, you’re a target, and that’s pretty much everyone.
How is the language used in this book – is it simple enough to understand?
There are certain parts of this book, such as the reference notes, and real-world examples of cyber breaches and attacks that maybe just a little too technical for the average reader. These details are more suited for someone who may have a technical background and understanding of significant data breaches such as the Mirai Botnet DDoS attack in chapter 15. Unless you’re interested in the in’s and out’s of how a DDoS attack is carried out and why, you won’t need to understand what a DDoS is. But Scott is adept at recognizing that some people may zone out as soon as the words “data breach” are mentioned, and that’s important because it means he understands his audience and caters to that very well. By separating the reference notes at the end of each chapter, you can easily skip the more technical details if it’s not your thing.
What can be gained from reading this book – does it educate the reader?
Cybersecurity is Everybody’s Business is easily one of the most educational books out there about the real-world implications of cyber-crime. Awareness is key to opening the door and that’s really all that Scott is trying to do, to make people, everyday people, more aware of the threats they face. We are beyond becoming digital citizens, we are digital citizens. We live our lives online. If you think of how much time you spend connected to the internet every day, you will begin to understand that all of that time online has to amount to something – and that something is data. Data is a very valuable commodity. If you’re buying goods online, that means you’ve given up your credit card details (your data), your name, your address and that’s really all that’s needed for a hacker to impact your life in the worst possible way. Identity theft is real and it can happen to anyone. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Scott does a great job of chipping away at that “iceberg” until it’s bite-sized and much easier to navigate. For small business owners, this book is a must-have. And if you’re interested in the topic of cyber-crime and more importantly, cyber-crime prevention, protection and safety, this book is definitely for you.