Let’s be honest…
Most people picture hackers going after banks, MI5, or Elon Musk’s inbox. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to remember your Amazon login without launching your laptop out the window.
It’s tempting to shrug and think:
“No one would ever want to hack me. I’m not important.”
Big mistake.
That’s exactly the mindset cyber criminals count on. While you’re busy clicking cat memes and minding your own business, your digital door is left wide open. And here’s the twist: they’re not hunting for James Bond. They’re after easy pickings — like you, me, and anyone else who mutters, “It’ll never happen to me.”
The Real Target? Ordinary People
Hackers don’t always need blockbuster movie skills. Often, a dodgy link, an ancient password you’ve reused a dozen times, or a panicked click on a fake PayPal alert is all it takes. With that foothold, they can:
- Crack into your email
- Reset your bank login
- Hijack your Netflix and stream it from a Russian IP
- Or worse – pretend to be you
It’s rarely about hacking you directly. Instead, it’s about hacking through you. Think about it: you may have access to company systems, a contact list that will happily fall for a fake invoice, or just enough personal data to flog on the dark web.
Real-Life Example
A friend of mine got a message saying:
“Your photos from the pub are in this album 😳”
She clicked. Malware installed instantly. Within minutes, her email started spamming everyone in her contacts — her mum, her boss, even the neighbour she secretly fancies. It took weeks to clean up. And it all started with a single careless click.
Do This Today – Simple Cyber Hygiene
Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to be a tech wizard, just nail a few basics:
- Check your passwords – Use HaveIBeenPwned.com to see if your email has been part of a data leak.
- Update your apps and phone – Boring? Yes. Optional? No. Updates patch the very holes hackers depend on.
- Pause before you click – Any message shouting “click now”, “account suspended”, or “you’ve been charged” deserves a deep breath and a brew first.
Final Thought
You wouldn’t leave your front door wide open, even if you don’t live in a mansion. The same logic applies online. Lock things down — you don’t need to be “techy” to do it.
At The Cyber Workshop, we keep it simple: no jargon, no gatekeeping. Just straightforward habits that stop you being an easy target.
👋 Until next time,
Never trust an “Amazon” link that looks like it was built in Microsoft Paint.
