Q: Why was the laptop cold?
A: Because it left its Windows open

Q: Why don't computers like to be outside?
A: There are too many bugs

Q: What's a computer's favorite snack?
A: Microchips!

Q: Where did the cybersecurity team go?
A: They ran-som-ware

Q: What's a hacker's favorite sport?
A: Phishing!

Q: Why are emails so lonely?
A: They are afraid of attachments

Q: Is your virus software running?
A: Well you better go run after it!

Q: How was Forrest Gump's password cracked?
A: Because 1Forrest1 was easy to guess

Q: What kind of leak can't be fixed by a plumber?
A: A data leak

Q: Why did the password lack confidence?
A: It was insecure

Humor is often used to talk about serious subjects - it can emphasize irony, serve as a coping mechanism or even be used as a way to bond with others. While the jokes above may seem harmless, it's important to remember that cybersecurity is a serious and important topic, and should only be used only in appropriate situations.

What exactly is cybersecurity anyway?
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, devices and data from theft, damage, unauthorized access or other forms of cyberattacks. It encompasses a wide range of technologies, processes and practices designed to safeguard digital information and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data. As you can see, there's a lot of terminology associated with cybersecurity but generally speaking, cybersecurity protects against digital attacks. Still unsure about what cybersecurity is? Learn more and dig deeper into the basics of cybersecurity.

5 reasons why cybersecurity is not a joking matter

1. Protection of Sensitive Data: In the digital age, vast amounts of sensitive information, such as personal data, financial records and intellectual property, are stored electronically. Failing to secure this data can result in identity theft and damage to an individual's or organization's reputation. Furthermore, phishing is a type of cyber attack that relies on manipulating human behavior rather than exploiting technical weaknesses in systems to get usernames, passwords, credit card numbers or other personal data from individuals.
2. Financial Consequences: Cyberattacks can lead to significant financial losses. The cost of a data breach includes expenses for incident response, legal fees, regulatory fines and the potential loss of customers or business partners. Cyberattacks can even lead to bankruptcy for some organizations.
3. National Security: Cyberattacks can pose a threat to a nation's security. State-sponsored or politically motivated hackers can target critical infrastructure, government agencies and defense systems. A successful cyberattack on such entities could have dire consequences for a country's stability and safety.
4. Disruption of Services: In today's interconnected world, many critical services and systems, such as healthcare, transportation and energy grids, rely on digital technology. A cyberattack can disrupt these services, causing chaos and endangering lives.
5. Global Interconnectedness: The internet has created a global interconnectedness that makes cybersecurity a global concern. A cyberattack in one part of the world can have ripple effects that impact individuals and organizations worldwide. It highlights the need for international cooperation in combating cyber threats.

How cybercrimes affect people over the age of 60

Over the last 5 years, a total of 3.26 million complaints and $27.6 billion in losses were reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. What's more, total losses reported by victims over the age of 60 increased 84% from 2021 to 2022; and overall, cryptocurrency-related losses reported by the elderly increased by 350%.

Trust-based investment scams represent the largest portion of losses for investment. This often happens when individuals are targeted online and involve a form of cryptocurrency, and the scammers aim to gain the person's trust and present a low-risk, high-yield investment opportunity. It can result in victims dipping into their retirement accounts and home equity, and many have lost their entire life savings as a result.

The FBI has identified ways to help identify this activity:

• Verify any investment opportunity that is presented to you is valid
• Pay careful attention to URLs to ensure spelling is correct and not a fake site
• Avoid downloading or using suspicious-looking apps as an investment tool unless you can verify they are legitimate
• If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is

As you can see, there is a very serious side to cybersecurity. Luckily, AOL offers protection across multiple devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.) with Data Secure by AOL. This all-in-one plan includes solutions for protection against viruses and malware, hackers phishing and keyloggers to help keep your sensitive data safe from online threats...and that's no joke.