by Clem Boyd, Communication Content Editor
Dr. Seth Hamman, director of the Center for the Advancement of Cybersecurity and associate professor of computer science at Cedarville University, spoke at a TEDxDaytonSalon event. The talk was given this summer at the Steam Plant in downtown Dayton, a former power generating station that’s been converted into a special events venue.
Hamman shared his insights on the differences between physical space and cyberspace and how those differences affect security.
For example, Hamman in his 11-minute talk, “Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy,” explained that criminals targeting a business in the real world are limited by their own physicality – they can only be in one place at a time. On the other hand, cyber criminals are not limited by distance and are an imminent threat to businesses all over the world.
One side effect of the physical distance is that attackers are also distant from their victims psychologically. Hamman noted that this “diminishes the role of their conscience in inhibiting their destructive behavior, and it makes them feel like they are committing victimless crimes.”
— Seth Hamman
“The fact that cyberspace is a distanceless world not only increases the number of bad guys capable of harming you, but it also makes it easier for them to rationalize doing so.”
Because of this feature and others of cyberspace, we are all vulnerable. Therefore, the world needs a well-trained force of cyber guardians, with the know-how and integrity to protect the interests of all people.
“What qualities should we look for in our super defenders?” Hamman asked. “We need people who we can trust to make the right choice every time, even when it costs them, and even when they realize that no one’s ever going to know the difference. We need to count on them to never do the expedient thing and to always do the right thing.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,380 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cyber Operations Specialization, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.