"Best Antivirus is Well Educated Staff "

That’s been my consistent response whenever the question “Which antivirus software does your company use?” arises at IT conferences across Slovenia and Europe. It’s a common inquiry, especially now that security awareness has increased. Yet, let’s take a moment to reflect. Have threats suddenly emerged, or were they always lurking in the shadows?

My answer lies in the title of this blog: investing in proper education for staff, end users, and data producers. Instead of relying solely on generic software purchases, we must empower our teams with knowledge. As someone who has long been security-conscious, my journey began well before the COVID era. Engaging with both black- and white-hat online communities, I delved into hacking and the intricacies of system exploitation. While these practices have existed since the 80s and 90s, they’ve evolved significantly over time. Back in the day, hacking and exploitation followed a predictable pattern. It was the era of viruses, worms, and pieces of code with recognizable sequences. Antivirus software operated like a vigilant guard, maintaining a database of known signatures. When it detected a familiar pattern, it would raise the alarm—a pop-up announcing the presence of a virus. Simple, right?

But the hacker’s mindset evolved, leaving behind those primitive examples. Instead of adhering to predictable code, they embraced unpredictability. Their tactics shifted, and they became masters of disguise. No longer confined to rigid patterns, they explored new avenues:

1. Social engineering: Hackers now manipulate human psychology. They exploit trust, curiosity, and fear to gain access. Phishing emails, enticing links, and fake login pages are their tools.

2. Dynamic tools and software: These aren’t your run-of-the-mill viruses. Hackers create custom tools for specific scenarios. Their attacks adapt, morph, and evade detection. No more predictable sequences.

3. Constant change: The landscape shifts rapidly. Hackers alter their tactics, modify code, and stay one step ahead. Antivirus software struggles to keep up. X

The introduction of ever-evolving dynamic code made signature-based detection challenging. Antivirus software can only combat what it knows, but the unknown remains a formidable adversary. By the time a signature is identified, it might be too late.

So, the field of IT security—let’s call it cybersecurity to sound fancier—has had to evolve. Antivirus software, while essential, isn’t enough. We need a smarter approach. It’s about understanding the hacker’s mindset, staying informed, and equipping our teams with knowledge.

Risk management plays a crucial role in organizational security and safety. Properly assessing major risks within a company reveals the most significant weak links and vulnerabilities. Interestingly, recent news has been filled with reports of major attacks—think Uber, Rockstar, and others. And guess what? The common thread is people — they pose the biggest risk, the most significant vulnerability. That one slip-up, that human error—it’s part of our nature, after all.

But here’s the silver lining: education is our strength. We can always learn more. In this digital age, we’re fortunate to have a wealth of free information at our fingertips. Networks and communities allow us to share experiences and insights. By investing in knowledge and properly educating our staff, we empower them to recognize potential risks lurking in their everyday use of digital data and computers.

Remember, we’re not robots—we’re humans, and that’s where the real strength lies.

Hopefully, you’ve made it through this brief introduction. The thoughts I shared laid the groundwork for my initial idea: creating an internal cybersecurity course within our organization. My vision was clear, but I confess—it took me far too long to put it into action. What seemed straightforward in theory, turned out to be quite the challenge.

You see, crafting this course required more than just good intentions. It demanded quality content — something both informative and easy to understand. After all, we deal with busy employees who need practical knowledge. So, I thought: What subjects would truly benefit them?

And there it was—the heart of the matter. We needed a plan that struck the right balance: relevant, accessible, and actionable. Because cybersecurity isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. So, I rolled up my sleeves, determined to design a course that would empower our team to safeguard our digital realm effectively.

...to be continued