Introduction

Greetings, seekers. The Sage steps forward today, emerging from a deep state of contemplation, to encourage you to participate in a thoughtful journey toward personal cybersecurity. This is no mere story, but a sincere exploration rooted in my own experiences navigating the digital landscape. As shared on this new hub (Adventures of a Sage) your path to safeguarding your online life starts here, with steady, intentional steps.

Let us consider why 2025 may present new challenges in this realm.

A Reflection on Digital Vulnerabilities

Consider these anecdotes from the Introduction to my forthcoming book:

Imagine discovering that a data breach at your favorite streaming service has exposed your username and a commonly used password. Soon, your email is compromised, forwarding messages to an unfamiliar source. Or consider a phishing email from your bank, prompting a password change that leads to a significant withdrawal from your account. I, too, have faced such a moment, inadvertently transferring funds to a scammer posing as a colleague.

These incidents highlight a growing concern: cybercrime is projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, impacting millions with an average loss of $20,000 per victim. This is a serious matter that touches us all.

Three Lessons to Start the Journey

  1. Awareness as a Foundation: Many breaches occur when we act without pause—reusing passwords or opening unverified attachments. My own oversight taught me the value of a moment’s reflection before acting.
  2. Psychology, Physiology, and Habits: You need to think about these three behaviors in terms of a) breaking your current bad cybersecurity patterns, and b) creating new ones. These are not easy barriers to overcome.
  3. Progress Through Small Steps: You need not master technology overnight. You need not master everything. You need not be perfect. Begin with one change, such as a unique password, and build your skills gradually, as I have learned to do.

A Path Forward

My forthcoming book, Adventures of a Sage: Personal Cybersecurity (only a working title), provides a step-by-step framework to develop secure habits, designed for those new to technology, privacy-conscious individuals, small business owners, older adults, and even seasoned tech users. Beta reading opportunities will soon be available, and your input will shape its insights.

Return here for updates. Or, connect with me:

The Sage’s Invitation

The path to digital security is a shared endeavor. Join me—share your thoughts on the cyber challenges you foresee in 2025 below or on X with #adventuresofasage. Together, we can navigate this landscape with wisdom and care to block the bad actors.  Sign up for email alerts using the form below.

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