Buckle Up for a Safer Internet

Some cynics say that the problem of internet security will only continue to get worse, and that there is nothing we can do, but manage and minimize damages and losses. As an optimist, I completely disagree. Throughout our existence, people have faced and resolved extremely complex and evolving challenges—a great example of which is automobile safety.

A few years back, I wrote a blog post entitled Internet Identity and the Safety Belt. It focused on the introduction of the three-point seatbelt and its significant contribution to the automobile industry by making cars safer for drivers and passengers. Today, there are 10 times more cars on the road, but a lower total number of fatal car accidents. While driving will never be completely safe,  millions of lives have been saved through the realization of the problem, innovation, education, market demand, open standards, and government regulations. I am confident that we will make the information superhighway safer for everyone through the same efforts.

For the automobile industry, the seatbelt is an innovation that has had the greatest positive impact on passenger safety. Further advancements in car safety designs and driver’s education programs have similarly equipped new drivers with the tools they need to safely navigate any unforeseen turns.

What if there was a driver’s education program to help internet users move safely across the internet? Perhaps this should become a staple in a school curriculum just like Math and History?

Education, innovation, and collaboration are key to helping us all solve this complex challenge together. With that in mind, I am sharing a security quiz that we developed for basic IT security training of new Yubico employees. I invite you to test your security knowledge, and please feel free to share the quiz with family, friends, and coworkers.

Safe driving on the internet!