The internet is a frightening place in which anyone can interact with anyone on the planet no matter where their physical locations are. Greater things are possible each year, and this suggests that advancements we can’t yet comprehend or imagine will one day be commonplace down the line. Technology is heading in a direction which should allow users to meet up in virtual places online, and this is likely to open up a whole new world for hackers. The question is, how far will the cyber criminals be able to go in the future? Will they be able to tap into and steal people’s thoughts and feelings?
Right now, internet users know where they stand. There are common risks to be aware of such as phishing scams and in-game hacking. Users are aware that giving their card details to too many sites is unwise, and they know to use review sites in order to stay safe. For example, players looking for a credible online casino to play at would check out trustworthy sites that recommend the best operators. They also know that it is worth investing in some protection programmes for their PC. Anti-virus software is now so advanced that it warns against opening certain webpages that may be unsafe. But the internet and the way we use it is evolving, and hackers are always trying to get one step ahead of innovations.
Cybercrime has become particularly sophisticated in the past five years, and this has coincided with a number of innovations which have been designed to make things even more accessible to users. Things such as the Cloud, cryptocurrency, and the rise of mobile gaming have opened up new avenues for hackers. In the past, banking Trojans were the most advanced form of hacking. But in a short space of time in the evolution of hacking there are now much bigger threats such as cryptomining. In fact, in 2018, 42 percent of organisations globally had been attacked by cryptomining malware.
The current trajectory of technology suggests that in a few years’ time virtual reality will be a major platform. The combined virtual and augmented reality market is expected to be worth $209.2 billion in 2022, and this projection highlights just how ingrained it will become in people’s everyday lives. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook is a huge advocator of the new tech, and he wants chatrooms on the social networking site in VR. If this comes about, what would be the next logical progression in technology? It seems reasonable to assume that people would one day be able to upload their thoughts and feelings to the internet.
This suggestion seems crazy and fitting for a sci-fi movie, not for real life. The thing is, things we have now were once laughed at in the same way. If the ability to have a part of one’s brain existing online does come to pass, the opportunities for hackers would be endless. They may even be able to steal people’s thoughts and feelings, or have the power to control how people think. This will undoubtedly lead to complete and utter chaos.
