Most people know they should have a different password for every online account they create, but nobody actually does. Except for me. I do. Over the past few years, I’ve arrived at the conclusion that the Internet is a lawless wasteland. When I imagine the Internet, I picture scenes from Western films – dry, desert landscapes populated by outlaws and trolls, governed by those clever enough to consolidate power through hacking. There are no rules. My creeping sense of paranoia is mostly due to the excellent podcast Reply All, which tells stories about the Internet – covering topics like phishing, hacking and online scams. In my household, it is must-listen content that has slowly eroded my trust in technology. A recent episode dealt with hackers who break into “OG” social media accounts – accounts with rare and desirable handles like @lizard, @car or similar usernames without a number at the end. The hackers then change the password, take control of the accounts and sell them online for thousands of dollars. The already-bonkers episode took a disturbing turn when journalist and host Alex Goldman realized his investigation could draw the ire of the hackers he was reporting on. Worried about retaliation, Goldman consulted Michael Bazzell, a cybersecurity expert to find out where he was exposed online and what sinister methods the hackers could use against him. In less than an hour, Bazzell had unearthed a number of Goldman’s passwords, his social security number, address, phone number, credit report, as well as information about his parents, brother and wife. Listening to Reply All often leaves me with a queasy feeling in my stomach. Like everyone else, I am utterly dependent on technology, the Internet and social media. It is a part of my work day and a part of my personal life. But increasingly, I feel like it’s not a safe place to spend time. Lately, cybersecurity is on the collective mind. Stories about Facebook privacy breaches and hacked elections are in the news. Shows like Mr. Robot and the latest season of American Vandal fictionalize the Internet’s seedy underbelly in a way that feels a little too on the nose. And I’m convinced it’s something we need to take seriously. We all use the Internet; it is a vital part of life. I’m just not sure we use it cautiously enough. People frequently scoff when they find out I’ve started creating unique passwords for all my accounts. “I could never keep track of all of them,” they say, or, “That sounds like too much work.” It is a lot of work, and I often can’t remember my passwords. But – in my mind, at least – it’s a small price to pay for a modicum of peace of mind.
