The Cloud is a Media Psychology Marketing Metaphor

The term cloud computing helps shape how people think. Cloud computing is actually a media psychology marketing metaphor. What is called “the cloud” actually means transferring information stored on your computer to a remote computer owned and managed by someone else.

The Cloud as Metaphor

The cloud is actually a global network of thousands of data centers operated by hundreds of companies, ranging from massive cyberscalers, to small, niche storage providers. The cloud is a hackable ecosystem. Ten or twenty of the largest data storage companies are dominating remote storage. Some examples of those giant companies are Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Meta and Drop Box. In addition, the billions of personal computers in homes and millions of companies worldwide, are each vulnerable to criminally motivated psychological and technical hacker attacks. In fact, you and I are vulnerable… and hacktivism of all types is real.

What do the experts say?

To better understand the need for CyberDefense, I interviewed five important leaders in the field. They are Dr. Julius Sokenu (President), Edmond Garcia, and Kevin Rickard, faculty leaders in the new CyberDefense Bachelor’s degree program at Moorpark College; private sector advisor, Jack Kushnatsian, co-owner of Simplified IT Computing, LLC; and Dr. Gordon Goodman, prominent media psychologist.

Each expert interviewed agreed that even well-protected individuals and companies are being increasingly attacked by hackers. Criminal ransomware, personal information, and supply chain attacks are examples of cybercrime targets. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates more than a 30% increase in cyberdefense jobs through 2035. This translates into a need for more than three million new specialists worldwide. Included are cyberdefense jobs as analysts, incident responders, and media psychology and technology penetration testers. Degree programs, such as the new BS in CyberDefense at Moorpark College help fill the expert talent pipeline needed to meet the dramatically increasing demand,” said Garcia. “Much more research on hack attack methods is needed,” urged Goodman.

Hacktivism is an Ominously Growing Threat

Kushnatsian emphasized that “understanding both the technology and media psychology of hacktivism are critical in cyberdefense.” Goodman echoed from a media psychology standpoint that “attackers are psychologically driven by ideological beliefs, moral convictions, social benefits, emotion, personal gain, political motivation, and financial profit. Paying attention enables one to develop better intuition. AI cannot presently apply all human aspects of psychology to either a company or its attackers.”

Education and Training are Important

Moorpark College is a best-in-class example of growing cyberdefense education offering degrees, stackable certificates and partnerships between colleges and employers. Important knowledge includes skills with network architecture, secure systems design, cryptography, malware analysis, the media psychology of attack and defense, and all types of technical and psychological trouble shooting methods. Manipulating trust, fear, or creating a sense of urgency are more media psychology methods used by hackers. Awareness training is important for everyone. “By expanding certificate and degree offerings in cyberdefense, we are investing in understanding, training and the public understanding that helps protect us all,” said President Sokenu.

The American Psychological Association’s Society for Media Psychology and Technology, many colleges and universities, and The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are addressing growing hacktivism issues including the need for greater understanding of cyberdefense needs. “We are literally at the psychological edge in the burgeoning field of cyberdefense, and we have a long and turbulent way to go,” predicted Goodman. “You must protect your data and be very aware that your iPhone, iPad, Alexa, and Apple Watch are hacktivism targets. Each of us using the cloud is vulnerable,” urged Kushnatsian.