How do we predict the future? In our respective technology and security fields we are often asked to prognosticate on “what’s next?”. Understanding current trends is certainly helpful but what if you could reach far into the future and describe humanity and our relative progress? In this episode of SecureTalk, Justin Beals, founder and CEO of Strike Graph, hosts Dr. Aaron Mauro, Associate Professor of Digital Media at Brock University, to discuss the intersection of cybersecurity and the humanities. Mauro's recent works, 'Hacking the Humanities' and 'The Language of Cyberattacks,' delve into how digital culture, app development, and natural language processing intersect with cybersecurity.
How did William Gibson get our current internet age so right in fiction books like “Snowcrash” or “Neuromancer”? Because despite the technological nature of our work, fundamentally, we are driven by the narratives we create about ourselves. In their discussion, they examine the cultural consequences of cybersecurity, emphasizing the need for broader digital literacy, the evolving landscape of internet privacy, and how speculative fiction can inform ethical questions and possible futures. They also touch on real-world incidents like the 'Parler tricks' hack, demonstrating how programming literacy can empower individuals to navigate and influence the digital ecosystem.
Books by Dr. Aaron Mauro:
Hacking in the Humanities: Cybersecurity, Speculative Fiction and Navigating a Digital Future
The Language of Cyberattacks: A Rhetoric of Deception