Cyber security threats are constantly on the rise, as cyber criminals become increasingly more adept at finding new ways into individuals’ private and personal information. In 2023, more than 353 million people were impacted by data breaches. Reports suggest that among these, fraud accounted for 2.5 million, while identity theft was at 1.1 million.

As the numbers indicate, identity theft and fraud are widespread issues in today’s digital world. With increasing reliance on technology at home and in the workplace, our personal information has become more accessible to hackers and fraudsters.

Whether it’s through phishing scams, data breaches, or social media hacking, vigilance is crucial in protecting your identity. Here’s everything you need to know about preventing identity theft and fraud.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud. This can include your name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number (if you’re in the US) or National Insurance number (if you’re in the UK), credit card or bank account details, and more.

Once fraudsters have this information, they can open accounts, make purchases, and apply for loans in your name without your consent.

Identity theft prevention methods

Preventing identity theft requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some effective methods to safeguard your identity.

Monitor your credit report

Regularly check your credit rating and report from agencies like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to spot any suspicious activity. You may be entitled to a free report annually from each agency, so make sure to take advantage of this service.

Use strong passwords

Use unique, complex passwords for each online account you have. Combine letters, numbers, and symbols to create strong passwords. Consider using a password manager to generate and store passwords securely.

Secure your devices

Keep your computer, smartphone, and other devices protected with updated antivirus software. Be cautious when connecting to public wifi networks, as they may not be secure and hackers may be able to access your information through them.

Stay safe on public Wifi networks

If you do use public wifi networks, avoid accessing sensitive accounts or entering personal information unless you’re using a virtual private network (VPN).

Be wary of phishing scams

Don’t click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails, texts, or social media messages. These could be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal details.

Protect personal documents

Keep important documents like your passport, driving licence, credit card statements, and bank statements in a secure location to avoid ID theft. Shred any documents with personal information and account numbers before discarding them.

Set up account alerts

Many banks, lenders, and credit card companies offer account alerts that notify you of suspicious activity. Enable these alerts to stay informed about any unusual transactions.

Secure your mail

If possible, use a locked mailbox or a Royal Mail Post Office (PO) box to receive mail. Be cautious when sharing personal details through the mail.

Limit personal information online

Be mindful of the information you share on social media and other online platforms. Avoid posting personal details like your full name, address, or date of birth. 

Enable two-factor authentication

Use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of authentication when you try to log into an online account. These second forms could be a code sent to your mobile phone or a memorable word.

Keep software updated

Regularly update your devices and software to patch any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by identity thieves.

Use secure websites

Look for the padlock symbol and “https://” in the URL of the website you are on to check it is secure before entering sensitive information. Never share information like card numbers over websites that aren’t secure.

Stay up-to-date on data breaches

According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), if a UK company has a data breach which is likely to result in a high risk of adversely affecting individuals’ rights and freedoms, those individuals must be informed. If this happens to a company you have a personal account with, they will usually email you to inform you of this, so be sure to open and read these emails to see how severely your personal data has been compromised. Always change your password for the affected account when a data breach occurs.

Check privacy settings

Regularly review and update the privacy settings on your social media accounts and other online platforms to control who can see your information.

What to do when you’ve been a victim of identity theft or fraud

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of identity fraud, take immediate action to minimise the damage:

• Contact your bank or credit card company: Inform them of the fraudulent activity and ask them to freeze or close any affected accounts. They can also help you dispute unauthorised charges.

• File a report with law enforcement: Report the identity theft to your local police department and obtain a copy of the police report. This documentation may be necessary when disputing fraudulent charges.

• Contact the major credit bureaus: Alert the major credit score bureaus of the identity theft. Request that they place a fraud alert on your credit file and provide you with a copy of your credit report.

• UK citizens: Consider a Protective Registration: You can apply for Protective Registration with Cifas, a fraud prevention service. This adds an extra layer of protection to your credit file, and ensures companies carry out additional checks to make sure it’s really you when your details are used to apply for a product or service.

• US citizens: Report the identity theft to the FTC: File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their website. The FTC provides resources and guidance for identity theft victims.

• Monitor your credit report: Continue to monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity. You may also consider enrolling in a credit monitoring service.
• Be vigilant for future scams: Remain vigilant for future scams or identity theft attempts. Be cautious with unsolicited phone calls, emails, or messages requesting personal information.

Identity theft and fraud can have serious consequences, but by taking proactive steps to protect your personal information you can reduce the risk of falling victim to these crimes. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and take action to safeguard your identity.

Learn the skills that keep private information safe

If fraud prevention and outsmarting cyber criminals is something you’re passionate about, prepare yourself for a career in this fast-paced and exciting growth industry by studying an online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security degree with the University of York.

Taught part-time, you can fit your studies around your current commitments while connecting with global peers and growing your network as part of this well-rounded Masters degree.

Our modern, interconnected lives rely on technological advances and capabilities – from the way we bank and communicate with friends, to how we buy groceries and manage our homes.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has made this revolution of convenience, speed, access and application possible. With approximately 15.14 billion IoT-connected devices as of 2023, these technologies –such as our smartphones, tablets and laptops – are present in just about every aspect of our lives.

While this brings with it great benefits, such proliferation of tech – and our increasing reliance on it – also creates irresistible attack surfaces for hackers, threat actors and cybercriminals. Between 2022 and 2023, 32% of small businesses, 59% of medium businesses, and 69% of large businesses in the UK reported an attack or breach. With cybercrime on the rise, cybersecurity – and its role in preserving our data, infrastructure and privacy – is critical.

Why is cybersecurity important?

Cyberattacks and cyberthreats can have devastating, far-reaching consequences for businesses, individuals and wider society. Not only can attacks prove expensive, they also threaten information security, destabilise livelihoods and cause widespread disruption.

The importance of cybersecurity lies in its ability to protect against theft, loss and damage. Where it fails, cybercrime can have a number of outcomes:

• Economic implications – As well as the theft of corporate information and intellectual property, cyberthreats can disrupt trading and damage systems. There can also be national security threats, where criminals target critical infrastructure such as payment systems, power grids and water supply systems in an attempt to sow chaos, or cause disruption by acts such as vandalising government websites.
• Regulatory issues – Cybercrime targets all types of sensitive and private data, including personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property, financial details and protected health information (PHI). This is not only risky from an identity theft and data theft perspective, but also breaches general data protection regulations (GDPR).
• Reputational damage – Customers want to know their personal customer data is in safe hands. Breaches can lead to loss of current and future business, reduced competitive advantage, unfavourable media coverage and loss of trust in a brand.

Without a robust, considered cybersecurity programme, businesses of all sizes – and across all industries – are less able to defend themselves against data breaches.

What are the main threats to cybersecurity?

Hackers continually develop the methods used to breach network security and gain access our systems, devices and sensitive data – meaning cybersecurity professionals have the ongoing task of remaining one step ahead of them.

There are numerous common cybersecurity threats:

• Malware. Malicious software – including spyware, ransomware, Trojans, viruses and worms – is used to infect computer systems, steal personal data or disrupt operations.
• Phishing. In phishing attacks, individuals are tricked into revealing or sharing sensitive information. The attacks mimic legitimate entities – such as an email from a bank, an ad on social media or a text message from a relative – but are, in fact, social engineering scams designed to expose details such as login credentials or financial information.
• Zero-day exploits. Vulnerabilities in software or hardware not known to the manufacturer or developer are targeted, leaving ‘zero days’ of defence until a solution or patch is developed.
• Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. During a DDoS attack, a provider’s website or network is flooded with traffic in a bid to render it slow or unavailable.
• Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. Also known as an ‘eavesdropping’ attack, criminals interrupt communications or data transfers and pretend to be the participants. From here, they can intercept data and information and also infect systems with malware.
• Insider threats. Insider threats are not always malicious; often, issues of data security result from accidental employee actions. This can include data leaks, allowing unauthorised access or password sharing.

Other common threats include supply chain attacks, cryptojacking, misconfigured cloud services and cloud security settings and advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Identifying and understanding the type and nature of these threats is the key to mitigating them, which isexactly why talented cybersecurity experts are in such high demand across all global industries.

What can be done to protect against security breaches and attacks?

Effective cybersecurity measures help to defend our data, infrastructure, assets and livelihoods against a host of threats. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways in which organisations can minimise system breaches and protect against future attacks.

Safeguard against unauthorised access and other security risks by:

• enabling multi-factor authentication
• performing penetration testing to assess and identify vulnerabilities
• developing regular updates and patches
• using strong passwords
• limiting and monitoring access
• monitoring all devices connected to networks
• installing firewalls and anti-virus software
• using a virtual private network (VPN) and never connecting to unsecured or unknown Wi-Fi networks
• encrypting data
• configuring cloud systems and other key infrastructure correctly
• training employees and other users on security practices such as avoiding phishing scams
• making regular back-ups of data and ensuring its secure storage
• establishing a disaster recovery/incident response plan
• conducting employee screening
• utilising automation tools for threat detection and monitoring.

As threats evolve, so too should cybersecurity practices, defenses and expertise. Security controls must be in place across every aspect of an organisation’s network and monitored proactively to stay ahead of malicious threats.

Increase cybersecurity resilience to protect your organisation’s assets

Want to learn how to handle different types of cyberattacks and get the most out of security systems?

Develop expertise across a wide range of core cybersecurity topics – as well as in-depth understanding of the wider computer science field – with the University of York’s online MSc Computer Science with Cybersecurity programme.

Our course has been developed for career-changers who are thinking about moving into the exciting computer science industry – no prior knowledge of computing is required. You’ll explore topics such as database management, network infrastructure, data science, programming, software engineering, artificial intelligence and computer architecture, together with specialist subjects in the cybersecurity and information security space. Gain key skills and knowledge to safeguard against cyberthreats including cryptography, threat intelligence, risk management, application security and network security.

Last year, 39% of UK businesses identified a cyberattack on their networks, operating systems and infrastructure, with the most common threats including phishing, denial of service (DoS), malware and ransomware attacks. Of this group, 31% estimated they were targeted at least once a week.

With cybercrime rates on the rise – and methods of attack growing in sophistication – businesses must take their data security more seriously than ever. As a direct result, the job outlook for cybersecurity professionals with the skills to guard against security risks and threat actors is positive. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) it’s estimated that job growth for cyber and information security analysts is projected to increase 35% from 2021 to 2031 – much faster than the average for all occupations.

What is a cybersecurity analyst?

A cybersecurity analyst is a computer science professional who helps design and implement security systems and solutions to protect a company’s computer networks from cyberattacks. These specialists act as a ‘first line of defence’ against hackers and cybercriminals who try to exploit system vulnerabilities, defending hardware, software and networks from malicious activity and closely monitoring IT infrastructure and assets.

What does the role of a cybersecurity analyst involve?

The process and specifics of preparing for, and responding to, cybersecurity breaches may differ depending on the workplace, organisation and sector – however, the general outline of an analyst’s role remains the same.

Security analysts spend their time managing software, monitoring network security, developing security plans, reporting on security, and researching trends and developments in order to keep themselves – and the companies they protect – up to date and ahead of any potential issues.

Further day-to-day tasks and responsibilities often include:

•   identifying and resolving threats in order to protect information systems
•   defining access privileges
•   implementing, maintaining and upgrading security measures, such as firewalls and antivirus security software
•   performing penetration tests
•   monitoring security breaches and following incident response procedures
•   assessing risks and suggesting/developing improvements
•   conducting ongoing audits and assessments to detect inefficiencies and violations
•   compiling security performance reports and sharing results with stakeholders.

Are there different types of cybersecurity analysts?

While all cybersecurity professionals aim to protect systems, networks and software from cyberthreats and data breaches – ensuring the private information of businesses and individuals is secure – there is variety within the field. As such, there’s plenty of scope to narrow your cybersecurity focus and role to an area that most interests you or suits your skill set.

Indeed list a number of positions that are similar to cybersecurity analyst roles:

•   Computer forensic analyst
•   IT security specialist
•   Security manager
•   Security engineer
•   Security consultant
•   Director of security
•   Security administrator
•   Information security analyst
•   Security specialist
•   Chief information officer
•   Network security engineer
•   Machine learning engineer.

How can I get a job as a cybersecurity analyst?

While undergraduate and Masters degrees are a common – and quicker – route into the profession, you don’t necessarily need to work in cybersecurity. Securing an entry-level IT role, and then working your way up and into cybersecurity – by way of experience and gaining industry certifications – presents a good alternative. Apprenticeships in cybersecurity are also an option. However, if you do have a degree in an unrelated subject and wish to secure a graduate-level role in the cyber field, a computer science Master programme that covers cybersecurity is ideal.

There are a number of specific technical skills you’ll need to work as a cybersecurity analyst or in cyber-related fields. These include:

•   application security development
•   network security
•   cloud security
•   risk and compliance auditing
•   penetration testing
•   threat intelligence analysis
•   identity and access management
•   mobile and remote computing
•   communication
•   problem-solving 
•   leadership
•   creativity.

Over time, your degree subject will be less important to potential employers as you gain relevant skills and experience that demonstrate your cybersecurity capabilities.Other ways of developing the skills and competencies required is to participate in a cybersecurity bootcamp, or undertake an internship to gain practical work experience.

Do I need cybersecurity certifications?

Whether you’re an entry-level analyst, want to upskill in a specific area to enhance your existing practice or land a certain specialised role, a cybersecurity qualification could be the answer.

Whatever aspect of the cybersecurity field you’re interested in, the following cybersecurity certifications could help:

• Certified Ethical Hacker Certification, where ethical hacking skills and expertise are used lawfully and legitimately to enhance and assess company cybersecurity
• CISSP Certification (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), which validates skills related to the design, building and maintenance of secure business environments using globally approved information security standards
• CISA Certification (Certified Information Systems Auditor), is a globally recognised certification validating skills in the audit, control and security of information systems.

CompTIA Security have compiled a detailed list of other highly regarded, widely accepted cybersecurity certifications. There are online options, full-time and part-time learning models, practitioner-led and self-guided options available, depending on your needs and current commitments.

What is the average salary of a cybersecurity analyst?

With demand for specialists soaring in recent years, cybersecurity can be a lucrative career path with great job security.

The cybersecurity analyst salary varies depending on type of industry, specific job requirements, job location, and individual skills and experience. According to Prospects, starting salaries average between £25,000-£35,000, experienced and senior analysts earn upwards of £35,000 and in excess of £60,000, and managerial and leadership roles can command upwards of £70,000 on average.

Gain the specialist skills to design, implement and monitor IT security measures

If you’re thinking about a fast-paced and rewarding cybersecurity career, develop the expertise and skills to succeed with the University of York’s online MSc Computer Science with Cybersecurity programme.

Our flexible, 100%-online course has been designed for individuals without computer science or information technology backgrounds. You’ll gain an in-depth and solid understanding of computing fundamentals, including computer systems and network infrastructure, protocols, programming techniques and languages – including Python – and data analytics. Alongside this, specialist modules in security engineering will cover cryptography, access management, password protection, safeguarding against cyber threats, memory and resource management, incident response planning, and more.

Advances in cloud computing have revolutionised the ways in which businesses can operate. From data gathering and storage to interconnected, convenient working to fast scalability, they offer huge advantages that streamline processes, support flexible and sustainable growth, improve customer experiences, and boost competitiveness – among many others.

However, with more and more organisations relying on cloud-based technologies to conduct business – an estimated 94% of enterprises use a cloud service – it’s imperative that leaders invest in securing their systems against cyberattacks and other threats.

With cybercrime rates growing in tandem with widespread cloud adoption – tech giant Microsoft reportedly detects 1.5 million attempts a day to compromise its systems – companies are on the look-out for talented computer science and cybersecurity specialists who can help safeguard their assets.

What are the main security risks of cloud computing?

As well as being expensive, disruptive to business operations and damaging to brand reputation, cloud hacks can result in compromised confidential data, data loss and regulatory compliance failure. 

Whether it’s a public cloud, private cloud, multi-cloud or any other type, understanding the risks and security threats associated with cloud applications as a whole is critical. After all, an awareness of common risks ahead of time will help digital teams to better prepare for any eventuality.

Here are some of the most common security risks associated with cloud-based operations:

• Unmanaged attack surface. The move to the cloud and an increase in remote work have fragmented attack surfaces, making it easy for attackers to find unmanaged assets with critical exposures. Each new workload that connects with these public networks presents a new, unmanaged attack surface.
• Data breach. Data is the primary target of most cyberattacks – for example, internal documents that could sabotage a company’s stock price or cause reputational damage, and personally identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI) which can lead to identity theft. Data breaches involve sensitive information being taken or compromised without the knowledge or permission of the owner.
• Misconfiguration. Cloud service providers (CSP) – such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Oracle Cloud and IBM Cloud are numerous and diverse, with many organisations choosing to use more than one. This can bring with it a degree of risk, as different default configurations and implementations can lead to critical system vulnerabilities – which cybercriminals and hackers will exploit.
• Human error. Human error can present a huge risk when building any business application, and ever more so in relation to hosting cloud resources. In fact, Gartner estimates that by 2025, 99% of all cloud security failures will result from some degree of human error. For example, users may use unknown or unmanaged application programming interfaces (insecure APIs), inadvertently creating holes in cloud perimeters and leaving networks and sensitive data resources open to attack.

There are, of course, any number of other security risks and cloud security threats: denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, malware, phishing, data leakage, cloud vendor security risk, unauthorised access, insider threats, limited visibility of network systems and many more.

How can cloud security issues be managed?

While risk cannot be completely eliminated, it can certainly be managed.

As well as choosing a cloud service provider wisely, the following risk management and risk assessment strategies will help reduce the risks associated with using cloud environments:

• Cloud penetration testing. Proactive testing is an effective method to assess the cloud’s current security measures by attempting to exploit vulnerabilities. It may also indicate areas for improvement ahead of a real attack, such as reinforcing a firewall or boosting other security software.
• Data security audit. How often are routine security audits conducted? Complete transparency regarding cloud security measures – including how effective they are at protecting personal data and files and how they are implemented – is key.
• Contingency planning. Is a business continuity plan in place that details a strategy for protecting cloud data and systems in the event of an emergency – and how often is it tested? Are there regular backups of cloud storage? Emergencies will vary but should include events such as natural disasters and catastrophic cyberattacks.
• Security training. Can your CSP provide training to help upskill staff and protect against potential security risks? Team members who understand how their employer’s cloud storage and data management system works – and what the best practices are, such as enabling two-factor authentication and limiting access controls – will be better prepared to avoid attacks on their personal data, information and files.

Organisations should not be scared of using cloud software, but they should understand the risk and ensure the right risk management strategies are in place. From this strong position, they can maximise the benefits of transformational cloud technologies and use them to drive the business towards its goals.

Where can I learn more about good cloud security?

IT and cybersecurity professionals can find out more about how to implement robust cloud security from three key international frameworks.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides checklists that can help with establishing new cloud systems and cloud infrastructure.he National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) presents new system frameworks and supports troubleshooting of specific problems. Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) offers operational standards and resources for auditing and vetting systems.

Stay ahead of the latest security measures and developments to protect against cybercrime

Want to learn to develop and implement effective security controls to help organisations protect their assets and remain compliant?

Gain key understanding of computational thinking – and develop specialist understanding of cybersecurity challenges and solutions – with the University of York’s online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security programme.

If you’re ready to switch to a career in the computer science and cybersecurity sector and develop skills and expertise applicable to almost any industry, our flexible course is the ideal choice for you. You’ll become adept at problem solving and addressing critical, real-world scenarios as you advance your knowledge of software, hardware, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, network systems, data science and data security.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to ‘the concept of connecting any device that has an on/off switch to the Internet and other connected devices’. This huge wireless network of internet-connected devices and people enables data collection and sharing on a vast, global scale, encompassing both how electronic devices are used and how users interact with environments. The IoT includes smart devices – the common, physical objects connected within the IoT ecosystem via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth – such as smart watches, smartphones, smart vehicles and smart home appliances.

However, while IoT provides convenience and accessibility on a colossal scale, it also brings with it a great number of risks. Without sufficient protection, IoT devices that are allowed to connect to the internet can be susceptible to various critical vulnerabilities and exploitations – a fact businesses and service providers must be aware of if they are to protect against security risks.

What is IoT security and why is it important?

The ever-expanding number of pathways between IoT systems and devices creates a greater capacity for ‘threat actors’, such as cybercriminals and hackers, to intercept and interfere with digital technologies. Cyberattacks are a matter of national and international security, as businesses and individuals who fall victim to cybercrime risk having their identities, money, data or other properties stolen.

Issues of cybersecurity and cybercrime continue to pose critical threats to organisations and individuals across the world, as recent statistics illustrate.

• The average cost of a single ransomware attack is $1.85 million – and cybercrime will cost companies worldwide an estimated $10.5 trillion by 2025.
• The rate of detection or prosecution of cybercriminals is as low as 0.05%.
• 43% of cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are sufficiently prepared to defend themselves.

Such attacks have the potential to disrupt usual business operations, cause damage to important assets and infrastructure, lead to extortion, and demand a huge amount of budget and resources to remedy – resources many businesses simply do not have.

IoT security, therefore, refers to the broad range of strategies, protocols, techniques and actions used to mitigate the increasing risk of threats all modern businesses face. It aims to secure IoT devices and connected networks and operating systems from threats and breaches by protecting, identifying and monitoring risks across all attack surfaces, as well as assisting to resolve security weaknesses.

What are the main security issues facing IoT systems?

According to the National Crime Agency, the most common attack types include: hacking, phishing, malicious software and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Security threats are as numerous as they are creative, and their exact nature can vary across industries and the types of device, use cases and systems under threat. For example, the healthcare sector relies on IoT devices that feature some of the highest share of security issues, such as medical imaging systems, patient monitoring systems, and medical device gateways. Other key contenders across other industries include energy management devices, IP phones, consumer electronics, printers and security cameras.

The most common IoT security threats can be divided into three main categories.

1. Exploits, accounting for 41% of threats: examples include network scans, remote code executions, command injections, buffer overflows, SQL injections and zero-days.
2. Malware, accounting for 33% of threats: examples include worms, ransomware, backdoor trojans and botnets (such as Mirai).
3. User practice, accounting for 26% of threats: examples include password vulnerabilities, phishing and cryptojacking.

In practice, these threats are often due to:

• weak, guessable or hardcoded passwords
• insecure network services
• insecure ecosystem interfaces
• lack of secure update mechanisms
• use of insecure or outdated components
• insufficient privacy protection
• insecure data transfer and storage
• lack of device management
• insecure default passwords and settings
• lack of physical hardening.

Fortunately, there are a whole host of real-time security measures organisations can adopt and implement to protect their network-connected systems, assets and workforces.

What are the most important IoT security solutions?

IoT security is often described as ‘the backbone of the internet’. Threats, challenges and IoT attacks are real and require the immediate attention of all businesses. IoT system vulnerabilities and threats keep mutating – so our security solutions must do the same.

If effective and lasting solutions to security threats are to be developed and implemented, organisations must take into account the entire IoT security lifecycle: understand IoT assets, assess IoT risks, apply risk reduction policies, prevent known threats, and detect and respond to unknown threats.

With this knowledge and insight in place, cybersecurity professionals can begin rolling out IoT security best practices including:

• tracking and managing all devices
• conducting patching and remediation efforts
• updating passwords and credentials
• using up-to-date encryption protocols
• conducting penetration testing and evaluation
• understanding the endpoints
• ensuring segmentation of networks
• enabling multi-factor authentication.

These are just some of the many methods that can reinforce IoT device security. Using specialist software and tools, such as Microsoft Defender for IoT, is another option organisations can also invest in for more comprehensive coverage.

Gain the skills to protect against cyberattacks and enforce network security

Develop key computational thinking skills – and learn how to safeguard systems against cyber security challenges, threats and techniques – with the University of York’s online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security programme.

Designed for individuals who don’t have a computing or IT background, our 100% online, flexible course equips you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to move into a career in the computer science sector. You’ll develop a keen theoretical and practical understanding of programming techniques, computer and network infrastructure, security risks and security engineering, and explore cyber concepts such as cryptography, cloud security, memory and resource management, password protection and DoS. Every aspect of your learning will have critical, real-world application, and you’ll be supported by experts in the field throughout your online studies.

Choose from modules including security engineering, advanced programming, cyber security threats, artificial intelligence and machine learning, algorithms and data structures, and much more.