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Coursera Women and Skills Report indicates a narrowing gender gap in online learning

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Coursera Women and Skills Report indicates a narrowing gender gap in online learning

By Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO

Today I am excited to introduce Coursera’s first-ever Women and Skills Report, which examines the pandemic’s impact on skills trends among women and how online learning is helping them prepare for the future.

The dual impact of the pandemic and automation have disproportionately impacted women — largely due to school closures and the growing burden of unpaid childcare. It has exacerbated income inequality and worsened social inequities worldwide, chief among them: women’s labor force participation. According to the International Labor Organization, the number of employed women in 2021 is projected to be 13 million fewer than in 2019, while the number of employed men is projected to be about the same. And even after some recovery in recent months, only 43.2% of the world’s working-age women will be employed in 2021, compared to 68.6% of working-age men. 

Despite the exodus of women from the labor market during the pandemic, a few promising trends are emerging. The data from the recently published Coursera Global Skills Report 2021 found that women are pursuing online education, including in STEM courses, at a higher rate than pre-pandemic. The share of overall course enrollments from women on Coursera globally increased from 38% in 2018-2019 to 45% in 2020. For STEM courses, which teach many high-demand digital skills, enrollments among women grew from 31% in 2018-2019 to 38% in 2020. 

These insights inspired us to dig deeper into global and regional trends to understand how the pandemic has shifted the gender balance and potentially created more opportunities for women to acquire skills online that can accelerate their return to work and promote economic mobility. 

The Women and Skills Report shows that the increased participation rates among women observed in 2020 have sustained in 2021. Among the key global findings: 

  • 50% of new learners are women in 2021 compared to 45% in 2019 
  • 48% of women are using mobile learning in 2021 
  • 45% of overall enrollments are from women in 2021 compared to 38% in 2019 
  • Women’s enrollment growth is a worldwide trend. However, emerging countries have seen the most dramatic year-over-year increases. For example, enrollments from women in the Philippines grew by 774%, Lebanon by 729%, and Uruguay by 565%. 
  • 37% of STEM enrollments are from women in 2021 compared to 31% in 2019 
  • 37% of entry-level Professional Certificate enrollments are from women in 2021 compared to 25% in 2019 
  • Top skills among women show a balanced investment in human and digital skills, from communication (14.4M enrollments) to machine learning (7.4M enrollments)

While education is not a panacea, the Women and Skills Report 2021 indicates that the gender gap in online learning narrowed during the pandemic even as the gender employment gap widened. As the world faces new skills imperatives, this research offers a glimpse of what an inclusive future could look like in the digital economy. I hope the data and insights offered in this report act as a catalyst for new ideas that institutions can embrace to achieve greater gender parity and build a more just world. 

To download the Women and Skills Report 2021 and explore the global and regional findings, visit our website.

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How to Find a Tech Mentor

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How to Find a Tech Mentor

Writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson observed, “Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” The right mentor (especially in the tech field), can be a game-changer for your professional growth. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out, considering a career change, or have 20 years of work experience — the guidance of a mentor is a powerful tool.

Read on to learn what a tech mentor brings to the table, what to look for in one, and how to find the right one for you.

What a tech mentor can do for you

Having a professional mentor is valuable for many reasons, both personal and professional. In the tech field, a mentor can provide the intellectual and emotional support you need to point yourself in the right direction. They can also help you make lifelong professional connections and figure out how to achieve specific goals and milestones.

For instance, they can guide in:

  • Choosing the kind of programming you want to specialize in
  • Deciding which kinds of positions to apply for
  • Choosing the programming courses you need to take to further your career
  • Building your first application
  • Determining how to bring your app to market

A tech mentor can also help you sort out some of the more personal decisions you’ll have to make, such as:

  • How much time to invest in personal or experimental projects
  • Whether to accept a promotion that pays more but involves less intriguing work
  • How to balance your tech career with your personal or family obligations
  • Whether to relocate for a new position or not

The benefits of having a tech mentor

One thing a tech mentor can help you with is gaining the clarity you need to feel comfortable in your career. Mentors can answer questions you may feel uneasy asking a colleague or friend, and they can give you the kind of advice others may hold back. Here are some of the personal and professional benefits you can expect with a tech mentor.

Greater confidence

We’ve all dealt with uncertainty in our professional careers. And even though this is totally normal, a tech mentor can talk through these issues with you and help you brainstorm solutions. They can answer questions about navigating office politics, pursuing the best field for someone with your skillset, or critical mistakes that could hinder your progress.

A tech mentor’s perspective can erase the doubts that come with unanswered questions, giving you a sense of confidence in your decisions and direction. You’ll also get the confidence you need to take risks as a mentor can play the role of both a coach and a teammate.

You can make better professional decisions

People often think about what they’d tell themselves if they could zip back in time 5 or 10 years. In a way, with a tech mentor, you can.

A mentor is someone similar to you — just with a few more years of experience. They can outline their challenges and the decisions they made, making it easier for you to replicate their successes and avoid their mistakes. In other words, you’ll make better professional decisions with their guidance.

You learn how to balance your work and personal life

In the tech field, there’s no end to the ways you can advance your career — even when you’re at home or on the weekends. There’s always coding to practice, apps to develop, solutions to engineer, and research to do. A tech mentor can help you decide when to turn off your professional self and devote time and energy to your family and friends.

What to look for in a tech mentor

Just because someone is a good teacher or a successful professional doesn’t mean they’re going to be the right mentor for you. At the same time, someone who’s super cool and relatable may not be the best option, either.

To choose the best mentor, look for all of the following qualities:

  • A good listener. They should be willing to invest time in listening — not just talking — to you. When you share something, they should react to it instead of just matching it with something they’ve accomplished or experienced.
  • Approachable and available. Some of the most approachable people can be good friends but ineffective mentors. And some otherwise great mentors may not have the time to help you. When you bring up the idea of a mentor-mentee relationship, pay attention to how they respond. If it feels like you’d be burdening them or they’d be uncomfortable, you probably want to continue your search.
  • Industry and position. It’s a good idea to choose a mentor who’s in your industry and in a position you’d like to have in the near future. If you’re a Junior Software Engineer, you could choose a Senior Software Engineer. But be careful not to shoot too high — such as the CEO of a company — because their advice may not apply directly to your next few career steps.

How to find a tech mentor

When searching for a tech mentor, there are plenty of places to look. Here are some options:

  • Tech groups and communities
  • Hackathons
  • People at your job with whom you share personal interests
  • Social media tech groups
  • Professional networking events
  • Older family members in your field

Professional mentorships can give you insight and guidance to exciting new steps in your professional journey. It can lead to a promotion, a new job, or better work-life balance. And, while they eventually come to an end, the right mentor-mentee relationship can make a lasting impact. Also, don’t forget that one day soon, you may find someone reaching out to you for mentorship. Good luck!

3 ways a coding mentor can help you learn

Coding mentors can help you simplify your learning process. They can guide your learning path, and provide additional learning resources that come from experience.

Java Interview Questions and Answers

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Java Interview Questions and Answers
Java interview questions and answers

The pressure to perform well in an interview can feel overwhelming. Despite your knowledge and experience, nervousness could get in the way of putting your best foot forward. But, if you know the questions to expect and how to answer them, you can relax and focus on showcasing what you know and what you can do.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled this list of common Java interview questions. We’ll explore a few questions for beginner, intermediate, and experienced Java developers, explain how to answer them, and show you what additional steps you can take to nail your interviews.

Beginner Java interview questions

Beginner Java interview questions are designed to test your knowledge of basic Java principles and methods. Here are some common questions and their answers.

What makes Java different from some other programming languages?

Java is:

  • Simple
  • Distributed
  • Multithreaded
  • Object-oriented
  • Platform independent
  • Robust
  • Secured
  • Portable

What is “inheritance” in Java?

Inheritance is a core principle in object-oriented programming. It allows an object to inherit the properties of a different class. The class the properties are inherited from is known as the superclass, and the one that inherits the properties is the subclass.

  • Polymorphism
  • Abstraction
  • Inheritance
  • Encapsulation

Intermediate Java interview questions are meant to see if you both understand and know how to apply some of the essential Java principles and tools. Below are some of the more common mid-level Java interview questions.

Describe the Spring framework

The Spring framework is used to make enterprise applications using Java. Its central features can work with essentially any Java application.

Spring is an application framework and container that facilitates the inversion of control (IoC). With inversion of control, a generic network sends the flow of control to customized portions of a program.

How does session management work within servlets?

A session includes the exchange of information between the server and client. These conversations can be managed using:

  • Cookie applications
  • A session management application programming interface (API)
  • Session IDs included in the discourse between the server and the client
  • URL rewriting and HTML hidden fields

How is the JDBC ResultSet Interface used?

The ResultSet Interface is used to represent a row in a table. You can also use it to change the cursor and process information from a database.

Experienced Java interview questions

Experienced Java interview questions assess your knowledge of the language’s inner workings and advanced features. Here are some common questions you may get asked if the position requires a more experienced Java programmer.

How are “= =” and “equals ()” different?

“==” is the equality operator, and you use it to compare objects and primitives. On the other hand, “equals ()” checks whether two objects are equal within the business logic process.

How does garbage collection work in Java?

Garbage collection is used when an object is either not being referenced or isn’t being used. At that point, garbage collection can automatically destroy the object.

Describe what makes a queue and a stack different

A stack is based on the principle of Last In, First Out (LIFO). A queue is different in that it’s based on the First In, First Out (FIFO) principle.

What is the base class of all exception classes in Java?

The base class of all exception classes is Java.lang.Throwable. This being the base class means that all exception classes are derived from it.

What are the differences between the static and non-static methods?

With the static method, the static keyword has to precede the method name, and you call it using the class, as in “className.methodName.” Also, you can’t access any non-static methods or instance variables with the static method.

The non-static method doesn’t require you to use a static keyword before the method name, and you can call it as you would any general method. And, the non-static method can access any other static method and variable without the need to rate an instance of the class.

Describe constructor chaining

Constructor chaining in Java involves calling a constructor from another in connection with the current object. To make this happen, a subclass constructor has to be able to invoke its constructor first.

The constructor chaining process can be accomplished either within the same class using “this()” or from the base class by using “super().”

What is referred to by the term “classloader”?

ClassLoader is a subset of Java Virtual Machine (JVM), and it loads class files. When a Java program gets executed, the ClassLoader is what loads it.

Java provides you with three different classloaders:

  • Extension ClassLoader
  • Bootstrap ClassLoader
  • System/Application ClassLoader

Refreshing your knowledge and next steps

The questions above provide a solid foundation for your upcoming interviews, but if you’re still feeling unprepared, there are several steps you can take. We offer a wide range of Java courses you can use to refresh your knowledge of the language’s features and take your skills to the next level. Java is one of the most widely used and versatile languages, and you can learn how to use it with courses and Skill Paths like:

Plus, with our Skill Paths, you’ll also get the chance to build an impressive portfolio that you can use to showcase your Java skills.

As you learn with us, you’ll connect and interact with other developers and discover new ways to use Java. Equipped with the knowledge, experience, and projects you’ll gain in your courses, you can impress your interviewer and clearly illustrate your value to the organization. To get started, you can sign up with us today, free of charge.

Java Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Java is one of the most popular programming languages out there. Released in 1995 and still widely used today, Java has many applications, including software development, mobile applications, and large systems development. Knowing Java opens a lot of possibilities for you as a developer.

Interview Prep Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Interviewing is an important step in your journey towards landing a job in tech. Technical interviews let you showcase your skills and knowledge, but practice is key. You’ll need to understand technical concepts and be prepared to talk through solutions with your interviewers.

Word of the Day: impetus

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Word of the Day: impetus

1. a force that moves something along

2. the act of applying force suddenly

_________

The word impetus has appeared in 108 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Aug. 30 in “The World Is Still Short of Everything. Get Used to It.” by Peter S. Goodman and Keith Bradsher:

Delays, product shortages and rising costs continue to bedevil businesses large and small. And consumers are confronted with an experience once rare in modern times: no stock available, and no idea when it will come in.

… In March, as global shipping prices spiked and as many goods became scarce, conventional wisdom had it that the trouble was largely the result of a surplus of orders reflecting extraordinary shifts in demand. Consumers in the United States and other wealthy countries had taken pandemic lockdowns as the impetus to add gaming consoles and exercise bikes to their homes, swamping the shipping industry with cargo, and exhausting the supplies of many components. After a few months, many assumed, factories would catch up with demand, and ships would work through the backlog.

Can you correctly use the word impetus in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how impetus can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try one of our monthly vocabulary challenges.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

One Great Summer Memory

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One Great Summer Memory

How was your summer? Instead of telling us about everything you did, we’re challenging you to focus on just one happy memory, big or small, and tell us about it in detail.

It could be something you ate, or a place you visited, a conversation with a friend or relative, a moment alone in nature or on a city street, a book you read or movie you watched or concert you saw. You don’t need to try to choose something that sums up the whole season — just go with the first thing that comes to mind.

Tell us about it in the comments, then read the related article to read some descriptions of “tastes of summer” around the United States.

Learn more about Picture Prompts here and find all of our prompts in this column.

Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

University of London’s new Marketing degree: An ethical approach

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University of London’s new Marketing degree: An ethical approach

The brand new University of London’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Marketing is designed for you, that is looking for analytical skills to advance in your marketing career, but that is also interested in ethical issues associated with over-consumption, environmental crisis and inequality. 

This degree has been created with the understanding that marketing can play an important role in mitigating some of the core societal issues we are currently facing. Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to examine the connections between marketing and the underlying fundamentals of politics, economics and society that determine the rules for how marketing operates. 

You will understand contemporary perspectives on marketing and its implications for firms, industries and society, and will learn to identify and develop ethical,  sustainable and pro-diversity approaches. You will examine how quantitative studies can be employed in management, for sustainable business. You will develop a critical understanding of consumer behaviour and culture and its relation to digital marketing. You will also learn the strategic and operational facets of marketing set within the context of globalisation and its implications for the marketing manager and consumerism. 

By analysing real-life problems facing actual businesses and evaluating the effectiveness and limitations of different marketing and management solutions and practices you will gain the adding value analytic skills that are highly sought in the world of marketing and advertising today.

The degree balances research and applied skills, and it’s led by Royal Holloway, University of London’s Marketing Department:

“At Royal Holloway, we pride ourselves on being at marketing’s cutting edge,” said ​ Professor Alan Bradshaw, Head of the Marketing Department. “Our dual excellence in teaching and research allows us to lead international discussions about consumer experience, online culture, and branding. This new programme will allow us to do so in very exciting ways and we can’t wait to get started.”

In this programme, you will learn through a variety of highly engaging materials and activities such as pre-recorded videos, readings, formative assessments, quizzes and live tutorials. Your learning experience will be fun, and most importantly, effective. You will also have access to career resources, advice and support, which will empower you to realise your career goals.

 “Degrees continue to be one of the most valued credentials in the job market, and we’re excited to build on the global success of the University of London’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science by launching this new programme in a high-demand field” – added Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. 

Applications for the October 2021 cohort are open, and the deadline is 13th September. To learn more, please visit: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bsc-marketing-london

 

Announcing new industry partner Philips India and scholarships for Indian learners from IBM and Microsoft

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Announcing new industry partner Philips India and scholarships for Indian learners from IBM and Microsoft

By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer, Coursera 

Coursera is growing rapidly in India — since 2020, 7.5 million new registered learners in the country have joined the Coursera platform. Amid this demand, we are working with our industry partners to better serve our growing Indian learner base with job-relevant content and initiatives to help them develop skills for a digital future.  

Today, we are pleased to welcome Philips India, a leading health technology solutions company, as Coursera’s latest industry partner. The first course from Philips, Introduction to Basics of Ventilation, comes as frontline healthcare workers around the world rely on ventilators to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. The five-week course explores ventilation basics — the physiology of ventilation, types of ventilators, high flow therapy, COVID-19 phenotypes — and how to apply this knowledge to daily work in a hospital. The full course will be available for free in the coming weeks as a social impact initiative supported by Philips and Coursera to help healthcare professionals around the world better treat and manage COVID-19 patients. Philips plans to grow its catalog on Coursera with more healthcare courses. 

“The onset of the pandemic has increased demand for ventilators and trained staff to operate them. As healthcare professionals work to improve peoples’ health and deliver the best possible outcomes, Philips is pleased to partner with Coursera to provide them with knowledge on ventilation and its best practices. Given Coursera’s global reach and Philips’s strength in delivering innovative healthcare technologies, this partnership will play a big role in better equipping healthcare professionals with the skills to manage patients who require ventilator interventions,” said Daniel Mazon, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent.

To further expand access to job-relevant learning, industry partners Microsoft and IBM are offering scholarships for Indian learners to take their courses, Specializations, and Professional Certificates on Coursera. Microsoft, in collaboration with Women in Cloud, is providing 500 Microsoft Azure scholarships targeted at helping increase women’s representation in cloud computing as part of the #empowHERfamily initiative. These scholarships will provide women free Azure training, giving them access to highly sought-after cloud skills needed in today’s jobs. Learners can apply today. In the coming months, IBM will offer 500 scholarships for its wide range of tech, business, and data science content on Coursera. These scholarships will include access to in-demand courses such as What is Data Science?, which was among the most popular courses in India from January to June 2021. 

“IBM’s experience with education and skills programs, particularly those created here in India, has shown that there is a great appetite for learning resources that prepare young people for rewarding careers. We’ve found that one of the keys for success is to make the training as accessible and convenient as possible, and to provide it with related curricula that build a more complete educational foundation. That’s why we think that Coursera is a terrific choice for students, and we couldn’t be more pleased to offer scholarships to IBM content available on the platform,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, VP and Global Head Corporate Social Responsibility, IBM.

We’re proud to partner with industry leaders such as Philips, Microsoft, and IBM to support our growing learner base in India. Together, we can help even more learners across the country and globe access high-quality learning and broaden their career opportunities. 

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Coursera accelerates India growth plans

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Coursera accelerates India growth plans

Partnering with top-tier Indian institutions to help them reach a global audience; Launching localized experiences; Building India operations as the APAC hub 

By Coursera

Today, we’re announcing a number of initiatives to accelerate growth and operations in India. As demand for Coursera rises in the country, we are unveiling partnerships with top-tier Indian institutions (including IITs and ISI), announcing new enterprise customers, and introducing several platform innovations to better serve Indian learners and campuses. We are also elevating our India operations to become the hub for the entire APAC region. With 12.5 million registered learners, India is already our second-largest market. The country also ranks highest in new learner growth globally, adding 7.5 million learners since January 2020. 

“The pandemic has dramatically changed the way we learn, teach, and work. Our strong momentum in India reflects the continued trend of individuals and institutions embracing online learning to develop skills for a digital future,” said Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO, Coursera. “We’re delighted to partner with the country’s top higher ed institutions to offer a greater selection of job-relevant content and credentials and launch new platform features that will make learning on Coursera even more accessible and personalized for Indian learners.”

Among the announcements we are making today:

  • Partnership with four new higher education institutions in India, taking the total number of university partners to 10 in the country. New partners include IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, Indian Statistical Institute, and Ashoka University. 
  • A Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics, a top-tier program from the Indian Statistical Institute  
  • Five new certificate programs from Indian partners:
  • A new course, Introduction to Basics of Ventilation, to train frontline medical staff who manage critically ill COVID-19 patients, from our latest industry partner, Philips India 
  • Localized home page for better discovery, geo pricing (most individual courses are priced 40% lower than global), five new payment options, and bulk pricing for avid learners. 
  • New Coursera for Business customers including Reliance Industries Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Wipro GE Healthcare, Usha, ITC Infotech, Welspun India, StarTek and Vardhman Group
  • New Coursera for Campus customers including  UNext Learning, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, JIS College of Engineering, and Somaiya Vidyavihar
  • Setting up a ‘Learner Services’ team in India to better respond to learner needs globally.
  • New scholarships from industry partners:
    • Microsoft, in collaboration with Women in Cloud, will provide 500 scholarships targeted at helping increase women representation in cloud computing
    • IBM will provide 500 scholarships towards various IBM Professional Certificates, Specializations, and courses on Coursera. 

“With the pandemic widening the skill gaps, there is renewed urgency for large-scale reskilling efforts,” said Raghav Gupta, MD – India & APAC, Coursera. “As the country embraces online learning at a faster pace, Coursera is committed to helping many more learners and institutions in India navigate change and disruption with access to world-class learning.”

India also leads the world in the adoption of Guided Projects — a hands-on learning experience that enables learners to build a job-relevant skill in less than two hours. Half of the 2.6 million global enrollments for Guided Projects since their May 2020 launch have come from India. We will continue to expand this catalog with Indian learners in mind, including Guided Projects from local employers.

 

Operations Management – You’re In Charge with These High-Powered Career Opportunities

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Operations Management – You’re In Charge with These High-Powered Career Opportunities

While we might hear a lot about positions like CEO or CFO, it’s the Chief Operating Officer (COO) who really knows what’s going on when it comes to the running of a business. COOs are responsible for the overall organisation and functioning of a company and have to be up to speed with all aspects of the business.

Regardless of the sector, the individual in charge of managing operations has to have a brilliant organisational mind in order to be able to successfully coordinate all of the various components of a business. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in operations management then there are no shortage of options, as long as you have the skillset. And that’s where we come in! We’ve put together an exciting selection of careers in operations management and highlighted the courses you need to achieve them.

Chief Operating Officer

The COO is one of the highest powered positions in any organisation, and also one of the busiest. There’s not a single element of company life that the COO isn’t involved in somehow. From onboarding new employees to negotiating with suppliers, a good COO will be at the heart of all decisions. To fulfil the role competently, you need to have the very best in training. And that’s exactly what you’ll get form our Diploma in Operations Management, one of our most popular courses.

City Manager

Who makes a city tick? While you may think it’s the mayor or another elected official, it’s really the City Manager who keep everything running smoothly. These professional positions are vital for the successful coordination of cities, which are incredibly complex organisms. From traffic to parking, hospitals to schools, there are thousands of different branches of city life that have to be balanced and run in parallel to each other. If you’d like to pursue this exciting career, then your first stop has to be our Diploma in Modern Project Management.

Branch Manager

Every day, a Branch Manager is faced with countless problems to solve and decisions to make. First and foremost, this role is about managing people. The branch team needs to be monitored and taken care of, customers need to be seen to and satisfied, and suppliers, contractors and Head Office also need to be dealt with on a regular basis. To be able to keep all parties happy, a Branch Manager needs to be skilled in dealing with people, which is exactly what you’ll learn from our Diploma in Modern Human Resource Management.

 

Business Manager

If you’re the Business Manager, then the buck stops with you. You exercise overall control and take ultimate responsibility for what goes right or wrong. A successful Business Manager needs a successful team behind them, and in order to run a successful team you need Leadership Skills. Leadership is one of the hardest skills to teach, as so much of it comes down to character. This course offers a fantastic foundation in leadership techniques and team management.

Entrepreneur

Management is probably the most important skill an entrepreneur can have. If you’re running your own company then you need to be to capable of directing it competently and effectively. Our Diploma in Business Management & Entrepreneurship focuses on the management techniques that are specific to entrepreneurs seeking to manage their businesses. This is a course that no entrepreneur can afford to miss out on.

What is a cyber attack?

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What is a cyber attack?
What is a cyber attack?

Cyber attacks are attempts to disrupt or disable computer systems or steal valuable data. From the Experian data breach to the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, cyber attacks are a part of just about every news cycle and have very real consequences. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what cyber attacks are, why they happen, and how to prevent them.

Cyber attack basics

Cyber attacks can compromise sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, birthdates, medical information, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and more. This can lead to identity theft, which is time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive to resolve.

Cyber attacks are also very expensive for companies. Cybersecurity Ventures expects global cybercrime costs to grow to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, with over $6 trillion in damages alone this year.

But why is cybercrime so expensive? Cyber attacks often bring down computer networks, and downtime costs companies money. It also takes time and money to back up and evaluate compromised systems and data.

Companies also have to notify their customers if their data was compromised and take measures to restore their reputations. That doesn’t include the costs of attempting to prevent cyber attacks in the first place, which requires professional expertise, investments in hardware and software, and lots of time.

Types of cyber attacks

There are several types of cyber attacks. Here are some of the most common.

Malware

Malware are software like spyware and ransomware that are used to attack information systems.

Spyware is installed on devices without a user’s knowledge. It can be used to steal information, including login credentials, and invades privacy. Trojans are one example of spyware.

Trojans hide in legitimate software programs, which gives them access to a computer. From there, it can delete or encrypt files or access user information.

Ransomware is software used to encrypt and hijack computer systems, which are only released after a ransom has been paid. The Colonial Pipeline shutdown was one example of this. The Pipeline is one of the main fuel pipelines in the United States, and shutting it down caused fuel shortages across the east coast. Colonial paid $4.4 million to the hacking group to bring their systems back online.

Phishing

Phishing is when cybercriminals send emails or texts to unsuspecting people who then click on a link or attachment that downloads malware onto their device. Another variation is when the link takes the user to a fake website that tricks them into entering sensitive information.

Phishing emails and texts have become increasingly sophisticated, so it’s critical to be vigilant about not clicking links or opening any emails you don’t recognize.

Man-in-the-middle

This attack is when a cybercriminal inserts themselves between two parties. For example, they might intercept connections on public, unsecured WiFi networks to steal data from someone logging into their work email or bank account.

Distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS)

DDoS attacks bombard systems with traffic that exhausts their resources and bandwidth. They make servers unable to handle requests, making systems unusable.

SQL injection

SQL injections involve using the SQL programming language to collect data from servers and databases.

Zero-day exploits

Software have vulnerabilities. Zero-day exploits are when cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities within software before they’re patched.

DNS tunneling

DNS tunneling hides the data of other programs in DNS queries and responses. It allows data to be removed from a system without being detected.

Why do cyber attacks happen?

Criminals engage in cyber attacks for several reasons:

  • Money: Perhaps the most obvious reason, money drives a lot of cyber attacks. Ransomware can bring in millions for cybercriminals. They can also sell personal and corporate data.
  • Disruption: Some hackers just want to disrupt the status quo. They enjoy the chaos. Or they may want to damage a specific organization or entity.
  • Cyberwarfare: Governments are also involved in cyber attacks. They use cyber attacks to weaken political opponents and expose weaknesses.

How to prevent cyber attacks

Organizations and individuals can take steps to prevent cyber attacks.

  • Education: You can only prevent what you’re aware of, so keep an eye on evolving cyber threats. Organizations should educate employees on common cyber threats, including phishing and social engineering, which involve manipulating someone into providing access to sensitive information. For example, someone could pretend to be tech support to gain access to protected servers.
  • Install perimeter defenses: These include firewalls, which should be kept up to date.
  • Malware detection: Consider adding malware protection on your computers and other devices. Corporations should have state-of-the-art antivirus software that’s continually updated to address threats.
  • Patch management: Those pesky security updates might seem annoying, but they prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited.
  • User access: Multi-factor authentication and strong passwords play a huge role in preventing cyber attacks.

Along with the steps listed above, businesses should also have a clear response plan to deal with security breaches.

Getting involved in cybersecurity

Since cyber attacks are constantly evolving, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. If you’re interested in a career in cybersecurity, you can get started in several ways.

One option is learning a programming language that’s commonly used in cybersecurity. Some options include:

We also offer an Introduction to Cybersecurity course. It covers cybersecurity standards, cyber threats, cryptography, network security basics, and more. In other words, it’s a great way to take your first steps toward a rewarding career!

Cybersecurity Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Cybersecurity is a fast-growing field that addresses the security risks of our increasingly connected digital world. Learn cybersecurity, and you will learn how users, companies, and even governments protect themselves and recover from, cyber threats and attacks. Start defending yourself, or your or…

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