(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“…constant attention to the device is reinforced by the delivery of intermittent variable rewards. These are handed out or enforced inconsistently and occasionally. This usually encourages the person to keep trying, checking or playing until they get what they want, without changing their own behavior.“
This sounds like the thrill that one gets while playing the slots. However developers are learning from casinos on how to retain our attention while on our computers and smartphones. While I don’t gamble, I admit that I am addicted to my computer and iPhone. I’m always checking my email or googling something. Yes, I’m constantly leaving my digital fingerprint somewhere.
William Keiper must have had me in mind when he wrote his latest book, Cyber Crisis: It’s Personal Now.
First he warns us that our obsessive behavior can lead to “flawed assessments of the situational facts and circumstances.” No, it’s not just due to compulsive drinking and gambling.
He educates us on the difference between the internet and the web. He goes through the Deep Web and Dark Web and what goes on in the dark web. Scary stuff. This puts everything into context.
He not only alarms us with the probability that at one point we will be hacked, but gives us pointers on how on to minimize our risks. He finally spells out a Web Access Routine that we should all diligently follow. He also includes numerous outside resources.
Like me, some of you will be aware of many of these safeguards. However, there were some that I didn’t know. If you get just one tip—and I learned many— Cyber Crisis: It’s Personal Now, will be worth the minimal cost of the book. Also, at under a hundred pages, it’s concise and well worth your time.
Keiper hopes that you will be motivated “to accept a higher level of personal responsibility for your digital well-being.” I think he succeeded.
