Cybersecurity: Safeguarding the Digital World

Cybersecurity is more than just a buzzword, it’s a vital element of modern technology that keeps our systems and data safe in an increasingly digital world. As we rely more on computers, networks, and applications to complete daily tasks, the importance of securing these systems becomes more urgent. This blog post explores how cybersecurity ties into the core concepts of information technology, such as hardware, software, programming, databases, and networking. By understanding these connections, we gain a stronger foundation for creating safer digital environments.

Hide your Phone, Hide your Tablets, and Hide your Computers: Network Security

We live in a world where just about everything is connected, our phones, bank accounts, medical records, even our homes. That’s why information and system security is no longer just something IT people worry about, it affects everyone.

In my blog this week, I’m diving into two common but dangerous threats: malware (including ransomware) and phishing/smishing. These attacks aren’t just technical, they’re also personal, exploiting both software vulnerabilities and human behavior.

Computers in Healthcare: A Phlebotomist's Perspective

I spent 10 years working as a phlebotomist, and during that time, I saw just how much computers have become a part of daily life in healthcare. From the moment a patient walks in the door to the moment their lab results get sent to a doctor, technology is involved every step of the way.

Packet Enroute! : Ping and Traceroute in Action

I’ve used the internet daily for years, but this week, I finally got a glimpse of how data actually travels behind the scenes. Using ping and traceroute commands on my Mac, I tested how packets move from my device to websites in the U.S., Japan, and Mexico. I wasn’t expecting it to be this interesting, or this eye-opening.

Documenting a Day with Office Apps: What I Discovered

For a class assignment, I was asked to document a typical day in my life, not just by writing about it, but by using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even thinking about databases. At first, I didn’t realize how different these tools really are, but by the end, I saw just how each one helps organize information in its own way.

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A Quick Look at My Day

App Review! Apple Maps

Since I use both an iPhone and a Mac every day, Apple Maps has quietly become one of my most-used apps. Whether I’m checking traffic before heading out or finding a new coffee spot, it's my default tool for getting around. Honestly, I didn’t realize how often I relied on it until I had to reflect on it for this review.

First Time Programming with Scratch!

Before this class, I never thought I’d enjoy programming. But building a project with Scratch completely changed that. For my first assignment, I created a little game where the Scratch Cat chases a balloon. When the cat catches it, it makes a sound, says something fun in a speech bubble, and the score goes up. I even added a hen chasing a ball and a bat that randomly flies across the screen. Watching all these characters move and interact was not only fun, but it also helped me understand how different parts of a program can run at the same time.

Learning the Hard Way (At First)