Cybersecurity Lessons We Can Learn From Movies

by Adrian Johansen

Everyone loves a good hacker film. Your heart races when you see an actor's fingers flying across a keyboard, trying to break into a security system or crack some kind of code that will save the world — or perhaps launch a powerful weapon.

Whether they’re doing it for good or evil, it’s exciting to watch. This explains the popularity of tech-centered media.

However, these films might have more to teach us than we realize at the moment. While it’s fun to see cyber hacks on the silver screen, there are lessons that can be learned from some of these popular films and scenes. While you might not be worried that someone is going to hack into your personal computer looking for secret government codes, stealing your personal or business information is a real threat of which you should be aware. 

Business Threats

We’ve seen over the years that no matter how large a corporation is, no one is completely immune to cyber attacks. Some of the biggest data breaches of the 21st century have impacted companies like:

• Yahoo;

• Facebook;

• LinkedIn;

• Marriott International;

• Alibaba.

Perhaps the biggest film that comes to mind when you consider corporate cyber attacks is 1995’s “Hackers.” The film follows a super-smart teen who had previously been banned from computers for creating a virus that crashed the stock market. However, it centers around him trying to clear his name by going up against another hacker who is trying to embezzle funds from a large oil company.

While cybersecurity issues are no joke, even comedic films have taken a stab at them, including “Office Space.” The film centers around three computer programmers who hate their jobs and form a plan to embezzle money from their company. Obviously, that plan backfires and hilarity ensues — but it’s a clear picture of how insiders can often be the biggest threat to a company and why high standards in hiring practices are so essential. 

Government and Organization Threats

When most people think about hacking movies, things like tapping into government information come to mind. That’s likely because there’s no shortage of movies that show programmers doing what they do best to stop a nuclear explosion from destroying the world — or to prevent a foreign country from invading U.S. networks. Some of the greatest cybersecurity movies that showcase these issues include:

• “NetForce” (1999);

• “Minority Report” (2002);

• “Breach” (2007);

• “Real Genius” (1985);

• “War Games” (1983).

One of the reasons people continue to show interest in these movies is that they come with a sense of realism. They seamlessly blend entertainment with plausible hacking realities. For example, “War Games” makes viewers wonder if it is indeed possible for a teen to hack into a military computer and wage war against a different country. Maybe hacking isn’t exactly that black and white, but there’s an element of fear in the realism of these situations that make us realize the importance of organizational cybersecurity.

It becomes even more concerning when you look at films like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Granted, hacking probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the classic film. However, remember that the whole reason Ferris got his day of freedom was that he hacked into his school’s computer system to change grades and attendance records, showcasing the importance of something as simple as password protection.

Personal Attacks and the Future of Technology

Many people love a good, futuristic sci-fi film. It’s entertaining to watch people interact with highly-advanced AI on screen or use hacking skills for good in their personal lives. However, there are even more lessons to learn when it comes to “small” and personal cyber attacks. 

One of the best depictions of this is in 1992’s "Single White Female." The film follows a woman who puts out an ad for a roommate, but she quickly discovers that the woman she ends up living with is trying to steal her identity through hacking. It’s hard to believe that something made 30 years ago was already touching on these subjects, but it offers some insight into how far we’ve come and how sophisticated personal hacking has become. 

In 1995’s “The Net,” Sandra Bullock’s character faces a case of stolen identity — and potential murder. More recently, 2013’s “Identity Thief” takes a comedic approach to how hacking can change our personal lives. Melissa McCarthy’s character steals the identity of a man and ends up wrecking his credit score.

From a personal standpoint, these films can teach us a lot about everything from password protection to how we store our data. 

Nowadays, so much information is stored in cloud-based programs. However, if you have any personal information on hard drives, it’s important to know how to dispose of them properly. This can be when they’ve worn out or you’re moving onto a different storage option. You should always contact a professional company to wipe and destroy old hard drives safely and securely. 

Because we have a constant fascination with technology and how cybersecurity and AI will impact the future, movies like these will continue to get made. We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to how cybersecurity efforts can shape our future. Which films did we miss? What comes to your mind when you think of the cybersecurity lessons we can learn from movies? Make sure to go double-check your passwords, and then pop in your favorite tech film tonight!