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Jan Johnston is the Collection Development Coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.

Last weeks worldwide cyberattack by ransomware dubbed WannaCry (and Im sure some people did) left me feeling vulnerable once again. The malware didnt affect me personally, but still, sometimes it feels like bad stuff is creeping in closer and closer, digitally speaking. Something, somewhere is always out to hack its way into our plugged-in lives. But I dont want to give up my computer and smartphone or any other techie device I happen to use. I dont want to unplug because Im too dependent on having online access. And you know what? Thats what the hackers count on.

The question then becomes, what can the average person do to protect his or her online presence? Well, knowledge is power, so a good place to start is to visit your local library, check out some titles on computer security and internet security measures (these are library subject headings you can use to begin your search), and get informed. To help you navigate your way through the bits and bytes of information available on these topics, here is a brief reading list. Youll find it to be a mix of cyber history, practical advice and forewarning. You may not agree with Nicholas G. Carrs assessment of technology in Utopia is Creepy which the publisher describes as a freewheeling, sharp-shooting indictment of our tech-besotted culture, but it definitely is food for thought.

The Art of Invisibility: The Worlds Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data, by Kevin D. Mitnick.

Boundaries in an Overconnected World: Setting Limits to Preserve Your Focus, Privacy, Relationships, and Sanity, by Anne Katherine.

Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World, by Bruce Schneier.

Hacking Exposed: Malware and Rootkits: Security Secrets & Solutions, by Christopher C. Elisan.

Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension, by Samuel Arbesman.

Rise of the Machines: A Cybernetic History, by Thomas Rid.

Utopia is Creepy: And Other Provocations, by Nicholas G. Carr.

Jan Johnston is the collection development coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.

The rest is here:
Check It Out: No need to unplug after reading books on internet security - The Columbian