In the world we find ourselves now, security awareness is no longer an opinion. In this part of the world, during the lockdown period of Covid, when you hear "stay safe," it would mean to protect yourself against the virus. But a few years after, the same phrase would mean to protect yourself against the growing insecurity. The little cautious you are can become your big protection. You have to keep your eyes open and be attentive to even a very little detail, because it may be a pointer to something bigger. At this point, you need to secure what you value most - life, because it is necessary that you stay alive first before you can pursue every other thing.
Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/vectors/character-security-a-notice-sign-696951)
A lot of dangers can be avoided when you make it a lifestyle to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Being mindful of your environment and awareness of your surroundings can be your first defence in deciphering immediate threats, which includes physical threats and others. If something does not seem right to you or if your gut feeling is not sitting right well with something, then you have to pay attention to it. This goes way beyond closing your door or installing surveillance cameras in your house, but it a should be a mindset - mindset to make a daily choice to remain aware of your environment, attentive to details, access risks, and take the required steps to keep yourself safe.
You have to learn sensitivity, and avoid being easily distracted. You need to adopt alertness as a lifestyle. A friend once told me how she was robbed on her way back from work. She was coming back at the dark hours of the night. After she dropped from the bus, she had to walk home through a pathway. She got a call from her madam at the office demanding for a particular document to be e-mailed to her. Instead of her to wait until she get home to send the file, she began pressing her phone through that dark path. This made her distracted from her environment as she was glued to her phone while trying to send the document. Just then, someone ran from behind, snatched the phone and ran away with it. If she had been alert, she would have seen them coming and probably scream for help or run away. You need to make alertness your lifestyle.
It is also worthy to note that security does not only apply to the physical world but to also the digital space. For example, if you receive an email from an unknown sender proposing to give you money if you will click a certain link, you need to pause and analyse the link first and verify the source, instead of just rushing to click it. What if it is a phishing link that can be malicious? If something does not seem right to you or if it piques your suspicions, then you need to be careful with it. More so, for the fact that it is too good to be true should make you more suspicious of it, because it might not be true. Staying alert can save you from financial loses in moments like these, and from identity theft.
Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/vectors/cybersecurity-security-9302462)
Staying alert does not mean to live in perpetual fear, but about living with wisdom and awareness. Staying alert is not meant to drain your energy, rather it sharpens your mind and gets you ready for eventualities. It is better to be ready and prepared for a negative eventuality and it does not happen, than to be less concerned and it will take you by surprise. For example, as a driver, you can be taught defensive driving. This is not because you are anticipating that accident will happen, but being careful will actually reduces the chance of it happening, and may also prepare you for escape if it happens. This same thing also happens to personal risks - their chances of happening get reduced when you are alert.
Developing a habit of alertness and security awareness starts from where you are. It can even be from the little things like rechecking the door if you have closed it, verifying information that you receive before you act, paying attention to your surrounding, being careful of who you share sensitive information with, etc. Over time, these little acts will become a lifestyle for you and you will build up yourself for security alertness. Remember that security is your responsibility and you should do it like your life depends on it.
***Thanks for reading***
Peace on y'all
