Blue is Happiness: Interview with 2022 Noonies Nominee Anastasios

Howdy Hackers!

I’m Anastasios Arampatzis and I’m working as a cybersecurity content writer at Bora IT Security Marketing agency

First off, I’d like to express my gratitude to the staff, and all other beautiful humans of HackerNoon, for nominating me for a 2022 Noonies award!

I’ve been nominated for the following categories and if you think my writing offers good value, please take some time to check out these award pages and vote for me:

1. Internet Heroes, HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - BEST PRACTICES

2. Internet Heroes, HackerNoon Contributor of the Year- MANAGEMENT

   
   

As a writer in the tech industry, I believe that cybersecurity and privacy are the most exciting aspects of the technology of the present because it all comes down to protecting us humans from online harm. Learn more about my views on cybersecurity and privacy and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below.

1. What do you currently do and what’s your favorite part about it?

I am working as a cybersecurity content writer in a digital marketing agency called Bora IT Security Marketing. I am also an active member of the non-for-profit privacy group “Homo Digitalis”.

2. How did you get started with your Tech Career?

I was an IT and comms officer at the Hellenic Air Force for 25 years. So my background is in IT. During my course in the Air Force, I got involved in many infosec projects and I also was an Infosec Evaluator for NATO. It is then that I discovered my passion for cybersecurity and privacy. When I retired from the Air Force, I turned my passion into a full-time job, aiming at helping people and businesses understand how to best protect themselves from online risks and dangers.

3. If Utopia were a color what color do you think it’d be and why?

Utopia had to be blue - blue is the color of the ocean and of the sky. Blue is the color of Greece - my country. Blue is happiness.

4. If everything about HackerNoon changed drastically, what is one detail you’d like to keep exactly the same?  OR What’s your favorite thing to do with HackerNoon and why?

You may change colors, fonts, look and feel, but never change the quality of content you are offering and the interaction between HackerNoon members (yes, there are two things, but…)

5. Tell us more about the things you write/make/manage/build!

Although I tend to write about a diverse range of topics - from access management to encryption to ransomware threats and business risks, I enjoy writing the most about privacy and protecting families and kids from online harm.

6. What’s your favorite thing about the internet?

Connecting people and reaching for information anywhere, anytime. However, these can also be the riskiest parts of the internet - lack of privacy, mis- and disinformation.

7. It’s an apocalypse of ‘walking dead’ proportions and you can only own a singular piece of technology, what would it be?

I am a huge music lover - so my “desert island” piece of technology would be my media player with all my favorite songs.

8. What is your least favorite thing about the internet?

How evil people can become hiding behind the perceived anonymity of the internet. Sometimes public spaces online can become so acid that it is unbearable. This also leads to self-censorship in an attempt to avoid people harassing you, which is also bad considering that the internet was born to democratize information sharing.

9. If you were given $10 million to invest in something today what would you invest in and why?

I am between creating technology that is safer for us and raising awareness for families, kids, and marginalized communities. Both are equally important. (Can we raise that amount to $20 million?)

10. What’s something you’re currently learning or excited to learn?

I am currently learning more about Application Security, and Tanya Janca is a great help. As our lives are affected by apps and APIs, the need to secure those “invisible” artifacts has become increasingly essential for society and the economy.

11. Would you rather travel 10 years into the past or 10 years into the future? Give reasons for your answer.

Back to the future, please. Travel back in time to fix the mistakes we have made in developing technology that harms people.