Cybersecurity is increasingly important as we spend more time online and juggle countless digital accounts. I spoke with Karolis Arbaciauskas, Head of Product and Business Development for NordPass at Nord Security to get practical advice. This Q&A is full of helpful tips on what tools are worth downloading.
I really loved his perspective on how Hollywood can influence smarter habits. Hopefully we’ll see more characters make better choices online!
How can people protect their passwords during big life transitions, like starting a new job or getting married?
Big life transitions are actually when we’re most vulnerable online. Not because we’re careless, but because we’re juggling so many things at once. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving, or getting married, you’re creating a bunch of new accounts, sharing personal info, and probably reusing a few passwords out of convenience.
The best thing you can do is use a password manager to stay organized. You can store all your logins securely in one place without needing to memorize them. Also, it’s a good time to review your existing accounts. Change any reused or weak passwords, especially for your most sensitive accounts: email, banking, and anything related to your identity. And one more tip: enable multi-factor authentication wherever you can. It’s like adding a second lock to your digital doors.
In moments of change, your digital life is evolving too. So it’s worth taking a few minutes to lock it down properly.
Cybersecurity might seem like yet another expensive subscription. If someone only has $100/year to spend, what kind of protection should they prioritize?
You’re absolutely right – when people hear “cybersecurity,” they often think it’s something complicated. But with $100 a year, you can actually cover the most important bases and make a huge difference in how protected you are.
If I had to prioritize, I’d say start with a password manager. Many data breaches happen because people reuse the same passwords or simply use weak passwords that can be hacked in a moment. A good password manager like NordPass helps you generate strong, unique passwords and store them securely, so you don’t have to remember them. That reduces your risk dramatically.
Next, think about a VPN. It encrypts your internet connection and is especially useful if you’re on public Wi-Fi or travelling. A bundle like NordPass + NordVPN often fits well within that $100 budget, especially with discounts.
The key is to focus on value over volume. One or two well-chosen tools can go a long way. And many of them offer free trials or basic plans, so you can test what actually works for you before committing.
How can creators avoid oversharing anything online that could put their security at risk?
Everything we post – even if it feels casual or harmless – can become a piece of the puzzle for someone trying to hack us. Oversharing online can unintentionally reveal things like location, habits, or even answers to security questions. Think before posting. That cool airport selfie might be fun, but it also tells the world you’re not home.
Many celebrities have struggled with leaked DMs and photos. What can fans learn from high-profile hacks to avoid making the same mistakes?
A lot of celebrity hacks didn’t start with some high-tech breach. They started with something simple like weak passwords, reused logins, or answers to “What’s your pet’s name?” being visible on social media.
Be mindful of DMs and private content. If it’s something you wouldn’t want leaked, think twice about storing it in easily hackable places like cloud photo backups or messenger apps without encryption.
Be as thoughtful with your digital life as you are with your real life. Recent incidents show that no one is too famous – or too small – to be targeted.
Sometimes movies and TV shows gloss over cybersecurity for the sake of comedy or drama. What advice would you give Hollywood writers to help characters be smarter online without sacrificing entertainment?
Watching someone enable two-factor authentication doesn’t exactly make for thrilling drama. But cybersecurity doesn’t have to be boring or unrealistic – with a little creativity, it can actually add to the story. You can make characters smart about cybersecurity and still keep the story interesting.
In fact, a well-secured character might even lead to more creative plot twists – where the hacker or villain has to dig deeper or find another way in. That can be just as compelling as watching someone get hacked in a few seconds.
Instead of the classic “the password is her cat’s name”, maybe it’s a scene where a character uses a password manager. And the antagonist has to find a clever way in through social engineering, or by hacking a less obvious entry point.
Adding little moments where a character locks their device, or reacts to a phishing text with “Nice try,” helps normalize good digital habits without killing the vibe.
It’s time we stop making cybersecurity look like magic or an afterthought. Characters don’t need to be perfect, but a little realism goes a long way. Audiences are smart enough to notice.
Who do you think should be responsible for helping the public stay informed about cybersecurity?
It’s a shared responsibility. Tech companies like us are definitely at the forefront, but telecom providers, banks, and media outlets all have a role to play. They’re in the best positions to reach large audiences and help integrate security best practices into daily life. However, it’s also about empowering individuals. Friends and family can play a huge part too, especially when it comes to teaching loved ones about safe online habits.
Ultimately, cybersecurity education needs to be a collective effort. We all have a stake in creating a safer digital world. By working together, we can build a more secure online environment for everyone.
*Interview has been edited for length.
Nord Security’s team is based in Vilnius, Lithuania, a fast-growing tech hub with a strong community of entrepreneurs and developers. With their innovations in cybersecurity, I can’t wait to see how Nord Security becomes a key player internationally! NordPass recently published a list of weak corporate passwords used by Canadian businesses, so clearly a lot more work and education needs to happen.