From Acrobatics to Encryption

I have always loved helping others. My role at Peerio gives me a chance to offer a safety net for businesses so that they are free to create, experiment, and innovate securely. Here is my story
Thanks for reading up on the Peerio blog! My name is Jennifer, and I have quite a unique story on where I come from and how I ended up where I am today, as Peerio’s community advocate.
My role involves communicating with people around the world about the value of encrypting their data, and giving them the tools for protecting their businesses from the threat of cybercrime.
Before this job, I was what people in tech would call a “n00b.” Born in Montreal, raised in South Florida, I spent most of my life working as a professional dancer and acrobat. I focused on training my body and didn’t spend much time on digital technology. My first job after university was with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. I signed a contract to perform onboard one of the newest and largest vessels in the world. For five years, I woke up in a different city every day. I never picked up a phone or touched a computer.

As an aerialist, I hung from silks, bounced from bungees, and gracefully soared over the stage in a harness. Every show was extremely elaborate, with a cast of singers, dancers, acrobats and aerialists, all accompanied by a full orchestra. The audience was awe struck by the effortless magic of the performances, but what they didn’t see was all the behind the scenes preparation that got us there.
There were the hours of rehearsals and the ongoing tests to prevent technical difficulties. Most importantly, there was the complicated system of computers and rigs and rig operators that protected performers while we were 30 feet above ground. In the air, knowing that my safety was in good hands, I could focus my attention onto the artistry of my movements and take creative risks.
After five years at sea, I decided I wanted to be “back on land.” I missed the simple pleasures of home cooked meals, a warm bath, and just driving my car wherever, whenever. I moved back to Florida, became a dance and Physical Education teacher, and caught up on the fun apps that came out while I was at sea. I spent three years of working with kids. Then, one day, I realized that I was ready for another challenge. Making a change was certainly scary, but saying “what if” to yourself and never knowing is even scarier.

So, last summer, I moved to Montreal in search of new beginnings. I decided to change not only location but also my field of work. I figured that, as a retired aerialist/gym teacher, technology was the most drastic change possible. I like to think of my move as a bit of a free fall, trusting the process before knowing the outcome — acrobat mentality.
I knew I wanted to work for a start-up company. I wanted to be a part of something from the beginning, to help foster its growth. Somewhere I could bring my creative energy and enthusiasm to the table. That led me to Peerio. So here I am, in tech and out of my comfort zone. Most employees here are app developers, cryptographers, designers…and then there’s me. No background in tech and still learning the terminology I hear in passing.
Before this job, I primarily used the internet to shop and didn’t know much about cybersecurity. For a long time, I figured that I would be safe as long as I kept my passwords complicated and avoided weird links. Besides, what did I have that anyone would want? I had to learn, the hard way, that I was wrong.
Once, I was on vacation and woke up to my phone buzzing at 2:30AM. The message was from Gmail, confirming that I had just changed my password. But that wasn’t me. I have a lot of sensitive information in my mailbox — banking records, passport information, social security numbers, contracts — so this was alarming. I quickly responded, then Gmail asked me to verify my account. This went on four or five times and lasted over 45 minutes. Someone in Germany kept logging into my account, even after I changed my password. My password was not as secure as I’d thought, and I quickly learned how easily my accounts could be hacked.
I was also the target of a phishing attack. This is when someone attempts to directly obtain information through a fraudulent identity. In my case, it was my Apple account they were after. At first glance, the text message appeared to be from someone I knew:

Thankfully, I didn’t fall for this one. I knew my friend, who lived a few time zones behind me, wouldn’t be up at that time. Had this message been sent a few hours later, I probably would’ve given away my login.
Even after these incidents, I still didn’t make a serious effort to protect my data. Cybersecurity can seem overwhelming. Ransomware, spoofing, tampering, clickjacking, denial of service attacks, direct access attacks…there are so many things that could go wrong. What can you even do to fend off all the potential dangers out there? It’s easy to ignore the problem until it gets out of hand.
A lot of businesses think the way that I did, and suffer similar consequences on a much bigger scale. Every day, CEOs fall for the same type of phishing scam that I narrowly dodged. What happened to me can happen to anyone.
You’re probably thinking that hackers only target banks, universities, and large Fortune 500 companies, because that’s what gets headlines in the news. Actually, those big institutions are pretty hard to crack. They spend a lot of money on implementing intricate privacy programs, so it takes hackers a long time to gain access to their systems. Small businesses and non-profits that don’t realize they’re a target and much more vulnerable.
The good news is there are solutions, and you don’t need to spend a million dollars or devote days to training your employees. I was hired by Peerio last November, and I quickly learned simple tips for keeping my data safe. To be proactive instead of reactive about cybersecurity.
One tip is not allowing people to pick their own passwords. Why? Because people can’t be trusted to choose secure passwords. They pick their kid’s name, their own birthday, or their home address. That’s what I used to do. I would even throw in a couple of uPpEr case letters to be clever. I thought I was ahead of the game, but that was no match against my German Gmail hacker. Computer-generated passwords are a much more secure alternative.
Everyone at Peerio has been eager to help me understand fundamentals of the InfoSec world. Through my job, I’ve been able to meet influencers in the field, who welcomed me with open arms and let me badger them with questions about their areas of expertise. One of those people is Jeremiah Grossman, Chief of Security at SentinelOne, who has been featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His “How I got my start” blogpost inspired me to write this.
As the community advocate, I have the opportunity to share my new knowledge with all the organizations and businesses that I know can benefit the most. I want to help small companies get the same level of protection that major corporations invest huge resources to set up.
As an aerialist, my safety depended on harnesses and rigs. I see Peerio and the cybersecurity tools we provide in the same way, as safety devices for online communication. We protect your data from compromise so that you can focus on your work. Confidently and securely.
