Imagine being a parent and suddenly realizing that the virtual playground your kids are playing in might not be as safe as you thought. Tom Arnold shares a riveting tale of how a seemingly innocent game turned into a near disaster for his grandson. This heart-pounding moment ignited Tom's mission to educate families about the hidden dangers lurking online. With his extensive background in cybersecurity, Tom breaks down the concept of 'cyber hygiene'—a fancy way of saying, 'Keep your digital life clean and safe!' He walks us through practical tips for parents, like recognizing behavioral changes in kids that might signal something's amiss. Plus, we dive into the nitty-gritty of online interactions, stressing that not everyone in the digital world has good intentions. Tune in as we learn how to empower our kids to navigate the internet wisely, ensuring they know when to run like the wind from potential threats. With Tom's engaging storytelling and passionate advocacy, you'll leave feeling more equipped to tackle the challenges of modern parenting in a digital age.
Tom Arnold (CISSP, ISSMP, CISA, CFS, GCFE-Gold, GNFA, GWEB, GBFA) is a cybersecurity expert, digital forensics investigator, and educator. He lectures on digital forensics and incident response at San Jose State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he is also helping to develop a new digital evidence and forensics degree program. A co-founder of Payment Software Company (PSC), now part of NCC Group, Arnold has led large-scale breach investigations—some involving more than 7,000 servers—and served as lead investigator in complex threat-hunting operations. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and House on cybersecurity legislation and sits on the steering committee for the Las Vegas branch of the USSS/Cyber Fraud Task Force. He also serves as Operations Manager at Cloud 10 Studios, a full-service animation studio that creates original series, long-form content, and commercial projects.
His novel The Digital Detective: First Intervention was inspired by a real-life cybersecurity scare when Arnold’s grandson was approached by a stranger on Roblox despite parental controls. That moment launched Arnold’s mission to help families and schools recognize hidden online dangers—and to give kids the tools they need to stay safe in the digital world.
Tom's Website
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