To celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, UA Little Rock is profiling students involved in cybersecurity. Meet Cameron Johnson, a sophomore cybersecurity major at UA Little Rock.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I love to go fishing and ride ATVs when I’m not studying. I was born on February 19, 1996, to Elvis and Tamela Johnson in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. My father, a United States Marine veteran, passed away in January of 2001 from a rare disease caused by a mutation in a bone marrow stem cell referred to as Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). I was only four years old at the time.

What made you decide to pursue cybersecurity? 

I decided to pursue cybersecurity because of my interest in the field and the high demand in the cybersecurity profession. It also lets you use your entire skillset.

Why do you think cybersecurity is more important now than ever before? 

I think cybersecurity is important because it protects all categories of data from theft and damage. I also think the next big attack against the United States will involve a cyber attack.

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

I would like to gain employment with a federal law enforcement agency like the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration or Federal Bureau of Investigation and work in the cyber crimes unit.

What opportunities have you gotten through UA Little Rock that you might not have had otherwise? 

I have received the opportunity to pursue a degree in cybersecurity and actually be in a position to understand the inner workings of it.

What advice would you give the average person on how to keep their information secure?

I would advise people to utilize hardware security keys and complex passwords. I would further advise them to check their bank and credit protection policies, along with urging them not to share their passwords or leave them laying around for a stranger to access.