Shaquille O'Neal Turns Cybersecurity Advocate After Getting Hacked

At a promotional event in New York's Times Square for security company NordVPN, brand ambassador Shaquille O'Neal said he wants to raise awareness among ordinary people about digital security and personal privacy. In his view, everyone should be able to control their own information.

O'Neal said scammers first drew him into the topic. They tried to trick him by claiming he was buying a house and that they were handling the transaction. He later experienced his first hack, which he described as not a bad one. At the time he did not know how to respond, so he had to research the subject. He admitted he had once assumed something like that could never happen to him.

The four-time NBA champion and media personality says his devices hold no especially sensitive data and that he tries to live as normal a life as possible. Asked whether his high profile requires extra precautions for himself and his loved ones, he said yes. He thinks about it constantly but does not let it consume him, adding that what matters is being able to react well if something happens.

O'Neal is a prolific tech investor who got into AI early. He stressed that the aim of his partnership with NordVPN is to inform the public and help people protect themselves.

The company's view

NordVPN is best known for its VPN, but it also offers antivirus, threat detection and scam-defense products designed for everyday consumers. Chief technology officer Marijus Briedis said he was surprised by a recent company poll showing that 73 percent of Americans are overconfident in traditional antivirus, believing it protects against everything from identity theft to online tracking.

According to Briedis, the weakest link is between the computer and the chair, so the company is currently focusing on education. He called finding the best way to do that an interesting problem that still haunts him in his dreams.