The year 2022 has been turbulent for the IT sector, from Mark Zuckerberg's bizarre metaverse thoughts to widespread layoffs and Elon Musk's mayhem at Twitter.
Along the way, numerous new expressions and terms that were essentially unknown and unheard of in January have gradually filtered into our conversations. As we continue to adjust to the contemporary - and frequently unfamiliar - post-pandemic workplace, it's possible that you'll hear these expressions even more frequently in 2023.
Before 2022 comes to an end and a new year begins, let’s review a few key technical phrases.
Decentralized VPNs
Any VPN that does not have centralized control over the individual servers that make up its server network is referred to as a decentralized VPN or dVPN.
According to prominent VPN provider Surfshark, "dVPN's servers are hosted by independent users, rather than a single VPN provider providing and managing the servers. They might be setting up dVPN software on their own computers or employing dedicated server workstations.
The fact that your privacy is protected by the very nature of the network infrastructure, as opposed to a private entity (i.e., a VPN provider) giving you their word — however reliable — that they won't log your data, is possibly the largest benefit of decentralized VPNs.
Quiet Quitting
After being widely discussed among workers on social media throughout the year, particularly in younger millennial and Gen Z circles, the term "Quiet quitting" attracted considerable media attention.
The phrase means performing little more than the basic minimum required by your position. It's the exact opposite of "going above and beyond" at work, which Quiet Quitters believe has a detrimental effect on a positive work-life balance.
Workfluencer
In essence, workfluencers are influencers who write about their employment. those who are curious to learn more about their area of expertise and the nature of their day-to-day jobs.
They frequently earn money from brand relationships like typical influencers do and seek engagement from followers in a similar manner, but they only target their material on the 9–5.
Changes to business and career apps like LinkedIn, which have regularly adopted features from popular social media sites over the past few years to make their platforms more accessible and functional, have considerably helped "Workfluencers."
Currently, "creator mode" is selected on the accounts of over 13 million LinkedIn users, which should, in theory, increase the number of people who read their posts. Whether we like it or not, workfluencers are here to stay, and in 2023, there will undoubtedly be a large number more people who try their hand at it.
MFA Fatigue
It is believed that MFA Fatigue, a cutting-edge hacking approach, served as the impetus for successful hacks of the networks of Uber, Microsoft, and Cisco throughout the year 2022.
Hackers using stolen credentials will run a script in MFA Fatigue attacks in an effort to log into a target's account that has multi-factor authentication enabled. As the script continues to run, the victim will subsequently experience what seems like an endless series of authentication requests.
The attackers are hoping that the victim would become so annoyed by the frequent barrage of notifications that they will reluctantly agree to one of the requests. They will then have access to the account and be free to cause any destruction they desire.
Boomerang Employees
Boomerang employees are, as the name implies, former employees who are still working for former employers, usually on friendly terms (hence the return). According to one examination of LinkedIn users' employment history, boomerang hires made up 4.3% of all US hiring in 2017.
Some businesses now support this approach, creating alumni networks and other platforms to stay in touch with departing workers in an effort to lure them back into the building and onto the payroll in the future.
However, some research indicates that staff morale may suffer when former coworkers return to more senior positions after previously departing, especially for those who are still in the same jobs they were in when their returning coworkers initially left.
Productivity Paranoia
Productivity paranoia is the term used to describe the discrepancy between the perceived productivity of employees by CEOs, supervisors, and managers and the real perceived productivity of employees.
The difference is also glaring. In spite of the fact that 87% of workers think they are productive at work, only 12% of "leaders" think their staff members are making the most of their time, according to Microsoft Work Index research published this year.
The emergence of hybrid, flexible, and remote working styles, which many bosses believe has given them less visibility over their workers, has probably made productivity concerns worse.
Looking Toward the Future
The year 2022 has been both fascinating and exhausting for many people working in and around the computer industry, leaving them with more questions than answers.
Will this year's wave of mass layoffs last forever? Which online dangers will be exploited to attack businesses? Will Musk be able to keep Twitter running until the end of the year, or will Google's ominously sentient AI have already ruled the world by the time we find out?
In 2023, no matter what transpires, we'll keep you informed with daily news updates on the cybersecurity and tech issues that concern you.