Adam Harper: Protecting Us Online in the Age of Cybercrime & AI – Episode 67
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There are certain episodes of The Town Square Podcast where you can feel — even before the mics get warm — that you’re about to learn something that will permanently change the way you look at the world. Episode 67 with Adam Harper, CEO and Owner of Relevant IT Services, is one of those conversations.
It’s not often that cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and Newton County storytelling intersect, but when they do… man, buckle up. Because Adam doesn’t speak like the stereotypical IT guy hunkered over 12 monitors in a hoodie. He doesn’t talk down to people. He doesn’t hide behind jargon. He is, instead, one of those rare individuals who can take the incredibly complex world of digital threats, corporate hacking, AI evolution, and risk management — and translate it into stories, metaphors, and warnings that hit home for everyday people.
This episode isn’t about selling IT support. It’s about keeping our community safe in a digital world many of us only thinkwe understand.
And as Adam reminds us:
“Cybercrime isn’t coming. It’s already here.”
A Newton County Kid Who Grew Up to Secure the Digital World
Before we dove into ransomware and AI ethics, I wanted to know who Adam Harper is — and how Newton County shaped him.
Adam was born in McDonough but spent nearly his entire life right here in Newton County. His first job was at Chick-fil-A (or as he called it, serving “Jesus Chicken” in Conyers). He graduated from Grace Christian Academy, attended church at Belmont Baptist, and grew up during a time when Covington didn’t yet have the restaurants, parks, and movie scenes we’re now known for.
If you’ve ever wondered whether homegrown Newton kids can build nationally expanding tech companies — well, Adam is proof.
He wasn’t the kid who dreamed of building servers in his basement. He wasn’t some coding prodigy. Like many of us, he grew up fixing his grandparents’ VCR, resetting the Wi-Fi, and helping his family with computers simply because he was “the guy who knew a little bit more than everyone else.”
That little bit?
It grew into a calling.
From Sales to Cybersecurity: A Career That Found Him
Adam didn’t begin in IT.
He began in sales and account management, where he discovered something surprising:
“A lot of people who can build and fix a computer can’t sell one.”
That combination — the ability to understand technology and the ability to communicate with people — became his superpower.
He eventually joined an IT company, learned it inside and out, and discovered that real IT isn’t about machines at all. It’s about people. Relationships. Trust.
And trust is the currency of modern cybersecurity.
IT isn’t just fixing printers anymore.
IT is protecting:
your bank accounts
your church databases
your business operations
your email and identity
your family’s digital footprint
your organization’s survival
When Adam realized he could build a company that prioritized people over products, solutions over sales pitch, and relevance over revenue… Relevant IT Services was born.
And yes — I admit it right here in this blog — in the early days, I wasn’t sure about Adam. I thought he was trying to sell me stuff I didn’t need. I wasn’t sure if Relevant was relevant for me.
Turns out, I was wrong.
Turns out, he was exactly the guy we needed.
What Makes Relevant IT Different? A Boutique Approach to Digital Protection
One of the most refreshing parts of this interview was hearing Adam explain why Relevant IT Services isn’t like other IT companies.
Most IT providers:
sell the same package to everyone
push products that give them higher margins
use the same systems for every client (whether it fits or not)
avoid small organizations because they “aren’t profitable”
Adam does the opposite.
Relevant IT Services:
✓ builds tailored solutions
✓ treats churches differently than healthcare clients
✓ supports companies with 2 employees or 200
✓ does not push unnecessary products
✓ focuses on prevention, not emergency reaction
✓ serves people first
As Adam put it:
“IT is trust. When someone hires us, they’re trusting us with their entire company.”
That’s not just business.
That’s stewardship.
Cybersecurity: The Digital Crime Wave We Never Saw Coming
This is where the episode really lifts off.
If you’ve ever wondered:
What exactly is cybersecurity?
Who’s trying to hack me?
Why email scams seem to never end?
Why criminals target small businesses?
Why your grandma gets tricked by fake Amazon calls?
You need to hear this.
Adam boiled down the entire cybercrime world into one simple sentence:
“Cybercrime exists for one purpose: to get your information so they can get your money.”
That’s it.
That’s the whole game.
But the methods?
They’re multiplying.
Cybercrime is now the 3rd largest “economy” in the world.
Let that sink in.
If global cybercrime were a country, its GDP would rank:
United States
China
Cybercrime
In 2023 alone:
$10 trillion in cybercrime globally
$61 billion lost in the U.S.
$420 million stolen from Georgians
42% of victims were seniors
43% of attacks targeted small businesses
20% of small businesses that get hit shut down within six months
These aren’t statistics.
They’re wake-up calls.
The Two Most Common Attacks Everyone Should Know
Adam says 80% of all attacks come through email.
Here are the big ones:
1. Phishing (PH-ishing)
Fake emails pretending to be:
Geek Squad
Microsoft
Your bank
UPS
Your pastor (yes… we’ve seen this!)
They trick you into:
clicking a link
downloading malware
entering your username and password
sending money
Phishing is the #1 attack method worldwide.
2. Social Engineering
This isn’t hacking your computer.
It’s hacking you.
Criminals use:
friendly conversation
emotional manipulation
“urgent” requests
fake authority
to get small pieces of information they later assemble like Legos.
Social engineering is how:
CEOs get tricked
elderly people send gift cards
passwords get exposed
ACH transfers get intercepted
deepfake videos deceive employees
People think hackers sit in dark rooms typing furiously.
That’s the movies.
Most modern cybercrime?
It’s automated.
AI-powered.
Subscription-based starter kits for criminals.
Yes — hacking kits with 24/7 support exist.
The Dark Web: The Back Alley of the Internet
In one of my favorite metaphors of the episode, Adam explained:
“The dark web is like the alley where all the drug deals go down.”
It’s not illegal to access it.
But nothing good happens there.
The dark web hosts:
stolen data markets
hacking services
ransomware groups
identity theft networks
It is a world most people will never see — and that’s a good thing.
Real Stories That Will Keep You Up at Night
These were jaw-dropping.
✔ A Florida church had their pastor’s email hacked.
Hackers sent out a fake tithe request with a new payment link.
Members paid.
Money gone.
✔ A two-person company lost $35,000
A fake vendor email redirected their ACH deposit.
Gone in seconds.
✔ A local architect nearly lost $160,000
Cybercriminals infiltrated his email and changed wiring instructions.
Thankfully the FBI got involved — but only because a city government was one of the parties.
✔ Grandparents receive deepfake calls
AI-generated voices pretending to be their grandchildren, begging for money.
If this doesn’t scare you a little, you’re not paying attention.
So… What Can We Do? Real Steps for Real People
Adam broke it down so clearly:
1. Use strong passwords
Not birthdays.
Not dogs’ names.
Not “password123.”
Actual strong passwords.
40 characters if you can manage it.
Use phrases from songs or speeches.
2. Use a password manager
Let it generate random passwords for every account.
Your brain shouldn’t have to hold that much complexity.
3. Use TWO-FACTOR authentication — but the RIGHT kind
Do NOT rely on SMS text messages.
Hackers can hijack your phone number.
Use:
Google Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator
Password manager–based authenticators
That extra 5 seconds could save you $160k.
4. Update your devices
Updates are security patches, not annoyances.
5. Back everything up
Ransomware is useless if you have clean backups.
6. Verify all ACH or banking changes by phone
Not email.
Not text.
Call a real person.
7. Lock your devices when you walk away
Even at home.
Even if it’s “just your kids.”
Even if it’s “just for a minute.”
8. Pause before clicking
Most attacks thrive on urgency.
If an email feels pushy, emotional, or rushed — stop.
The Rise of AI: Friend, Foe, or Both?
If cybersecurity wasn’t heavy enough, we turned to the other elephant in the room: artificial intelligence.
Is it good?
Bad?
Terrifying?
Promising?
Adam said the smartest thing I’ve heard yet on the subject:
“AI is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for good or bad.”
AI helps:
doctors analyze symptoms
businesses automate workflows
people navigate roads
search engines find answers
content creators build
cybersecurity companies detect threats
But AI also fuels:
more effective scams
deepfake audio and video
automated hacking
misinformation
job displacement
ethical dilemmas
We’re early in the curve.
Still figuring out guardrails.
Still trying to regulate a technology we don’t fully understand.
But ignoring AI won’t stop it.
Engagement will.
Learn it.
Use it.
Don’t fear it — shape it.
Digital Resilience: How We Live with Technology Without Losing Our Minds
Adam touched on something profound:
We are more dependent on technology than ever.
But dependency doesn’t mean helplessness.
Digital resilience is:
knowing when to unplug
using tools without being used by them
protecting kids
guarding the elderly
practicing skepticism
verifying information
recognizing deepfakes
not posting vacation photos until after you return home
It’s about being awake in a world designed to distract us.
Where Relevant IT Goes from Here
Adam sees Relevant IT Services expanding throughout the Southeast, but not recklessly.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the mentality of a cancer cell.”
They want to grow on purpose, not by accident.
Their goals:
expand to help more people
stay ethical
maintain quality
stay relationship-centered
keep protecting small and mid-sized businesses
keep helping churches, schools, and local organizations
Their mission isn’t world domination — despite Adam joking about it at the end.
Their mission is simple:
Serve and protect.
Rapid Fire Wisdom from Adam Harper
Some of my favorite takeaways from our lightning round:
Cryptocurrency — Good or Bad?
“Both.”
(And yes, he owns some.)
Biggest cybersecurity myth?
“I’m too small to be a target.”
Nope. Everyone is a target.
Apple or Android?
He plays it safe:
Both have pros and cons
(But he leans Apple.)
Best advice he ever received?
Three pieces of gold:
“Be bold.”
“Attitude and concentration.”
“What would your replacement do?”
How to Contact Relevant IT Services
If your organization needs:
cybersecurity protection
IT support
email security
backup management
risk assessment
system upgrades
vulnerability analysis
or simply someone you can trust with your digital world…
Adam and his team offer free assessments and customized solutions.
📍 Website: RelevantITServices.com
📧 Email Adam: AdamHarper@RelevantITServices.com
They work with:
churches
healthcare providers
law firms
architects
apartment complexes
nonprofits
small businesses
medium businesses
Anyone from 2 employees to 100+.
Town Square Podcast Advertising Partners
A HUGE thank you to the sponsors who make the podcast possible. These organizations support the heart of what we do — strengthening Newton County through storytelling and meaningful conversation.
Rapid Tax Services
📞 (678) 658-8601
Whether you’re a business or an individual, Rapid Tax Services brings accuracy, honesty, and fast turnaround. Your refund deserves the best.
Main Street Land and Properties
📍 2141 Emory Street NW., Covington, GA 30014
📞 770-787-5520
Local experts who know Newton County property inside and out. Whether buying, selling, or investing, their team treats your land like their legacy.
Luther Rice College & Seminary
📍 3038 Evans Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
📞 (770) 484-1204
Offering fully accredited online and on-campus degrees in ministry, leadership, apologetics, and more. Now available for dual enrollment too. Affordable. Flexible. Trusted for over 60 years.
Final Word
Cybersecurity isn’t a tech issue anymore.
It’s a life issue.
A community issue.
A family issue.
And artificial intelligence isn’t science fiction anymore.
It’s shaping the world already.
In Episode 67, Adam Harper gives us something rare:
clarity, without fear.
warning, without panic.
hope, without naivety.
Newton County, this is one you’ll want to listen to — maybe twice.
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