Blockchain Technology: Can It Rise to the Cybersecurity Challenge?

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Blockchain Technology: Can It Rise to the Cybersecurity Challenge?

Old-school cybersecurity approaches are having a hard time keeping up with the complexity and reach of the vast networks of interconnected machines that make up our reality. As the line blurs between the physical and digital worlds, companies large and small are struggling to keep data secure and private. But all hope is not lost. Security professionals are looking to blockchain technology as a way to meet cybersecurity challenges.

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What’s Your Policy: Does Your Company Need Cyber Risk Insurance?

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What’s Your Policy: Does Your Company Need Cyber Risk Insurance?

The risk of a cybersecurity breach seems to increase daily, with companies large and small falling victim to hacks and attacks. In this threat landscape, many businesses have invested in cyber risk insurance to help mitigate the cost of a future attack. Also known as cyber insurance and cybersecurity insurance, these plans help organizations offset the expense of a breach or other security incident.

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Why Breaches Are Becoming More Difficult to Defeat

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Why Breaches Are Becoming More Difficult to Defeat

Survey after survey of cybersecurity and IT professionals echo the fact that breaches are becoming more difficult to defeat, digital risk management is ever-trickier, and the cyberthreat landscape is growing. Even just a couple of years ago, a strong security posture was easier to attain and maintain. Why is cybersecurity and breach protection so tough?

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How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Helping Cyber-criminals

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How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Helping Cyber-criminals

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing the digital world, with Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) devices flooding homes, workplaces, and nearly every aspect of daily life. Along with many benefits, including greatly improved cybersecurity [link to the previous post about AI as a security tool], AI has a dark side. Cybercriminals are employing AI tactics and automation, machine learning, and agile software development to more quickly and effectively discover and exploit security vulnerabilities.

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Will Biometrics Replace Passwords?

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Will Biometrics Replace Passwords?

No longer the sole domain of futuristic movies and media, biometrics are already mainstream—does anyone think twice about an iPhone user employing Face ID? With the growing vulnerability of the username/password setup, organizations are turning to biometrics to replace passwords and shore up security. Far from a gimmick, biometric adoption is rapidly increasing.

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How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Helping Cybersecurity Pros

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How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Helping Cybersecurity Pros

Hackers and cybercriminals have already embraced the power of artificial intelligence (AI), employing scripted and automated tools to rapidly increase the scale and speed of attacks. So how are organizations using a buffet of legacy and current tools supposed to remain secure? To beat ‘em, you gotta join ‘em. Industry experts expect AI, combined with machine learning, to be the future of cybersecurity.

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What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?

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What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?

Although advanced persistent threats (APTs) are less common than other malicious cybersecurity dangers, they are critical to understand and are becoming widespread. APTs also have the potential to have a greater long-term detrimental impact on an organization. So what is an APT exactly? How does this particular type of threat surface? And, what can you do to protect your company?

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5 Ways to Shield Executives from Whaling Attacks

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5 Ways to Shield Executives from Whaling Attacks

In 2015, the CEO of an Austrian aircraft parts manufacturer was dismissed after he fell victim to a whaling attack that cost the company €40.9 (approx. $50 million at the time). Although whaling attacks aren’t new, they are becoming increasingly common, endangering not only the jobs of C-level employees but also the financial and brand security of the organizations they work for.

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3 Foolproof Tips to Securely Complete Online Transactions

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3 Foolproof Tips to Securely Complete Online Transactions

Most users think they’re savvy enough to shop securely online, but even the most security-minded and Internet-knowledgeable shoppers have been duped when making business purchases. Wise users need to overcome their over-confidence and brush up on online shopping best practices to avoid getting taken by a suave scammer.

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How to Proactively Identify and Report “Vishing” Attempts

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How to Proactively Identify and Report “Vishing” Attempts

A reformed cyber-criminal who popularized the term “social engineering attack” famously pointed out that “it is far easier to trick someone into handing over, say, their password than to go to the trouble of hacking them.” This approach has taken hold in the cyber-crime world, with social engineering and phishing attacks—when an attacker poses as an authority figure via email or a website to trick a victim into divulging sensitive data—costing businesses $676 million in 2017, according to the FBI. Now an even simpler attack is gaining traction.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Cybersecurity Posture in 2019

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5 Ways to Improve Your Cybersecurity Posture in 2019

On average, a ransomware attack costs a company $5 million, resulting in system downtime and productivity loss. There has also been a noticeable increase in the reach of compliance requirements. With the cost of cyber-attacks skyrocketing, it’s critical to re-examine how cybersecurity resources are being allocated. These 2019 trends build upon classic security best practices with a focus on next-generation implementation, adoption, and technologies.

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Don't Be Fooled by Padlocks and SSL Certificates

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Don't Be Fooled by Padlocks and SSL Certificates

If you check for the green padlock symbol in your browser to ensure you’re accessing a safe and legitimate site, you’re not alone. According to a 2018 PhishLabs survey, more than 80% of those surveyed thought the green padlock in the address bar guaranteed the legitimacy/safety of a website. The reality is the padlock doesn’t mean the site is legitimate and it doesn’t mean you’re safe from hackers.

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Why Most Companies Don’t Have Control Over Password Security

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Why Most Companies Don’t Have Control Over Password Security

Many people have developed a psychological picture of what a cyber-attack consists of. There’s a tendency to assume a complex, thrilling attack is executed by highly-technical individuals who have penetrated a network to access ironclad sensitive data. The reality, however, is much different.

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7 Commonly Neglected Security Tasks: DMARC, DNS calls, and More

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7 Commonly Neglected Security Tasks: DMARC, DNS calls, and More

In this age of digital transformation, IT staff are under incredible pressure to keep up with the breakneck speed of new technology adoption, implementation, and management while trying to maintain usability, productivity, and efficiency. With this reality, something has got to give, and oftentimes what falls off the radar are security tasks.

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Why Users Should Never Auto-fill Forms: Browser Exploit Overview

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Why Users Should Never Auto-fill Forms: Browser Exploit Overview

Life is hectic. As a result, we all look for ways to eliminate inconvenience, ease our stress levels, and save precious time. However, some comforts might come at too high of a price. Unfortunately, the auto-fill function on your browser might be a more of a risky convenience than most people realize. For years, security insiders have argued the dangers of the auto-fill function: the handy tool that automatically provides your name, address, phone number, and such for web page forms. It turns out, they are right.

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The Newest Type of Phishing Attack: Cloud-Based Documents

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The Newest Type of Phishing Attack: Cloud-Based Documents

Phishing has become a well-known term, even showing up in prime-time commercials and rolling off the tongue of tech-savvy, scam-weary seniors. Despite the widespread awareness of phone, email, and even in-person phishing scams, new and creative attacks remain the bane of security staff. The latest phishing threat gaining traction? Cloud-based documents.

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Fixing the People Problem: Why Security Awareness Should Come First

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Fixing the People Problem: Why Security Awareness Should Come First

It happens all too often. Imagine a Human Resources (HR) assistant receives an email from the CFO requesting an update to the companies account and routing number. The email appears to be legitimate and the diligent employee rushes to handle the CFOs request only to discover later it was a phishing email. These types of social engineering attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. So what are your employees supposed to do?

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Understanding HIPAA, the Trusted Exchange Framework, and Cybersecurity

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Understanding HIPAA, the Trusted Exchange Framework, and Cybersecurity

Healthcare data is becoming a more and more common target for cyberattacks. Forrester Research warned a year ago that “healthcare breaches will become as large and common as retail breaches,” further predicting the Anthem breach that reached 80 million patients as a commonplace occurrence in the future. In this environment, organizations that handle sensitive health data are struggling to balance the need for better collaboration and record-keeping among trusted partners with the need to maintain strong security practices and meet compliance regulations.

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IoT, Medical Devices, and Cybersecurity Concerns

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IoT, Medical Devices, and Cybersecurity Concerns

Not so long ago, medical devices required only physical security considerations—only those who had access to the device could access the device’s data. However, through the Internet of Things (IoT), medical devices’ connectivity to the cloud has put them in the cross-hairs of cyber attackers.

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