Scammers are increasingly resourceful when coming up with scam techniques. But they often rely on long-standing persuasion techniques for the scam to work. So, you may hear about a new scam that uses a novel narrative, but there is a good chance that the scam relies on proven scam techniques once the narrative is stripped away. These scam techniques often exploit our characteristics and heuristics...

Have you ever considered that even before you enjoy the first sip of your favorite morning beverage, you have probably interacted with at least half of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors that keep a nation running? In one way or another, the simple act of brewing a cup of tea would probably not be possible without interacting with water, energy, manufacturing, food and agriculture, waste...

Navigating the information superhighway is like threading your car through traffic on a dangerous rush-hour freeway. The journey is full of perils that can prevent you from getting where you need to go and turn the trip into a bumpy ride. In the same way, we plan for wrecks and try to avoid hazards on the road, businesses can minimize the impact of an incident and cruise confidently through the...

Although attacks on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) rarely hit the headlines, they remain a serious threat. Unlike their corporate counterparts, many SMBs lack the tools, skills, and mitigation services they need to combat modern threats. Understanding that forewarned is forearmed, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently debuted a guide aimed at smaller companies that lack...

A huge reward is being offered for information leading to the identification or location of any of the leaders of the LockBit ransomware gang. The bounty offer comes from the US State Department, following this week's disruption of the criminal organisation's activities. LockBit, which has been operating since 2020, has targeted thousands of victims around the globe, causing the loss of billions...

Many of the breaches of the past ten years have taken advantage of weak or nonexistent security settings. Conversely, for example, companies that configured their Docker application to the CIS recommended security settings for container users and privileges were not as vulnerable to container escape exploits. Arguably, a configuration change prevented many breaches. Security configuration...

As we are well into 2024 now, we at Fortra want to continue our commitment to empowering you all with the knowledge and tools needed to protect you, your organization, and even your family. This year, we will be looking more and more at the human element, and provide you with methods to practice repeatable, real-world techniques to ingrain positive habits and security behaviors to keep you as safe...

Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules on cybersecurity risk management that focused on transparency. Much of the adopted rules were focused on investors, but the rules also underscored the importance of the impact to customers when cybersecurity incidents occur. The data security landscape has recently shifted to prioritize the user or the customer, and that was just one...

Over the years, PayPal has earned a reputation for being a secure and easy way to send and receive money. However, no payment system is entirely immune to scams , and cybercriminals often exploit these platforms due to their widespread popularity and trust among users. PayPal is the most widely used online payment system in the US, making it a compelling target for scammers looking to capitalize...

Today, almost every organization is engaged with a third-party vendor at some level when offering products or services. Take, for instance, an e-commerce business that may not be able to function properly unless multiple third-party integrations are involved, such as CRMs, payment gateways, live chat APIs, or a shipping gateway, to name a few. Though third-party vendors are a necessary cog in the...

A recent report from Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy has shed light on a concerning issue - data brokers are selling vast amounts of highly sensitive information about American military service members. This includes private data about active-duty personnel, veterans, and their families, encompassing sensitive health and financial details. Shockingly, these brokers even offer...

The digital landscape is ever-changing, causing cybersecurity to often feel like a moving target. Thankfully, the NSA 2023 Cybersecurity Report arrives to provide critical information and context to help organizations keep their peace of mind. This comprehensive report, drawing insights from a wide range of industries, delves into the pressing technological trends, emerging challenges, and the...

Good news for organisations who have fallen victim to the notorious Rhysida ransomware . A group of South Korean security researchers have uncovered a vulnerability in the infamous ransomware. This vulnerability provides a way for encrypted files to be unscrambled. Researchers from Kookmin University describe how they exploited an implementation flaw in Rhysida’s code to regenerate its encryption...

Today’s VERT Alert addresses Microsoft’s February 2024 Security Updates . VERT is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expects to ship ASPL-1093 as soon as coverage is completed. In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEs CVE-2024-21351 This CVE describes a bypass in the Windows SmartScreen Security Feature. At this point, these bypasses have become relatively common and are frequently...

With all the technology we have today, installing software updates has become a near-daily, full-time activity. Patch management for large-scale enterprise IT systems can be one of the most stressful parts of an IT professional’s job. In today’s large and evolving IT networks where many new services are going online every day and software components are flying straight from the supply chain to the...

Today’s BEC attacks are more nuanced, more accessible, less technically demanding, and consequently, more dangerous than ever before. In our report, 2023 BEC Trends, Targets, and Changes in Techniques , we take a hard look at the anatomy of Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks today and the lures that are drawing users to the bait in record numbers. The Popularity of BEC Attacks Nefarious email...

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, businesses and individuals find themselves in a relentless battle against the surge of cybercrime, which continues to escalate in complexity and frequency. Despite the significant investments in cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, the financial toll of cybercrime persists, with costs escalating annually . Among the myriad of cyber threats, social...

New research shows a 704% increase in deepfake "face swap" attacks from the first to the second half of 2023. A report from biometric firm iProov warns that "face-swapping" fraudsters are increasingly using off-the-shelf tools to create manipulated images and videos. iProov's analysts are tracking over 100 face swap apps and repositories, meaning that there is a wide selection of low-cost, easily...

Last year, text scammers prowling around on messaging platforms like WhatsApp sent a staggering 19 million messages in December alone. When ploys like these can rake up over $10 million in a matter of months, it's easy to see why. Which WhatsApp messages are real this year, and which are not? With social engineering attacks , it's increasingly harder to tell. Here's a look at the most probable...