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Defending against DDoS Attacks: What you need to know

Patience is one of those time-dependent, and often situational circumstances we experience. Few things define relativity better than patience. Think of the impatience of people who have to wait ten minutes in a line at a gas station, yet the thought of waiting ten minutes for a perfectly brewed cup of coffee seems entirely reasonable. It can’t be about the cost, since even the smallest cup of...
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8 of the Best Cybersecurity Conferences

In the rapidly evolving realm of digital security, staying ahead of cyber threats requires continuous learning and collaboration. Cybersecurity conferences stand as beacons of knowledge, drawing experts and enthusiasts from across the globe. We’ve curated a list of the top eight cybersecurity conferences, each a melting pot of insights, innovations, and networking opportunities . From the renowned...
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Snatch ransomware - what you need to know

What's happened? The FBI and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a joint advisory warning organisations about a ransomware-as-a-service operation called "Snatch." Snatch? As in the movie from twenty odd years ago? I'm not sure I've heard of Snatch before... Maybe you haven't. They don't have as high a profile as some of the other more notorious ransomware...
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FBI's Most Wanted Cybercriminals in 2023

In an increasingly digitized world, the threat of cybercrime looms larger than ever. The FBI's relentless pursuit of cybercriminals remains a critical defense against this growing menace. We’re well into 2023, and the FBI's Most Wanted Cybercriminals list takes center stage, highlighting the individuals who pose significant threats to our digital security. Join us in exploring their profiles and...
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Increasing Your Business’ Cyber Maturity with Fortra

When building a tower, it helps to start with a sturdy foundation. Cyber maturity is the tower, and there are three levels that build it: Foundational IT/OT & Security Control Processes Fundamental Security Control Capabilities Advanced Security Control Capabilities Fortra occupies a unique space in the industry because of the sheer size of the security portfolio. It’s one thing to advocate for...
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The Consequences of Non-Compliance in Cybersecurity: Risks and Penalties

Non-compliance in cybersecurity marks a grave oversight. It involves neglecting established security protocols, leaving organizations vulnerable to malicious actors. Read on as we examine the potential risks of non-compliance, including heightened susceptibility to cyberattacks, the specter of data breaches, and the erosion of a company's hard-earned reputation. Risks of Non-Compliance Non...
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How to Protect Your Facebook Account from Cybercriminals

The social media landscape has undergone dramatic change in recent years. Elon Musk bought Twitter and changed its name to "X." Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram and WhatsApp before launching Threads to capitalize on Twitter's recent PR disasters. TikTok came out of nowhere to become the platform of choice for Gen Z. One thing, however, has stayed the same. Facebook remains, somewhat surprisingly...
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BLASTPASS: Government agencies told to secure iPhones against spyware attacks

What's happened? CISA, the United States's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has ordered federal agencies to patch their iPhones against vulnerabilities that can be used as part of a zero-click attack to install spyware from the notorious NSO Group. A "zero-click attack"? That's an attack that doesn't require any interaction from the user. Often times a malicious hacker requires a...
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Guarding Against Fileless Malware: Types and Prevention

Fileless malware, true to its name, is malicious code that uses existing legitimate programs in a system for compromise. It operates directly in the Random Access Memory (RAM) without requiring any executable files in the hard drive. Differing from conventional malware, fileless attacks are stealthier in nature, falling under the category of low-observable characteristics (LOC) attacks. Since...
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5 Reasons Why You Should Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Audits

Cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, covert, and frequent every day. This year alone has seen the likes of T-Mobile and PharMerica suffering serious security breaches. These incidents disrupted operations and threatened their bottom lines, not to mention the lingering aftereffects and negative brand perception in the eyes of their customers. Taking the recent Optus data security breach as...
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Life in the Clouds: Navigating Security Challenges in Cloud Environments

As the realm of technology continues to evolve, the significance of cloud computing has grown exponentially. This paradigm shift offers unparalleled scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness benefits. However, with these advantages come a host of security challenges that need careful consideration. This article delves into the vital realm of cloud security, exploring the multifaceted...
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OT Security: Risks, Challenges and Securing your Environment

Before the revolution of Information Technology (IT), the world experienced the revolution of Operational Technology (OT). Operational Technology is the combination of hardware and software that controls and operates the physical mechanisms of industry. OT systems play an important role in the water, manufacturing, power, and distribution systems that transformed the industry into the modern age...
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10 Mistakes in Cybersecurity and How to Avoid Them

It's easy to rest on our laurels. Prevent a few breaches – or go long enough without one – and you start to feel invincible. While our efforts are certainly laudable, we can't get too comfortable. As defenders, we always need to be on the hunt for what we've missed and ways to do better. Here are ten common cybersecurity mistakes that crop up (and how to avoid them): Failing to get executive suppo...
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Tripwire Patch Priority Index for August 2023

Tripwire's August 2023 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft. First on the patch priority list this month are patches for Microsoft Office, Excel, Visio, Teams, and Outlook. The patches resolve 10 issues including remote code execution, information disclosure, security feature bypass, and spoofing vulnerabilities. Up next is a patch for Windows Defender...
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Thousands of dollars stolen from Texas ATMs using Raspberry Pi

A Texas court has heard how last month a gang of men used a Raspberry Pi device to steal thousands of dollars from ATMs. According to local media reports , three men were arrested in Lubbock, Texas, after attempting to steal "large sums of US currency" from ATMs. The men - 38-year-old Abel Valdes, 41-year-old Yordanesz Sanchez, and 33-year-old Carlos Jordano Herrera-Ruiz - were arrested on August...
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What is ISO 27002:2022 Control 8.9? A Quick Look at the Essentials

The basic parameters that control how hardware, software, and even entire networks operate are configurations, whether they take the form of a single configuration file or a collection of connected configurations. For instance, the default properties a firewall uses to control traffic to and from a company's network, such as block lists, port forwarding, virtual LANs, and VPN information, are...
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2023 Cost of a Data Breach: Key Takeaways

2023 Cost of a Data Breach: Key Takeaways It’s that time of year - IBM has released its “ Cost of a Data Breach Report .” This year’s report is jam-packed with some new research and findings that highlight how organizations are implementing security and risk mitigation techniques to help identify and contain data breaches. Key Takeaways The average total cost of a data breach has reached an all...
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Summary of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA)

South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA), also known as the PoPI Act, is a comprehensive data protection legislation designed to safeguard the privacy and information of South African citizens. While Jacob Zuma assented to PoPIA in November 2013, the act took effect in July 2020. Parliament granted all South African entities a one-year grace period, expecting them to comply by...
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Working with a Reliable Partner for Cybersecurity Success

Technology companies are often seen as revolving doors of constantly shifting personnel. Whether they are seeking a better work environment or chasing a higher paycheck, these staff changes can hurt an organization’s progress. Worse yet, the customers are often negatively impacted by these changes in the continuity of established relationships. At Fortra, we're proud to have a higher average...
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Understanding Firewalls – Types, Configuration, and Best Practices for Effective Network Security

A firewall is a security device that controls the flow of traffic across a network. A firewall may be a hardware appliance, or it may be a piece of software that runs on a third-party operating system. Firewalls operate based on a set of pre-defined, as well as customizable security rules that inspect network traffic to block or permit access to a network. Oftentimes, a firewall is logically...