Threats and vulnerabilities
Keeping up with the latest threats and vulnerabilities is a battle for any security pro. Get up-to-date information on email threats, nation-state attacks, phishing techniques, ransomware and malware, DDoS attacks, APTs, application vulnerabilities, zero-day exploits, malicious insiders and more.
Top Stories
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News
19 Apr 2024
CISA: Akira ransomware extorted $42M from 250+ victims
The Akira ransomware gang, which utilizes sophisticated hybrid encryption techniques and multiple ransomware variants, targeted vulnerable Cisco VPNs in a campaign last year. Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
Cisco discloses high-severity vulnerability, PoC available
The security vendor released fixes for a vulnerability that affects Cisco Integrated Management Controller, which is used by devices including routers and servers. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jan 2024
security incident
A security incident is an event that could indicate that an organization's systems or data have been compromised or that security measures put in place to protect them have failed. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2024
CISA posts incident response guide for water utilities
In its guide, CISA urged water and wastewater sector utility operators to harden their security posture, increase information sharing and build incident response plans. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2024
New zero-days in Citrix NetScaler ADC, Gateway under attack
The new vulnerabilities come four months after a variety of threat actors exploited the 'Citrix Bleed' zero-day flaw in NetScaler ADC and Gateway products. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2024
Google, researchers in dispute over account hijacking attacks
Google disputes aspects of threat research that CloudSEK published last month claiming threat actors are maintaining persistence after hijacking Google user accounts. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2024
Ivanti zero-day flaws under 'widespread' exploitation
Volexity confirmed that multiple threat actors have exploited two critical Ivanti zero-day vulnerabilities, with 1,700 devices compromised so far. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2024
Ivanti confirms 2 zero-day vulnerabilities are under attack
Volexity reported the vulnerabilities to Ivanti after discovering that suspected Chinese nation-state threat actors created an exploit chain to achieve remote code execution. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jan 2024
Cloud incident response: Frameworks and best practices
Cloud incident response, like it sounds, involves responding to incidents in the cloud. But there are nuances to be aware of and unique best practices to follow. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jan 2024
vulnerability management
Vulnerability management is the process of identifying, assessing, remediating and mitigating security vulnerabilities in software and computer systems. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2024
China claims it cracked Apple's AirDrop, can track senders
The flaw used by Chinese researchers to crack Apple's AirDrop encryption was reported to the company in 2019 by researchers at German university TU Darmstadt. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2024
Account hijacking, cryptocurrency scams spread on X
One company that had its account stolen and used for cryptocurrency scams, CertiK, said it was hacked through a phishing attack from a journalist's compromised account. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2024
How to fix the top 5 cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Check out how to fix five top cybersecurity vulnerabilities to prevent data loss from poor endpoint security, ineffective network monitoring, weak authentication and other issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2024
Top 7 enterprise cybersecurity challenges in 2024
Security teams faced unprecedented challenges in 2023. The year ahead appears no less daunting. Here are the cybersecurity trends and safeguards to consider in 2024. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2024
10 of the biggest zero-day attacks of 2023
There were many zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild in 2023. Here's a look at 10 of the most notable and damaging zero-day attacks last year. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2024
December ransomware attacks disrupt healthcare organizations
Two attacks last month exposed the sensitive information of more than 3 million individuals as ransomware attacks continued to disrupt networks and expose private data. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Jan 2024
Ransomware trends, statistics and facts heading into 2024
Supply chain attacks, double extortion and RaaS are just a few of the ransomware trends that will continue to disrupt businesses in 2024. Is your industry a top target? Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jan 2024
cybercrime
Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, network or networked device. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Dec 2023
email signature
An email signature -- or signature block or signature file -- is the short text that appears at the end of an email message to provide more information about the sender. Continue Reading
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News
27 Dec 2023
Another Barracuda ESG zero-day flaw exploited in the wild
On Christmas Eve, Barracuda disclosed that a China-nexus threat actor had resumed attacks against its Email Security Gateway appliance using a new zero-day vulnerability. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2023
10 of the biggest ransomware attacks in 2023
Ransomware attacks against U.S. organizations hit record levels this year as threat actors stepped up extortion tactics and took shaming victims to new levels. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2023
Board preparedness: 7 steps to combat cybersecurity threats
In the face of security breaches, organization board members must urgently tackle real-world cyber threats. These seven steps offer crucial preparedness for companies. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2023
Akamai discloses zero-click exploit for Microsoft Outlook
During research into an older Microsoft Outlook privilege escalation vulnerability, Akamai discovered two new flaws that can be chained for a zero-click RCE exploit. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Dec 2023
Generative AI is making phishing attacks more dangerous
Cybercriminals are using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT to launch sophisticated business email compromise attacks. Cybersecurity practitioners must fight fire with fire. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2023
Russian APT exploiting JetBrains TeamCity vulnerability
The Russian hackers behind the SolarWinds attacks are the latest nation-state group to exploit a critical TeamCity vulnerability to gain initial access to victims' servers. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Dec 2023
9 cybersecurity trends to watch in 2024
Analysts are sharing their cybersecurity trends and predictions for 2024. From zero-day attacks to generative AI security and increased regulations, is your organization ready? Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2023
Splunk: AI isn't making spear phishing more effective
While new research shows AI tools won't make it easier for adversaries to conduct successful phishing attacks, social engineering awareness should remain a priority. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2023
How ransomware gangs are engaging -- and using -- the media
New Sophos research shows that ransomware groups are not only attacking technical systems, but taking advantage of information systems as well to pressure victims into paying. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Dec 2023
cyber attack
A cyber attack is any malicious attempt to gain unauthorized access to a computer, computing system or computer network with the intent to cause damage. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Dec 2023
advanced persistent threat (APT)
An advanced persistent threat (APT) is a prolonged and targeted cyber attack in which an intruder gains access to a network and remains undetected for an extended period. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Dec 2023
How organizations can learn from cloud security breaches
Research shed light on cloud security breaches. It's time to learn from the past and mitigate these attacks in the future with strong cloud security and posture management. Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2023
Forescout uncovers 21 Sierra Wireless router vulnerabilities
Forescout is urging enterprises to patch software for affected OT/IoT routers as attackers increasingly target edge devices to gain network access to critical infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Dec 2023
cyber resilience
Cyber resilience is the ability of a computing system to identify, respond and recover quickly should it experience a security incident. Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2023
Ransomware ramps up against private sector in November
Ransomware disclosures and reports increased again in November, with the most disruptive and dangerous attacks occurring against healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2023
Fancy Bear hackers still exploiting Microsoft Exchange flaw
Microsoft and Polish Cyber Command warned enterprises that Russian nation-state hackers are exploiting CVE-2023-23397 to gain privileged access to Exchange email accounts. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Dec 2023
attack surface
An attack surface is the total number of all possible entry points for unauthorized access into any system. Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2023
Black Basta ransomware payments exceed $100M since 2022
Insurance provider Corvus and blockchain analytics vendor Elliptic partnered to examine how much damage the Black Basta ransomware group has caused in less than two years. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Nov 2023
timing attack
A timing attack is a type of side-channel attack that exploits the amount of time a computer process runs to gain knowledge about or access a system. Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2023
Threat actors targeting critical OwnCloud vulnerability
Researchers observed exploitation attempts against a vulnerability affecting OwnCloud's Graph API app, highlighting threat actors' continued focus on file-sharing products. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2023
4 data loss examples keeping backup admins up at night
Protecting data is a critical task for backup admins, and threats are ever evolving. Preparation is key to preventing data loss and recovering quickly. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2023
CISA, FBI warn of LockBit attacks on Citrix Bleed
The latest advisory on exploitation of the Citrix Bleed vulnerability confirmed that the LockBit ransomware group perpetrated the attack on Boeing. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2023
Alphv ransomware gang claims it reported MeridianLink to SEC
MeridianLink said it recently identified a "cybersecurity incident," but the Alphv ransomware gang claims it breached the company and compromised customer data. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2023
Automated Clearing House fraud (ACH fraud)
ACH fraud is the theft of funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Automated Clearing House financial transaction network. Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2023
VMware discloses critical, unpatched Cloud Director bug
A manual workaround is currently available for a critical VMware Cloud Director Appliance flaw, tracked as CVE-2023-34060, but no patch is available at press time. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Nov 2023
How to protect your organization from IoT malware
IoT devices are attractive targets to attackers, but keeping them secure isn't easy. Still, there are steps to take to minimize risk and protect networks from attacks. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Nov 2023
Traditional MFA isn't enough, phishing-resistant MFA is key
Not every MFA technique is effective in combating phishing attacks. Enterprises need to consider new approaches to protect end users from fraudulent emails. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2023
Cryptocurrency wallets might be vulnerable to 'Randstorm' flaw
Cryptocurrency recovery company Unciphered discovered a vulnerability in a JavaScript Bitcoin library that could jeopardize private keys. Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2023
LockBit ransomware gang claims it leaked stolen Boeing data
Boeing confirmed that it experienced a cybersecurity incident following LockBit's claims, but the aircraft manufacturer has not directly confirmed a ransomware attack. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2023
Lace Tempest exploits SysAid zero-day vulnerability
SysAid urged users to patch a zero-day vulnerability in its on-premises software, which is being exploited by the threat actor behind the MoveIt Transfer ransomware attacks. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2023
FBI: Ransomware actors hacking casinos via third parties
A new Private Industry Notification focuses on ransomware trends involving attacks against casinos as well as a callback phishing campaign perpetrated by the Luna Moth gang. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2023
Atlassian Confluence vulnerability under widespread attack
Atlassian's Confluence Data Center and Server products are under attack again as reports of widespread exploitation roll in just days after CVE-2023-22518 was publicly disclosed. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Nov 2023
dark web monitoring
Dark web monitoring is the process of searching for and continuously tracking information on the dark web. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2023
Microsoft, ZDI disagree over Exchange zero-day flaws
Microsoft said it had previously fixed one of the flaws and that the others did not require a patch. Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative, however, disagreed with the software giant. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2023
7 useful hardware pen testing tools
Penetration testers use a variety of hardware to conduct security assessments, including a powerful laptop, Raspberry Pi, Rubber Ducky and more. Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2023
Ransomware continues to rise in October across all sectors
Ransomware disclosures and reports surged last month, leading in some cases to bankruptcy filing, prolonged business disruptions and ambulance diversions for hospitals. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Nov 2023
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a publicly listed catalog of known security threats. Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2023
Zscaler finds 117 Microsoft 365 bugs via SketchUp 3D file type
Microsoft published patches to address all 117 Microsoft 365 Apps flaws disclosed Tuesday, and the tech giant has disabled support for SketchUp, or SKP, 3D model files. Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2023
No patches yet for Apple iLeakage side-channel attack
Apple said it is working on more complete fixes for the iLeakage side-channel attack technique, but only one partial mitigation is currently available to macOS customers. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2023
Adversarial machine learning: Threats and countermeasures
As machine learning becomes widespread, threat actors are developing clever attacks to manipulate and exploit ML applications. Review potential threats and how to combat them. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2023
What an email security policy is and how to build one
Companies must have an effective security policy in place to protect email from cybercriminals and employee misuse. Learn how to build one for your company. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2023
How to create a cybersecurity awareness training program
Cybersecurity awareness training often misses the mark, leaving employees undereducated and organizations vulnerable to attack. Here's how to succeed where too many fail. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2023
NCC Group details 153% spike in September ransomware attacks
NCC Group analysts warned the significant year-over-year increase will likely continue. Organizations may see 4,000 ransomware attacks by the end of 2023. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2023
Cisco IOS XE instances still under attack, patch now
In the days since Cisco's initial disclosure, the networking giant found a second Cisco IOS XE zero-day as well as new evasion techniques being utilized by threat actors. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Oct 2023
Plundervolt
Plundervolt is the name of an undervolting attack that targeted Intel central processing units (CPUs). Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2023
12 common types of malware attacks and how to prevent them
The umbrella term malware is one of the greatest cybersecurity threats enterprises face. Learn about 12 common types of malware and how to prevent them. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Oct 2023
Top 10 tips for employees to prevent phishing attacks
Share this list of phishing techniques, detection and prevention tips, and best practices to help employees avoid falling victim to phishing schemes. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2023
CISA, NSA, FBI publish phishing guidance
In its guidance, CISA focused on two primary goals of phishing attacks: obtaining login credentials, often via social engineering, and installing malware on target systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Oct 2023
Cybersecurity vs. cyber resilience: What's the difference?
Companies need cybersecurity and cyber-resilience strategies to protect against attacks and mitigate damage in the aftermath of a successful data breach. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Oct 2023
Use these 6 user authentication types to secure networks
One layer of security that all networks and applications need is authentication. Read up on six authentication types, from 2FA to biometrics to certificates. Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2023
Cisco IOS XE zero-day facing mass exploitation
VulnCheck said its public scanning for CVE-2023-20198 revealed that 'thousands' of internet-facing Cisco IOS XE systems have been compromised with malicious implants. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Oct 2023
Allowlisting vs. blocklisting: Benefits and challenges
Allowlisting and blocklisting are key components of access control. Learn the benefits and challenges of each approach and why a combination of the two is often the best strategy. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Oct 2023
SEO poisoning (search poisoning)
SEO poisoning, also known as 'search poisoning,' is a type of malicious advertising (malvertising) in which cybercriminals create malicious websites and then use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to cause the sites' links to show up prominently in search results, often as ads at the top of the results. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2023
Cisco working on fix for critical IOS XE zero-day
Cisco designated the bug, CVE-2023-20198, with a CVSS score of 10 and said it was working on a patch, but advised customers to apply mitigations in the meantime. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2023
Ransomware gang targets critical Progress WS_FTP Server bug
The vulnerability used in the failed ransomware attack, CVE-2023-40044, is a .NET deserialization vulnerability in Progress Software's WS_FTP Server with a CVSS score of 10. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Oct 2023
What are the most important email security protocols?
Email was designed without security considerations. Email security protocols, including SMPTS, SPF and S/MIME, add mechanisms to keep messaging safe from threats. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Oct 2023
security awareness training
Security awareness training is a strategic approach IT and security professionals take to educate employees and stakeholders on the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Oct 2023
Security posture management a huge challenge for IT pros
Enterprise Strategy Group's John Oltsik explains why executing security hygiene and posture management at scale remains an uphill battle for organizations, despite automation. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Oct 2023
risk appetite
Risk appetite is the amount of risk an organization or investor is willing to take in pursuit of objectives it deems have value. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2023
Critical Atlassian Confluence zero-day flaw under attack
Collaboration software vendor Atlassian urged customers with affected versions of Confluence Data Center and Server to apply patches for CVE-2023-22515 immediately. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Oct 2023
What is ransomware? How it works and how to remove it
Ransomware is a type of malware that locks and encrypts a victim's data, files, devices or systems, rendering them inaccessible and unusable until the attacker receives a ransom payment. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2023
Spyware vendor exploiting kernel flaw in Arm Mali GPU drivers
Arm Mali GPUs affected by CVE-2023-4211, which was discovered by Google researchers, include a wide range of Android phones as well as ChromeOS devices such as Chromebooks. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2023
Ransomware disrupts hospitality, healthcare in September
Ransomware disclosures and reports last month were headlined by attacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, which proved costly to the Las Vegas hospitality giants. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Oct 2023
security posture
Security posture refers to an organization's overall cybersecurity strength and how well it can predict, prevent and respond to ever-changing cyberthreats. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2023
Openwall patches 3 of 6 Exim zero-day flaws
The Openwall Project urged users to upgrade to the latest version of Exim, but there have been timely patching struggles with the message transfer agent software in the past. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Oct 2023
voice squatting
Voice squatting is an attack vector for voice user interfaces, or VUIs, that exploits homonyms -- words that sound the same, but are spelled differently -- and input errors -- words that are mispronounced. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Sep 2023
5 common browser attacks and how to prevent them
Browsers are critical components of any organization, especially with the rise of web apps. Security teams and users must, therefore, know how to avoid common browser attacks. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2023
US, Japan warn China-linked 'BlackTech' targeting routers
CISA said BlackTech has targeted Cisco and other router makers by using a variety of tools and techniques to modify and even replace devices' firmware. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2023
Cisco patches zero-day vulnerability under attack
Cisco said its Advanced Security Initiatives Group discovered the zero-day flaw while investigating attempted attacks on the vendor's Group Encrypted Transport VPN feature. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2023
Clop MoveIt Transfer attacks affect over 2,000 organizations
According to research by security vendor Emsisoft, 2,095 organizations and 62,054,613 individuals have been affected by the Clop gang's attacks on MoveIt Transfer customers. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2023
MSP shares details of Kaseya VSA ransomware attack, recovery
Progressive Computing was one of 60 victims of the Kaseya VSA ransomware attack in 2021. Now, a co-founder tells the story of discovery and recovery. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2023
Apple issues emergency patches for 3 zero-day bugs
Apple said CVE-2023-41992, CVE-2023-41991 and CVE-2023-41993 -- all reported by Citizen Lab and Google researchers -- might have been exploited against versions of iOS before 16.7. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2023
Okta: Caesars, MGM hacked in social engineering campaign
Identity management vendor Okta had previously disclosed that four unnamed customers had fallen victim to a social engineering campaign that affected victims' MFA protections. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Sep 2023
How to train employees to avoid ransomware
Do your employees know what to do if ransomware strikes? As your organization's first line of defense, they should receive regular trainings on ransomware prevention and detection. Continue Reading
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Podcast
19 Sep 2023
Risk & Repeat: MGM, Caesars casino hacks disrupt Las Vegas
This podcast episode compares the cyber attacks suffered by casino giants MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment in recent weeks and the fallout from them. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Sep 2023
How to remove ransomware, step by step
Prevention is key when it comes to ransomware infections. But there are ways to recover data if a device is compromised. Uncover four key steps to ransomware removal. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Sep 2023
What is extortionware? How does it differ from ransomware?
Prevention is the only line of defense against an extortionware attack. Learn how extortionware works and why it can be more damaging than ransomware. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2023
Veeam leads funding round for SaaS backup provider Alcion
Analysts say that while both Alcion and Veeam offer Microsoft 365 backup, there is enough difference in the products and enough need in the data protection market. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2023
How CIOs can build cybersecurity teamwork across leadership
Cross-departmental relationships are key to long-term business success. Discover why CIOs must focus on teamwork with these three C-suite roles for highly effective cybersecurity. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Sep 2023
triple extortion ransomware
Triple extortion ransomware is a type of ransomware attack where a cybercriminal extorts their victim multiple times, namely by encrypting data, exfiltrating data to expose and threatening a third attack vector. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2023
Browser companies patch critical zero-day vulnerability
While attack details remain unknown, Chrome, Edge and Firefox users are being urged to update their browsers as an exploit for CVE-2023-4863 lurks in the wild. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Sep 2023
double extortion ransomware
Double extortion ransomware is a novel form of malware that combines ransomware with elements of extortionware to maximize the victim's potential payout. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2023
The 10 biggest ransomware attacks in history
From private organizations and manufacturers to healthcare organizations and entire countries, read up on 10 of the most famous ransomware attacks of all time. Continue Reading