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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Feature
20 Sep 2024
How to prepare for post-quantum computing security
One of the biggest fears about quantum computing is its ability to easily break current encryption algorithms. Learn why and how to start making quantum security preparations. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2024
Microsoft warns of Russian election threats, disinformation
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, Microsoft detailed new influence campaigns, such as fake videos aimed at discrediting Vice President Kamala Harris. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2022
Microsoft: Nation-state threats, zero-day attacks increasing
Microsoft's Digital Defense Report 2022 pointed the finger at China, which enacted a new vulnerability disclosure law last year, as the source of many zero-day attacks. Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2022
Yanluowang ransomware gang goes dark after leaks
The Yanluowang ransomware operation appears to have shut down for the time being after an anonymous individual published a series of internal code and chat leaks. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Ransomware on the rise, hitting schools and healthcare
October ransomware disclosures and public reports tracked by TechTarget Editorial increased from previous months, with notable attacks on education and healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Nov 2022
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a software platform used to create rich digital content containing animation, graphic effects, streaming video and other interactive elements to deliver engaging user experiences over many platforms, including desktops and mobile devices. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
OpenSSL vulnerabilities get high-priority patches
The OpenSSL Project released version 3.0.7 Tuesday to address a pair of high-severity buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the widely used cryptography library. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
28 Oct 2022
It's time to rethink security certification for OT devices
Security certifications don't protect OT devices from vulnerable processes and insecure-by-design practices. It's time to update security certs for the connected OT age. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Oct 2022
Enterprise ransomware preparedness improving but still lacking
An Enterprise Strategy Group survey found enterprises are making strides in ransomware preparedness, but work remains to prevent and mitigate attacks. Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Oct 2022
How Sheltered Harbor helps banks navigate cyber-recovery
Banks must be able to recover quickly from a cyber attack -- a difficult task, given the volume and sophistication of attacks. The not-for-profit Sheltered Harbor aims to help. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2022
Types of cloud malware and how to defend against them
Cloud malware isn't going away anytime soon, but organizations have a growing number of tools at their disposal to combat the threat. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
Cisco, CISA warn 2 AnyConnect flaws are under attack
CISA added two Cisco AnyConnect flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which signals active exploitation and an urgency to patch. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
Researchers criticize HackerOne over triage, mediation woes
HackerOne researchers told TechTarget Editorial that they regularly encountered months-long wait times for responses and a mediation process that rarely favors researchers. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Apple patches actively exploited zero-day iOS bug
The iOS zero-day was joined by a slew of other vulnerabilities in Apple's Oct. 24 security update. The iOS 16 update contained patches for 13 arbitrary code execution flaws. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2022
CISA warns of ransomware attacks on healthcare providers
A new CISA advisory warned administrators at hospitals and healthcare providers about newly discovered ransomware variant, dubbed Daixin Team, that poses a particular threat. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Oct 2022
command-and-control server (C&C server)
A command-and-control server (C&C server) is a computer that issues directives to digital devices that have been infected with rootkits or other types of malware, such as ransomware. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2022
The top 5 ethical hacker tools to learn
Ethical hackers have a wealth of tools at their disposal that search for vulnerabilities in systems. Learn about five such tools that should be part of any hacker's tool set. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Oct 2022
burner phone
A burner phone, or 'burner,' is an inexpensive mobile phone designed for temporary, sometimes anonymous, use, after which it may be discarded. Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2022
BlackByte ransomware using custom data exfiltration tool
Symantec researchers say BlackByte ransomware may be poised to move into the elite ransomware ranks, as the group has begun developing its own custom malware tools. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Oct 2022
RAT (remote access Trojan)
A RAT (remote access Trojan) is malware an attacker uses to gain full administrative privileges and remote control of a target computer. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2022
ProxyLogon researcher details new Exchange Server flaws
After testing Microsoft's mitigations for ProxyLogon, security researcher Orange Tsai discovered new Exchange Server bugs, including one flaw that took more than a year to fix. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2022
Azure vulnerability opens door to remote takeover attacks
Orca Security researchers uncovered a flaw in Azure Service Fabric that was fixed in last week's Patch Tuesday. It allows elevation of privilege and remote takeover of nodes. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2022
Python vulnerability highlights open source security woes
A 15-year-old unpatched vulnerability in a tarfile module for the Python programming language prompted researchers from cybersecurity vendor Trellix to take action. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Oct 2022
Compare vulnerability assessment vs. vulnerability management
Vulnerability assessments and vulnerability management are different but similar-sounding security terms. Discover their similarities and differences. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Oct 2022
supply chain attack
A supply chain attack is a type of cyber attack that targets organizations by focusing on weaker links in an organization's supply chain. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2022
NPM API flaw exposes secret packages
A flaw in the API for NPM could potentially allow a threat actor to see the internal packages for corporate users -- a possible first step for a supply chain attack. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2022
Despite LockBit rebound, ransomware attacks down in 2022
LockBit cybercriminals are back in action with new ransomware attacks and publicity pushes. But many other new groups saw lower levels in activity in Q3, according to Cyberint. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Oct 2022
How to configure and customize Kali Linux
Learning how to use Kali Linux for ethical hacking and penetration testing? Read step by step how to configure and customize the distribution. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Oct 2022
Why Kali Linux is the go-to distribution for penetration testing
Discover why penetration testers prefer to use the Kali Linux distribution for offensive security, from collecting useful tools together to being usable from multiple devices. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2022
An overview of the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
A zero-trust framework blocks all attempts to access internal infrastructure without authentication. The CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model is a roadmap to get there. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Oct 2022
7 steps for implementing zero trust, with real-life examples
More than a decade since the term's inception, zero-trust security is still much easier said than done. Here's how to get started. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
NPM malware attack goes unnoticed for a year
A cybercriminal crew known as "LofyGang" poisoned software supply chains with bad NPM packages for more than a year, according to Checkmarx researchers. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
BlackByte ransomware uses new EDR evasion technique
Attackers deploying the BlackByte ransomware strain are using vulnerable drivers to target a part of the operating system that many security products rely on for protection. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
Critical Fortinet vulnerability under active exploitation
Fortinet said the critical vulnerability affects three of its services -- FortiOS, FortiProxy and FortiSwitch Manager -- and urged customers to take immediate action. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Oct 2022
How to choose the best ZTNA vendor for your organization
In a sea of options, finding the best ZTNA vendor for your organization can pose a major challenge. Weed through the marketing hype with advice from the experts. Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2022
CISA lists top vulnerabilities exploited by Chinese hackers
The U.S. government published a list of the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities exploited by Chinese state-sponsored actors, including Log4Shell and the ProxyLogon bugs. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Oct 2022
filter (computing)
The term filter in computing can mean a variety of things, depending on the technology or technical discipline in question. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Oct 2022
spambot
A spambot is an automated system that sends unwanted, unsolicited messages to users, known as spam. Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2022
Microsoft Exchange Server targeted with zero-day vulnerabilities
Microsoft warned that two unpatched zero-day vulnerabilities are being exploited against Exchange Server, a problem that's causing déjà vu for some researchers. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Cobalt Strike malware campaign targets job seekers
Cisco Talos researchers spotted a new wave of phishing attacks that target job seekers in the U.S. and New Zealand, infecting them with Cobalt Strike beacons. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Unit 42 finds polyglot files delivering IcedID malware
Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 says attackers are using decoy Microsoft Compiled HTML Help files containing multiple file formats to infect systems with information-stealing malware. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
29 Sep 2022
Solve ICS security issues with ICS and IT team convergence
It's predicted that threat actors will weaponize industrial control systems to harm or kill humans by 2025. Prepare by learning how to balance ICS and security convergence. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2022
NCC Group: IceFire ransomware gang ramping up attacks
While the ransomware group was first observed in March, IceFire emerged on NCC Group's radar last month when attacks against English-speaking organizations soared. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Sep 2022
Compare zero trust vs. the principle of least privilege
Zero trust and the principle of least privilege may appear to solve the same issue, but they have their differences. Read up on the two methodologies. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
Critical Sophos Firewall bug under active exploitation
Sophos said the exploitation of the critical firewall vulnerability has, at this time, affected "an extremely small subset of organizations" predominantly located in South Asia. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2022
Does AI-powered malware exist in the wild? Not yet
AI sending out malware attacks may invoke images of movielike, futuristic technology, but it may not be too far from reality. Read up on the future of AI-powered malware. Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2022
Malicious NPM package discovered in supply chain attack
Threat actors are circulating a look-alike version of the Material Tailwind NPM package to infect developers for supply chain malware attacks, according to ReversingLabs. Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2022
Microsoft focuses on remote security with Windows 11 update
Microsoft's Windows 11 2022 Update includes features for protecting sensitive corporate data and helping remote workers avoid malware and phishing attacks. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
15-year-old Python vulnerability poses supply chain threat
Trellix researchers issued a call for help to patch a vulnerable software module, which was found in more than 300,000 open source GitHub repositories. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2022
Cobalt Strike gets emergency patch
The developer of Cobalt Strike issued an out-of-band security update to address a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the popular penetration testing suite. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Sep 2022
cryptojacking
Cryptojacking is a cybercrime in which another party's computing resources are hijacked to mine cryptocurrency. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2022
Discover the benefits and challenges of bug bounty programs
Bug bounty programs have a number of benefits and challenges. Before adopting such a program at your organization, read up on the pros and cons to decide if it would be a good fit. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Sep 2022
Use shadow IT discovery to find unauthorized devices and apps
Shadow IT may be convenient for users, but it isn't for IT -- especially where security is concerned. Shadow IT discovery finds unmanaged devices and apps. Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2022
Transparency, disclosure key to fighting ransomware
Current and former CISA members say the best methods for curbing ransomware attacks are organizations reporting attacks and assisting in investigations. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2022
U.S. drops the hammer on Iranian ransomware outfit
The departments of Justice and the Treasury announced criminal charges and sanctions against a group of Iranian nationals accused of running an international ransomware operation. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2022
Secureworks reveals Azure Active Directory flaws
Secureworks published details of what it claims are significant security flaws in Azure's authentication system, but Microsoft has dismissed them as non-issues. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Sep 2022
computer worm
A computer worm is a type of malware whose primary function is to self-replicate and infect other computers while remaining active on infected systems. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2022
CrowdStrike threat report: Intrusions up, breakout time down
According to a new report by CrowdStrike's threat hunting team, Falcon OverWatch, attempted intrusions against the healthcare sector doubled year over year. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Sep 2022
air gap (air gapping)
An air gap is a security measure that involves isolating a computer or network and preventing it from establishing an external connection. Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2022
Cisco Talos traps new Lazarus Group RAT
The North Korean-backed Lazarus Group has deployed a new type of remote access Trojan that has already been turned against foreign government networks and private energy companies. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2022
Google: Former Conti ransomware members attacking Ukraine
Google said former members of the Conti ransomware gang are operating as part of threat group UAC-0098, which is conducting attacks of both political and financial nature. Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2022
Healthcare and education remain common ransomware targets
August disclosures showed ransomware attacks against education and healthcare entities resulted in slow recovery times and the potential loss of highly sensitive information. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Sep 2022
How to start developing a plan for SASE implementation
From prioritizing business problems to identifying future initiatives to assessing critical tool gaps, learn how to create a realistic SASE implementation roadmap. Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2022
Microsoft discloses 'high-severity' TikTok vulnerability
The flaw in TikTok's Android app is the latest security concern for the social media company, which was criticized last month for having keylogging functionality in its iOS app. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Sep 2022
Cybersecurity budget breakdown and best practices
Once budget is secured, CISOs must figure out where it should be allocated -- as well as how to justify the costs. Get the lowdown on a cybersecurity budget breakdown here. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2022
Microsoft Excel attacks fall out of fashion with hackers
Hornetsecurity researchers say newly introduced safety measures from Microsoft have driven cybercriminals away from using Excel as a malware infection tool. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2022
FBI warns attacks on DeFi platforms are increasing
As cryptocurrency interest soars, cybercriminals are cashing in on the immaturity of some DeFi platforms and stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from investors. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 Aug 2022
Learn to monitor group memberships with PowerShell
Use PowerShell automation to build reports in local group memberships on a server and security groups in Active Directory to keep tabs on any irregular behavior. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2022
Ransomware defies seasonal trends with increase
The return and rebranding of major crews saw the volume of ransomware attacks in July jump 47%, defying seasonal trends, according to researchers at NCC Group. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2022
How to conduct a secure code review
Learn how to conduct a secure code review -- a critical step in the software development lifecycle -- to avoid releasing an app with bugs and security vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2022
CEO of spyware vendor NSO Group steps down
Current NSO Group COO Yaron Shohat will replace outgoing CEO Shalev Hulio as part of a reorganization for the vendor, which has come under fire from the U.S. government. Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2022
Shunned researcher Hadnagy sues DEF CON over ban
Researcher Christopher Hadnagy is seeking damages from DEF CON and founder Jeff Moss over their decision to ban him citing multiple claims of conduct violations. Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Aug 2022
Data security as a layer in defense in depth against ransomware
Having data security as part of a defense-in-depth strategy can reduce the likelihood of a successful ransomware attack. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2022
Google patches yet another Chrome zero-day vulnerability
Google issued an update Wednesday to address a potentially serious security vulnerability in its Chrome browser, and the company urged users to patch their browsers immediately. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2022
CISA: Threat actors exploiting multiple Zimbra flaws
Cybersecurity vendor Volexity found earlier this month that one flaw, CVE-2022-27925, had compromised more than 1,000 Zimbra Collaboration Suite instances. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Aug 2022
How to create a threat profile, with template
Read five key steps on how to create a threat profile, and get started making them customized to your organization with our free template. Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2022
Zero Day Initiative seeing an increase in failed patches
In a Q&A with TechTarget Editorial, Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative's Brian Gorenc and Dustin Childs discuss incomplete patches and the value of personal researcher relations. Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2022
Eclypsium calls out Microsoft over bootloader security woes
At DEF CON 30, Eclypsium researchers detailed three new vulnerabilities in third-party Windows bootloaders that were signed with Microsoft's UEFI certificates. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
Rapid7: Cisco ASA and ASDM flaws went unpatched for months
While several of the vulnerabilities were reported to Cisco in February, they remained unpatched until Thursday when Rapid7's Jake Baines discussed the flaws at Black Hat USA 2022. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
Researchers reveal Kubernetes security holes, prevention
Researchers with Palo Alto Networks took the stage at Black Hat to explain how configurations and system privileges in Kubernetes clusters can allow container escape and takeover. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
SentinelOne discusses the rise of data-wiping malware
During a Black Hat 2022 session, researchers showed how expectations of cyber war may differ from the reality. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
Zero Day Initiative launches new bug disclosure timelines
The Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative's vulnerability disclosure policy will now mandate shorter disclosure windows for flaws believed to result from bypassed security patches. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
Google researchers dissect Android spyware, zero days
Researchers with Google's Threat Analysis Group say the ecosystem of surveillance vendors is far larger than just NSO Group, and some vendors are sharing or trading exploits. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Aug 2022
What is data security? The ultimate guide
Dig into the essentials of data security, from must-have tools, technologies and processes to best practices for keeping data safe. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Aug 2022
Is ethical hacking legal? And more ethical hacking advice
Is ethical hacking legal? Learn about the legality of ethical hacking, why it's important, its benefits and what organizations should look for when hiring an ethical hacker. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Aug 2022
Ethical hacking: How to conduct a Sticky Keys hack
Physical security is often overlooked by cybersecurity teams. Learn about physical cybersecurity attacks in step-by-step instruction on how to conduct a Windows Sticky Keys hack. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2022
10 top open source security testing tools
From Kali Linux to Mimikatz to Metasploit, learn about 10 open source penetration testing tools organizations can use to determine how secure their network is. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Aug 2022
Importance of enterprise endpoint security during a pandemic
Enterprises often focus greatly on communications security and less on endpoint security. Review the importance of enterprise endpoint security and best practices to implement it. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Aug 2022
Cybersecurity lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic
Cybersecurity lessons companies learn from the COVID-19 pandemic include having work-from-home preparations and developing disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2022
July another down month in ransomware attack disclosures
July saw a similar number of ransomware attack disclosures as June, previously the sparsest month for disclosures this year, according to SearchSecurity's data. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2022
Coveware: Median ransom payments dropped 51% in Q2
Coveware hypothesized that large enterprises are making themselves more expensive targets for ransomware gangs and refusing to give into high demands. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2022
Microsoft: Austrian company DSIRF selling Subzero malware
Microsoft said Austrian penetration testing firm DSIRF exploited multiple zero-day vulnerabilities, including the recently patched CVE-2022-22047. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2022
How to prevent a data breach: 10 best practices and tactics
When it comes to data breach prevention, the stakes are high. While it's impossible to eliminate the risk, organizations can minimize it by following these best practices. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2022
AWS adds anti-malware and PII visibility to storage
New tools unveiled by AWS at re:Inforce 2022 add new anti-malware capabilities to AWS block storage and a way to find personally identifiable information with S3 object storage. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2022
Deepfake technology risky but intriguing for enterprises
Enterprises can generate synthetic data sets with the technology. It is useful in broadcast and for advertising. However, its privacy and political implications can be dangerous. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2022
NFT wash trading explained
NFT popularity grew with the rise of cryptocurrency. But scams -- such as wash trading -- also increased, presenting new problems for businesses and consumers. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jul 2022
data breach
A data breach is a cyber attack in which sensitive, confidential or otherwise protected data has been accessed or disclosed in an unauthorized fashion. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Jul 2022
insider threat
An insider threat is a category of risk posed by those who have access to an organization's physical or digital assets. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2022
NCC Group observes a drop in ransomware attacks -- for now
Changes in top ransomware-as-a-service groups like LockBit 2.0 and Conti accounted for the decline in activity, though NCC Group anticipates attacks will ramp back up. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2022
Atlassian Confluence plugin contains hardcoded password
A flaw in Questions for Confluence, a first-party application in Atlassian Confluence, contains a hardcoded password enabling access into any vulnerable instance. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2022
SynSaber: Only 41% of ICS vulnerabilities require attention
The industrial cybersecurity vendor analyzed 681 ICS vulnerabilities that were disclosed this year and found many had a low probability of exploitation. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2022
DOJ report warns of escalating cybercrime, 'blended' threats
The Department of Justice's cyber review report warned that the lines between conventional cybercriminal activity and national security threats have all but disappeared. Continue Reading