Think of a port as a virtual gateway that a specific service, process, or application on your computer uses for network communication. Each port is assigned a unique number, allowing different types of traffic to be directed to the appropriate software. For example, your email might use one port, while your web browsing uses another. When combined with an IP address, a port number creates a complete socket address, enabling precise routing of data to and from your computer across the network.

Once someone knows your IP address, they can determine your approximate location, track your online activity, impersonate you or conduct targeted DDoS attacks. Most cybercriminals will use your IP address to learn more personal information about you through phishing attacks, which can be used to identify and impersonate your internet provider.

Working remotely using cloud applications is now the norm for getting things done. But while these shifts offer greater flexibility, they also bring new security challenges. For years, virtual private networks (VPNs) were the go-to solution for securing remote access. But when used at such a large scale, VPNs are inefficient, slowing users down and undoing the productivity gains that come along with remote work. Worse, they expose organizations to unnecessary security risks like lateral movement attacks.

As cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, traditional security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) are no longer sufficient. That’s why Network Detection and Response (NDR) is brought into the picture, to provide better and advanced solutions. It comes with real-time detection, automated responses, and advanced analysis. This blog focuses on the protective defense capabilities of NDR in cyber security.

Advanced Persistent Threats or APT are a growing concern in the business world. Hackers are constantly improving their tactics and adopting new vulnerabilities. Organizations are scrambling with the increasing sophistication of attacks and are ready to invest in cybersecurity solutions in the hopes of early Advanced Persistent Threat detection and mitigation. However, before choosing a solution, it is important to understand the meaning and nature of APT.

As Kubernetes and containerized environments become the backbone of modern application development, securing these environments grows increasingly complex. The distributed nature of microservices, the dynamic scaling of workloads and the ephemeral nature of containers introduce unique security challenges. Traditional approaches to risk assessment — where vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and threats are identified and prioritized in isolation — often fall short in such environments.

In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, the debate between Universal ZTNA and Traditional ZTNA is heating up. While Traditional ZTNA has been a cornerstone for secure access, Universal ZTNA is redefining the game with its comprehensive, adaptive approach. Imagine a security solution that fortifies your network and seamlessly integrates with any environment, providing unparalleled protection and flexibility. Ready to explore the future of secure access?

Cato CTRL security researchers have recently discovered a threat actor, ProKYC, selling a deepfake tool in the cybercriminal underground that helps threat actors beat two-factor authentication (2FA) for conducting account fraud attacks. The tool being sold is customized to target cryptocurrency exchanges—specifically ones that authenticate new users leveraging a government-issued document and by enabling the computer’s camera to perform facial recognition.

At the 2024 AVANT Special Forces Summit in Phoenix in September, Cato Networks won the 2024 Vendor Net Promoter Score Award. AVANT is a technology services distributor (TSD) based in Chicago and a Cato partner. Cato was recognized for achieving a net promoter score (NPS) of 93 across two categories: An NPS score measures how likely customers are to recommend a company or its products and services to others. To put things in perspective, the average NPS score for a technology vendor is 64.