Wireshark is a free open source tool that analyzes network traffic in real-time for Windows, Mac, Unix, and Linux systems. It captures data packets passing through a network interface (such as Ethernet, LAN, or SDRs) and translates that data into valuable information for IT professionals and cybersecurity teams. Wireshark is a type of packet sniffer (also known as a network protocol analyzer, protocol analyzer, and network analyzer).

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a service that allows devices on the same local network to discover each other and automatically connect through standard networking protocols (such as TCP/IP HTTP, and DHCP). Some examples of UPnP devices are printers, gaming consoles, WiFi devices, IP cameras, routers, mobile devices, and Smart TVs. UPnP can also modify router settings to open ports into a firewall to facilitate the connection of devices outside of a network.

If you're an Australian business reading this, there's a 30% chance you will suffer a data breach. Such cutthroat statistics, as uncomfortable as they are to read, are important to be aware of if you want to avoid becoming one. To help you achieve a data-driven approach to cybersecurity, we've aggregated some of the most critical data breach stats for Australian businesses. This list also includes global data breach statistics that could be a window into Australia's future modified threat landscape.

Ransomware attacks are on a steep upward trend and the gradient isn't softening its progression. In Q3 2020, ransomware attacks have increased globally by 40% to 199.7 million cases. In the U.S. alone, attacks have increased by 139% year-over-year, totaling 145.2 million cases in Q3 2020. The impetus to the sudden recent spike in ransomware attacks, was the dramatic shift from a linear attack model, to an insidious multi-dimensional Ransomware as a Service model.

Data breaches in Australia are on the rise, particularly in the financial and healthcare industries. In an effort to DISRUPT this pernicious trend, the Australian government is revising its cybersecurity frameworks and policies to strengthen resilience against nation-state threat actors. But Australian businesses cannot solely rely on the government's cybersecurity initiatives. Even the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) admits that proposed security frameworks only raise the baseline of security.

The Australian Cyber Security Center (ACSC) strongly advises against paying ransoms of any amount to cybercriminals. In some circumstances, these payments could even be illegal. The Australian government is tightening its cybersecurity regulations to align with the United State's new stance on nation-state threats. As a result, there have been significant changes to how Australian businesses are expected to respond to cyberattacks.

In an effort to significantly improve the cyber resilience of Australian businesses, the Australian federal government is mandating compliance across all eight cybersecurity controls of the Essential Eight framework. This is an ambitious move that may be burdensome to the many entities still struggling to comply with just the top four controls of the Essential Eight.

In an ambitious leap towards improving the Nation’s security posture, President Joe Biden has instituted an Executive Order to improve cyber threat information sharing between the U.S Government and the Private Sector. The goal is to align cybersecurity initiatives and minimize future threats to national security by modernizing cybersecurity defenses in the United States.

If you're an Australian business and confused about which cybersecurity frameworks you should be complying with, you're not alone. Unlike the United States, Australia currently doesn't have clear mandatory minimum cybersecurity standards for businesses. This is likely to change in the near future. The Australian government is being pressured to follow the United State's lead in lifting the Nation's security posture.

Data loss refers to the unwanted removal of sensitive information either due to an information system error, or theft by cybercriminals. Data leaks are unauthorized exposures of sensitive information through vulnerabilities on the digital landscape. Data leaks are more complex to detect and remediate, they usually occur at the interface of critical systems, both internally and throughout the vendor network.