If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the Application Programming Interface (API) is the window to the software. After all, an API is a way for products to communicate with each other through a documented interface, just as the eye is a human interface, communicating with the outside world (but it’s not as well-documented as to meanings).
Every security framework recommends that an organization has a cybersecurity training program for all employees, but few give much guidance about what the program should contain. What do you train them on? What actually works? Other than checking a box on the compliance forms, are these programs useful?
Healthcare organisations in the United States are being warned to be on their guard once again, this time against a family of ransomware known as Venus. An advisory from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has warned that the cybercriminals behind the Venus ransomware have targeted at least one healthcare entity in the United States, and are known to be targeting publicly-exposed Remote Desktop Servers.
If it seems like you’re constantly hearing about cybercrime these days, there’s a reason for that. Globally, reports of cyberattack instances increased by a staggering 125% in 2021, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. As businesses and consumers turn their attention to cybercrime and protective measures, enterprising cybercriminals continue to fine-tune their approach to exploiting vulnerabilities. In fact, cybercrime is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy.
Do you know what “fangxiao” means in simplified Chinese? Before you Google it, let me tell you that it stands for “imitate” and this is exactly what Fangxiao phishing campaign actors try to do – imitate and exploit the reputation of international, trusted brands by promising financial or physical incentives to trick victims into further spreading the campaign through WhatsApp.
In response to increasing societal concerns about the way businesses store, process, and protect the sensitive data they collect from their customers, governments and standardization organizations have enacted a patchwork of regulations and laws. Some of these are generic regulations (CCPA, GDPR), while others are industry specific (SOX, NERC, HIPAA, PCI DSS).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a trending topic for many industries now. A variety of organizations currently employ AI mechanisms to support their operational functions. Automated tasks, natural language processing, deep learning, and problem-solving; such AI characteristics have made business tasks much easier. The factor of security in AI is largely overlooked, and with the increasing number of cyber threats and attacks, AI security serves as a crucial element that should be paid attention to.
PC manufacturer Lenovo has been forced to push out a security update to more than two dozen of its laptop models, following the discovery of high severity vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious hackers. Security researchers at ESET discovered flaws in 25 of its laptop models - including IdeaPads, Slims, and ThinkBooks - that could be used to disable the UEFI Secure Boot process.
Cybersecurity, like broader technological disciplines, is an ever-changing landscape that industry professionals must adapt to. The zero-trust model of cybersecurity has grown recently as organizations update their security practices to keep pace with, and stay ahead of evolving threats. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) increased by 230% from 2019 to 2020, and more than 80% of C-suite leaders cite zero-trust as a priority for their enterprises.
The Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs) are a new baseline released jointly by CISA, NIST, and the interagency community, with a goal of providing consistency across all critical infrastructure. The primary webpage for these goals gives us a great understanding of what they are (and are not). It is worth delving into those specifics to understand where the CPGs apply, and how they are intended to be used.
