the-tragic-death-of-a-technology-genius
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The Tragic Death of a Technology Genius

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the-tragic-death-of-a-technology-genius

By AMSAT June 24,2021

The tragic death of a technology genius

On Thursday, the news of John McAfee, the creator of McAfee antivirus software, broke over the world like a thunderbolt. The technology enthusiast and entrepreneur was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona in what officials claim was an apparent suicide. The tragic news, which shook the technology world to its core, came hours after a Spanish court approved his repatriation to the United States to face tax charges punishable by several years in prison.

 

The peculiar cryptocurrency promoter and tax adversary whose history of legal battle spanned from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean was found at the Brians 2 prison in northeastern Spain. As per the regional Catalan government, security personnel tried to resuscitate him, but the prison’s medical team finally confirmed his death.

 

The antivirus guru, who was arrested last year, had been in the Spain prison awaiting the extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges in Tennessee for dodging taxes after being unable to report income from endorsing cryptocurrencies. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

 

In one of his last interviews, with The Independent, McAfee said his time in jail was an exciting experience, adding he was constantly amused and excited. He also insisted he never wanted to return to the US. The man told the newspaper that he was identified by inmates and guards, adding that his key point of contact outside the jail was his wife, Janice McAfee. 

 

In a tweet, his wife wrote that McAfee had spent the last eight months in complete agony and that he underwent considerable mental and physical, as well as financial trouble. She said that despite suffering immensely, he remained undeterred from continuing to speak the truth to power.

California chipmaking giant Intel, which bought McAfee’s company in 2011 for $7.68bn, for some time purposely dissociated the brand from its contentious creator by folding it into its larger cybersecurity unit. But the rebranding was fleeting, and Intel in 2016 protracted the cybersecurity division into a new company called McAfee.

 

In a statement, Jaime Le, a McAfee company spokesperson, said: “Although John McAfee founded the company, he has not been associated with our company in any capacity for over 25 years. That said, our thoughts go to his family and those close to him.”

 

The unfortunate death of one of the world’s leading technology icon, who made an indelible imprint on the cybersecurity landscape by dint of his sheer brilliance and ingenuity, is a huge and irreparable loss. The authorities would do well to conduct an immediate inquiry into this huge tragedy and determine if he indeed committed suicide or whether his death is the result of a larger conspiracy.  

 

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    how-to-protect-your-remote-workforce-in-view-of-constant-change​
    Posted in Cyber Security

    How to Protect Your Remote Workforce in View of Constant Change

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    how-to-protect-your-remote-workforce-in-view-of-constant-change​

    By AMSAT June 21,2021

    How to Protect Your Remote Workforce in View of Constant Change

    Let’s face it. A remote workforce under persistent threat requires continuous execution and opportune responses. Although network and online security are serious issues, for most infosec teams, there is real cynicism about whether all the security features they’ve installed and all the rules they follow are actually discouraging threat actors. Is anyone really safe, especially in the wake of the terrible SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange hacks? But assume you’re one of the few who haven’t spotted any network invasions. Is it because your security tools are working really well? Does it mean that hackers have thrived, but managed to hide their invasion? Or could it be that you’ve, one way or another, been spared by cybercriminals?


    Theoretically, it could be any of these. But you have possibly heard the famous claim that there are only two types of network owners: those who’ve been hacked, and those who’ve been hacked but are still not aware of it. While that may be a bit of exaggeration, the fact is that the online world is awash with mean actors and bots — always finding ways to slip into organizations’ networks and cause harm. So even if you haven’t spotted any attacks or breaches, that doesn’t mean it’s time to kick back and relax. Ensuring data security and protection is key.


    A study at the University of Maryland found that network attacks are basically constant — and that every computer with internet access is being attacked, typically, once every 40 seconds.


    Nevertheless, that’s just the tip of the iceberg: hacks are far more prevalent if your network contains high-value information.


    These statistics, though alarming, only tell half the story. They were collected prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, suddenly driving millions of office workers to work from their homes. Since that time, cyber-attacks have become a dime a dozen. Using the extended attack surfaces and end points offered by work from home (WFH) remote connections, threat actors have found a stockpile of new flaws to exploit. The situation has been further exacerbated by the ensuing excess on corporate VPNs, as well as the consistent shortcuts that remote workers have felt indebted to take in order to reach their colleagues — shortcuts which mainly circumvent existing security protocols.


    Today, over a year after the Covid-induced lockdowns first arisen, there appears to be an agreement that many employees will not return to their earlier full-time office environment. Some businesses have even gone to the extreme of closing down or selling their office buildings in recognition of what may be a permanent shift to home-based work. Far more believe that a hybrid pattern — in which employees come into the workplace on alternate days or on special occasions, but mostly work from home — will be a lasting legacy of the pandemic.


    IT teams around the globe have done an astonishing job of turning support away from familiar centralized work settings and towards their newly decentralized remote workforces.

    Several reports claim that employees’ output and work-life balance have improved since the start of the WFH drive. But it also means that certain security measures now need to be re-engineered into more organized, robust, and high-capacity methods.


    With so much changing, security teams need to frequently, or even unceasingly, evaluate their security posture to find and remediate any possible flaws. Change is continuous, and the last year has taught us that security teams ought to be agile and ready to acclimatize to the new normal at all times. Security is never inert, and networks will always be evolving, so ensure you’re constantly validating your security stance and ready for whatever comes next.

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      Posted in Cyber Security

      A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

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      a-brief-weekly-review-of-top-stories-that-dominated-the-cyberworld

      By AMSAT June 18,2021

      Dealing with cyber-threat: a complex challenge

      The outgoing week saw a number of events that had far-reaching implications on the world of cybersecurity. From Volkswagen America divulging a huge data breach to Chinese hackers accused of orchestrating SITA cyberattack, there were many minor and major incidents that shook the cyberworld. 

       

      Here’s a brief review of what took place in the week. 

      Volkswagen America Revealed Data Breach Might Have Affected 3.3 Million

      Volkswagen Group of America disclosed that a data breach that affected Audi of America as well as Volkswagen of America might have impacted nearly 3.3 million people.

       

       

      Volkswagen said that the incident was exposed on March 10, 2021 and a law enforcement probe was immediately launched into the issue.

       

       

      The probe divulged that a third party gained access to various information collected between 2014 and 2019 and which was left bare at some point between August 2019 and May 2021, when the source of the leak was identified.

       

       

      In a letter to the Maine Attorney General, the auto giant said that VWGoA revealed the information at issue included more sensitive personal information on or about May 24, 2021.

       

      Chinese Hackers Orchestrated SITA Cyberattack: Researchers 

      Security researchers at detection and prevention firm Group-IB said that a Chinese nation-state threat actor, APT41, carried out the cyberattack on SITA that affected numerous airlines worldwide, including  Air India, Air New Zealand, Finland’s Finnair, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Jeju Air in South Korea. 

       

       

      SITA has nearly 2,500 customers and provides services in over 1,000 airports around the globe.

      Air India, one of the affected airlines, announced in May that roughly 4,500,000 data subjects were impacted worldwide. Compromised data includes names, dates-of-birth, passport information, contact information, and additional data.

       

       

      The Indian airline revealed that the attack was related to SITA PSS, which processes personally identifiable information (PII).

       

      Polish Govt Targeted by ‘Unprecedented’ Cyber-attacks

      The government of Poland said it was concerned by a wave of cyber-attacks against the EU member that were termed as “unprecedented”.

       

       

      Deputy Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska said that they would listen to explanations and information from the prime minister (Mateusz Morawiecki).

       

       

      Government spokesman Piotr Muller said that Morawiecki planned to present secret documents regarding the “wide scale” of the attacks, adding that “lately we’ve been subject to an unprecedented cyber-attack against Poland, against Polish institutions and against individual email account users”.

       

      EU Law May Destroy iPhone Security: Warned Apple 

      Apple chief Tim Cook warned that the EU’s proposed new rules to hold back tech giants risk undermining the security of the iPhone.

       

       

      Last year, the European Union revealed strict draft rules targeting tech conglomerates like Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook that could shake up the way Big Tech does business.

       

       

      Cook said existing proposals “would force side loading on the iPhone, and so this will be an alternative way of getting apps onto the iPhone.”

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        all-about-antivirus-and-its-importance
        Posted in Application Security

        All You Should Know about Antivirus and Its Importance

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        By AMSAT June 07,2021

        all-about-antivirus-and-its-importance

        All You Should Know about Antivirus and Its Importance

        What is Endpoint Security?

        Endpoint security is a procedure of protecting the corporate network when accessed through laptops or other wireless and movable devices. With the spread of mobile devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets, notebooks etc., a huge surge in the number of devices being lost or stolen has been noticed. These incidences possibly translate as enormous loss of important data for companies which allow their staffs to bring in these mobile devices into their enterprise. Endpoint security is projected to protect each endpoint on the network these devices create.

        Why You Need Antivirus Software 

        Next-generation antivirus software helps organizations spot, respond to and thwart all kinds of cyberattack strategies, methods and procedures. Antivirus software will always be needed for as long as computers have been and will be around, regardless of their connectivity to the Internet. There will never be a time when people, whether unscrupulous youths seeking an adventure or a hardened cyberthieves seeking to abuse large corporations, will no longer find ways to commit scam and cause extensive damage. 

         

        Antivirus software is a significant tool to help frustrate such attacks. While it’s hard to foil every type of cyberattack with antivirus software, it can be a great strength when trying to prevent intrusion into a computer. Although not every disruption into a computer is meant to cause damage or steal key information, that doesn’t mean that the attack isn’t risky. Once even the most innocuous of an interruption exploits a flaw, it basically sends a signal to others that this computer has been intruded. 

         

        When looking to buy antivirus software, ensure to purchase a reliable and renowned, subscription-based program. This is significant, as the creators of this type of software will be able to keep their subscribers’ computers protected with real-time updates that watch out the latest threats.

        What Antivirus Software Can Protect Against

        As the name indicates, antivirus safety is not just a way to block computer viruses. Some individuals believe that all disruptions into a computer are called viruses, but that is a contradiction. For example, here is a list of the ways a good antivirus program can help defend a computer with data on it:

         

        Antivirus – Beginning with the obvious, an AP will protect against computer viruses, or attacks that mean to harm a computer.

         

        Rootkit protection – This prevents rootkits, which are entrenched deep inside a computer in order to disguise other malware, from setting up in a computer.

         

        Bot protection – A subscriber is warned when a hacker is trying to remotely take over a computer to use as a source for automatic spamming and other wrongdoings. 

         

        Worm safety – Typically, networks are attacked by worms rather than computers themselves. Nevertheless, worms can carry payloads of malware that can be placed onto computers, which will be damaging. Antivirus software can prevent this kind of attack.

         

        Trojan horses – Antivirus software is unable to halt an individual from being fooled into believing that a wanted downloaded program or file is genuine. Nevertheless, antivirus software can caution them when malware is diagnosed within a Trojan horse file.

         

        Spyware – Antivirus software is capable of detecting when spyware has infected a computer even when the source turned out to be trustworthy and authentic. It is worth noting that antivirus software is not just for computer that is attacked from the Internet; viruses can be spread through portable storage drives. 

        How Antivirus Works

        This software scans the file equating precise bits of code against information in its database and if it discovers a pattern replicating one in the database, it is regarded as a virus, and it will isolate or erase that specific file.

         

        How to do away with malware?

         

        • Signature-based detection

        • Heuristic-based detection

        • Behavioral-based detection

        • Sandbox detection

        • Data mining techniques

         

        Signature-based detection – This is most common antivirus software that checks all the .EXE files and authenticates it with the recognized list of viruses and other types of malware. Files, programs and applications are essentially skimmed when they are being used. Once an executable file is downloaded, it is scanned for any malware promptly. 

         

        Heuristic-based detection – This type of uncovering is most usually used alongside signature-based detection. Heuristic technology is used in most of the antivirus programs, which helps the antivirus software to perceive new or a modified or an altered version of malware.

         

        Behavioral-based detection – Used in Intrusion Detection mechanism, behavioral-based detection focusses more on detecting the features of the malware during implementation. This mechanism senses malware only while the malware executes malware actions.

         

        Sandbox detection – It works most possibly to that of behavioral-based detection technique, executing any applications in the virtual setting to track what kind of actions it conducts. Confirming the actions of the program that are logged in, the antivirus software can recognize whether or not the program is malicious.

         

        Data mining methods – Data mining is one of the up-to-date trends in detecting a malware. With a set of program features, data mining helps find if the program is malicious or not.

        Conclusion

        Next-generation firewalls play a critical role in cybersecurity architectures the all over the globe. Antivirus software works by recognizing parallel designs from its database, or using equipment to help forecast when an attack will happen—and halting it before it does. It exploits a multi-dimensional technique, because viruses can adjust, convert, and get stronger over time. Therefore, your risk of exposure doesn’t reduce over time, but only surges dramatically. 

         

         

        The software isn’t always foolproof, however. There are numerous malicious programs that disguise as something that will help you in order to actually damage you. That’s why it’s absolutely important to only use the best antivirus software on the market. Using mediocre software to save a few bucks is counterproductive. The best form of protection is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The internet has offered several ways for virus attacks and thousands of threats do exist. To be secure from these, it is important to monitor the computer and protect at all times. The significance of antivirus software cannot be taken for granted. 

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          top-stories-that-dominated-the-cyberworld
          Posted in Cyber Security

          A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

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          top-stories-that-dominated-the-cyberworld

          By AMSAT June 4,2021

          A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

          The outgoing week saw a number of events that catapulted the world of cybersecurity. From US agencies that largely fended off the Russian hack to disease database targeted in cyberattacks, the cybersecurity domain was replete with developments that made headlines. 

          Here’s a brief review of what took place in the past week.   

          Agencies Largely Preempted Latest Russian Hack: US

          The United States said it believed U.S. government agencies largely warded off the latest cyberespionage assault thought to be committed by Russian intelligence personnel.

           

          The White House added that the spear-phishing drive should not further harm relations with Moscow leading up to next month’s planned presidential summit.

           

          Officials modulated the cyber-attack as “basic phishing” in which threat actors used malware-loaded emails to attack the computer systems of U.S. and foreign government agencies, think tanks and humanitarian groups. 

           

          Microsoft, which revealed the effort late Thursday, said it believed most of the emails were blocked by automated systems that marked them as spam.

          Disease Database Targeted in Cyberattacks: Swedish Public Health Agency

          The Swedish Public Health Agency, Folkhälsomyndigheten, said it was probing numerous attempts to hack into SmiNet, a database that stores reports of transmittable diseases, including COVID-19 cases.

           

          SmiNet was shut down after the agency recognized several attempts to gain unauthorized access to the database, but it was restored by Friday night.

           

          The Public Health Agency announced that it had shut down the database to avert hacking attempts, and immediately launched a probe into the matter. The incident was also reported to the relevant authorities.

          Flaw in Lasso Library Affected Products from Cisco, Akamai

          A critical flaw exposed lately in an open-source library named Lasso has been discovered to affect products from Cisco and Akamai, as well as Linux distributions.

           

          Tracked as CVE-2021-28091, the vulnerability was originally reported to Akamai as it was found in the company’s Enterprise Application Access (EAA) product.

           

          Further analysis by Akamai disclosed that the fault, which lets an attacker mimic valid user, was introduced by the use of Lasso and products from other vendors are also impacted. 

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            a-brief-weekly-review-of-top-stories-that-dominated-the-cyberworld
            Posted in Cyber Security

            A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

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            a-brief-weekly-review-of-top-stories-that-dominated-the-cyberworld

            By AMSAT May 28,2021

            Dealing with cyber-threat: a complex challenge

            The outgoing week saw a number of events that shook the world of cybersecurity. From Air India divulging data of 4.5m passengers that were stolen in SITA cyberattack to a malicious cyberattack on Belgium interior ministry, the cybersecurity realm was full of headline-grabbing developments.

             

            Here’s a brief review of what took place in the past week.

             

            Air India revealed data of 4.5m passengers were stolen in SITA cyberattack

             

            Three months after global aviation industry IT supplier SITA was hit by a cyberattack, Air India divulged the event resulted in the data of around 4.5 million of its passengers being stolen.

             

             

            Air India said that the breach involved personal data spanning almost 10 years, from 26 August 2011 to 3 February 2021. The stolen information included name, date of birth, contact information, passport information, ticket information, Star Alliance and Air India frequent flyer data, and credit card data.

             

             

            No frequent flyer passwords or CVV/CVC data were stolen, however, as this information was not held by SITA. While the SITA cyber-attack was first exposed at the end of February, Air India said it only appreciated the severity of the cyber-attack last month.

             

            Nearly 70% of Australians concerned about privacy using new technology

            A survey conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) suggested that nearly 70% of Australians, irrespective of their age, are worried about their privacy when using new technology.

             

             

            ACMA said that such deep involvement in the online world also brings with it an array of risks and challenges, from privacy and security worries to exposure to misinformation and propaganda, rip-offs, online harassment, and other problems.

             

            Belgium interior ministry said it was hit by a cyberattack

             

            The Belgian interior ministry was hit by a “sophisticated” cyberattack, a spokesman told RTBF public television.

             

             

            Olivier Maerens, the Federal Public Service Interior’s communications director, however, said that the ministry’s servers were highly secured and that the threat actors failed to get hold of the most sensitive data.

             

             

            Federal prosecutors had conducted a probe to identify the origin of the operation, which data had been hacked and whether a foreign state was involved.

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              top-10-cybersecurity-and-infosec-conferences
              Posted in Cloud Security

              Top 10 Cybersecurity and Infosec Conferences

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              top-10-cybersecurity-and-infosec-conferences

              By AMSAT May 27,2021

              Top 10 Cybersecurity and Infosec Conferences

              Global cybersecurity safeguards the infrastructure of international initiatives and economies, ensuring the prosperity and security of citizens globally. With the swift expansion of the Internet of Things devices, and an exponential rise in connectivity and usage of cloud services, events related to cybersecurity such as hacking, data breaks, and infrastructure fiddling have become too ubiquitous. 

               

              Global cybersecurity meetings are an opportunity for stakeholders to deal with these issues and formulate policies to defend against attacks and spread knowledge on new cybersecurity policies and actions.

              Benefits of Attending a Cybersecurity Conference

              Conferences are a vital part of any industry, which let you meet and network with your peers in a casual setting, increase your professional network and stay on top of all the latest trends and ideas in your industry. Some of the other key benefits of attending a cybersecurity conference include:

               

              • Education on new technologies
              • Outreach
              • New strategies
              • Pricing information
              • Giving back and sharing of knowledge
              • Finding new talent
              • Case studies

              Top 10 cybersecurity and infosec conferences

              1. DEF CON

              Founded in 1993, DEF CON is one of the most famous cybersecurity conferences, bringing together budding and pastime hackers, security scientists and specialists, journalists, government employees, and anyone interested in hacking and cybersecurity act.

              2. Black Hat USA

              Black Hat Briefings, or simply Black Hat, is another major cybersecurity conference for infosec professionals. Founded in 1997, Black Hat has an impressive history and is a more professional cybersecurity event. Regarded as one of the most significant security conferences ever, the conference gathers infosec specialists and experts, hackers, industry leaders, executives and government organizations.

              3. RSA Conference

              RSA Conference, the largest cybersecurity conference in the world, is an annual event focused on helping improve cybersecurity understanding and cybersecurity ethos in organizations. The conference attracts tens of thousands of people each year from every industry to learn about cybersecurity enterprise or to network with one of the numerous vendors in presence.

              4. SANS Series

              Sponsored by the SANS Institute, SANS Series carries out several events around the world. It’s committed to presenting practical infosec training, case studies and certificates and is led by top security experts. This cybersecurity conference allows the participants to interact with other security mavens, increase your knowledge and skills in the industry, and discuss new skills and methods. The visions provided in the summit are of a practical nature, helping you learn about new technologies you can essentially apply in your job or company.

              5. Black Hat Asia

              This conference is an extension to Black Hat USA, held yearly in Singapore. A number of experts throng the Marina Bay Sands to hear the excellent talks organized here. Black Hat USA 2021 will open with four days of Virtual Trainings from July 31 to August 3.

              6. BSides Cybersecurity Event

              Another important cybersecurity event, BSides Security, or BSides, is held in many different sites globally as a one- or two-day event. Regardless of where you reside, you can attend the conference anywhere you want. This is a more community-driven conference than the others, always open to new managers who are eager to bring this event to their place. BSides lets security specialists meet in a casual and welcoming environment and provides many people the chance to present their opinions and findings.

              7. THOTCON

              This cybersecurity conference is very economical thanks to its non-profit and non-commercial nature. The topics discussed at the conference range from IoT, intelligence gathering, health devices, UI, industrial control systems and more. Although it is not a popular entry on the list, the informal feel and tranquil atmosphere in which you can interact with other security experts and hackers make this IT conference a remarkably amazing experience.

              8. Troopers IT Security Conference

              Based in Heidelberg, Germany, this security conference comprises two-day training and a two-day session where several IT and security experts from around the globe gather to discuss current topics regarding IoT, IPv6 security, and general IT security. One of the chief focuses of this conference is that their interest lies not in product advertising and meeting vendors but in dealing with the industry’s hot security issues. For this reason, this IT conference is well worth attending.

              9. ShmooCon

              Established by Shmoo Group, ShmooCon is a long-running and popular hacker conference which is held annually and includes over 30 security-driven presentations that deal with security topics concerning new ways of misuse, pioneering software and hardware solutions and important cybersecurity questions. A highly inclusive summit, ShmooCon focuses on anchors who don’t appear at other conferences, giving them a forum to share their ideas and results, and the topics presented are equally exclusive.

              10. NULLCON

              Nullon is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone in India as well as visitors from around the world to participate in a truly memorable meeting. The conference is a place to enhance knowledge about new skills and vulnerabilities, where you can test your knowledge in a hacking event called “Desi Jugaad” which invites you to vie with other experts in cracking real-life hacking encounters. All presentations of the event are available online, so even if you’re unable to attend personally, you can ensure your presence virtually.

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                network-attacks-and-its-different-approaches
                Posted in Cyber Security

                Network Attacks and Its Different Approaches

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                network-attacks-and-its-different-approaches

                By AMSAT May 24,2021

                Network Attacks and Its Different Approaches

                What is a Network Attack?

                Network security solutions are of key importance in today’s volatile and uncertain technology landscape. A network attack is an effort to gain unlawful access to company’s network, with the object of pilfering data or carrying out other malicious activity. In a network attack, cybercriminals are engaged in penetrating the corporate network limit and gaining access to internal systems. Quite frequently, threat actors combine other types of attacks, such as impacting an endpoint, disseminating malware or abusing a fault in a system within the network.

                Approaches of Network Security

                Several methods to network security are available for companies to choose from. A specific technique, or model, influences all resulting security decisions and set the tone for the entire organization’s network security arrangement. Network security models can be categorized by either the scope of security actions taken (perimeter, layered) or how hands-on the system is.

                Perimeter Security Approach

                In this type of approach, the chunk of security attempts is focused on the limit of the network. This might comprise firewalls, proxy servers, password policies, and any technology or process that makes unlawful access of the network less probable. Practically no effort is made to protect the systems within the network. While the perimeter is protected in this method, the several systems within that perimeter are often susceptible.

                 

                Although this perimeter method is clearly faulty, some small companies still use it due to budget constraints or inexperienced network administrators.

                Layered Security Approach

                In this approach, the perimeter is not only protected, but separate systems within the network are also safe. One way to achieve this is to split the network into sections and protect each piece as if it were a discrete network so that, if perimeter security is affected, all internal systems are not compromised. Layered security is the favored approach whenever likely.

                 

                Your security approach should also be measured by how proactive and/or reactive it is. This can be done by finding out how much of the system’s security setup and policies are devoted to protective measures versus how much are dedicated to simply responding to an attack after it has happened.

                Hybrid Security Approach

                Network security is seldom complete in one model or another in the real world. Networks usually fall along a range with essentials of more than one security model. The two types also combine to form a hybrid method; one can have a network that is typically passive but layered, or one that is primarily perimeter, but hands-on. Taking into account approaches to computer security along a Cartesian coordinate system, with the X axis symbolizing the level of passive-active methods and the Y axis portraying the range from perimeter to layered defence, can be useful.

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                  review-of-trickbot-a-pernicious-crimeware-tool
                  Posted in Cyber Security

                  A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

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                  By AMSAT May 21,2021

                  A Brief Weekly Review of Top Stories that Dominated the Cyberworld

                  The outgoing week saw many events that made headlines. From Russian-language cybercriminal forum ‘XSS’ banning DarkSide and other ransomware groups to Google rolling out new advanced feature to fight security threats, the cybersecurity realm was full of exciting developments.


                  Here’s a brief review of what took place in the past week.

                  DarkSide and other ransomware groups banned by Russian-language cybercriminal forum ‘XSS’

                  As per a media report, XSS, a popular cybercriminal forum, slapped a blanket ban on ransomware sales, ransomware rental, and ransomware affiliate programs on their platform.


                  The move came after worldwide scrutiny of ransomware groups augmented following a detrimental attack on Colonial Pipeline that left parts of the United States with gas scarcity for days.


                  DarkSide purportedly felt the pressure in other ways, with the group sending out a statement on another cybercriminal forum, Exploit, claiming to have had some of their tools upset.


                  DarkSide held responsible for Colonial Pipeline attack

                  DarkSide, an organized group of hackers, was held responsible for the shocking Colonial Pipeline attack a few days ago. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also confirmed the group was behind the malicious attack.


                  Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45% of the East Coast’s fuel, exposed a ransomware outbreak on the company’s systems which forced the suspension of operations and some IT systems.


                  Almost a week after the May 7 attack, Colonial Pipeline resumed operations. The company said it would take many days for the pipeline’s deliveries to return to normal.


                  Google rolled out new advanced feature to fight security threats

                  Search engine giant Google came up with new cutting-edge security defender features for Google Workspace to help admins battle cybersecurity threats.


                  The Alert Center will feature real-time alerts with information about security measures in the admin’s domain that are powered by VirusTotal.


                  As per Google, the objective is to help decrease the load on admins of security notification noise and provide an integrated view of the most critical alerts.

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                    everything-about-online-scams-and-their-types
                    Posted in Cyber Security

                    Everything about Online Scams and Their Types

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                    everything-about-online-scams-and-their-types

                    By AMSAT May 18,2021

                    Everything about Online Scams and Their Types

                    What are online scams?

                     

                    An online scam is a cyber fraud or trickery which exploits the Internet and could include concealment of information or providing inappropriate information for the purpose of deceiving victims out of money theft, capturing user login and password credentials. An online scam is not considered a solo, characteristic crime but encompasses a variety of illegal and unlawful actions that are carried out in cyberspace. It is, nonetheless, distinguished from theft since, in this situation, the victim readily and purposely provides the information, money or property to the threat actor. Scams can happen in several ways, through phishing emails, social media, SMS messages on one’s cellphone, false tech support phone calls, malware and more.

                    Top internet scam types

                    Cybercriminals have formulated a number of ways to trick victims through the internet. Here are some of the top types of scams.

                    Phishing scam

                    Phishing is so far the most widespread, and possibly the most perilous scam. A common scam, phishing collectively cost victims over $48m in 2018, as per an FBI report. A trickster will send you an email message that seems to be from an authentic source, such as a financial institution, a social networking site, or an online store. The message seeks to cheat you into providing important and sensitive personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers and bank account details. For example, you might be directed to a website that looks genuine, but was established only to seize your information.

                     

                     

                    If you’re uncertain whether an email is genuine or not, go straight to the company’s official website in a different tab, without clicking on links within the doubtful email.

                    Romance scam

                    You can use online dating as a great way to connect with potential romantic partners, but fraudsters have started using this technique to deceive gullible victims. The crook typically starts a chat on an online dating site and starts an online relationship, but constantly comes up with explanations why they can’t meet up in person. Once the impostor has got the victim’s trust, they’ll ask for money or details about the victim’s monetary life. So, what to do? If you initiate an online relationship with someone, you may protect yourself by asking a number of different questions. Never give financial information to anyone you don’t know.

                    Quick-money promise

                    This rip-off might begin as a phone call, any message, or unwelcome email that promotes a job that requires little work but offers a large amount of quick money. Fraudsters who carry out this trick often target people on the lookout for a new job or willing to work from home. But once you get the job, you’re asked to fill out regular communication to provide your social security number, address, and bank information, apparently for direct deposit of your salary. The imitators can use this personal information to get into your financial accounts. When looking for a job, use renowned, trustworthy job sites, investigate the employer, and shun applying for positions that appear too good to be true.

                    The overpayment scam

                    Initially, the transaction might appear genuine. Someone responds to your online ad and arranges to pay for an article you’re selling. But the buyer creates a reason for sending you much more than the buying price, then asks you to wire back the difference before the money clears your bank account. Once you’ve paid back the difference, it becomes clear the moved money was bogus, and you’re out the cash you gave the trickster.

                     

                     

                    Be watchful. If someone sends you much more money than you’re due, it may be a rip-off. Never return any money until the transfer is in your account. If you’re indeed doubtful, you can also revoke the whole operation and report this issue to the platform where you’ve recorded the online advertisement.

                    Facebook impersonation scam

                    Facebook users may occasionally come across scams. A cheat copies the name, profile picture, and elementary information from a real account to generate a second, closely indistinguishable account on Facebook. Then, the fraudster sends friend requests to the original account’s friend list in a bid to get into the personal information of the unwary friends who grant access to their profiles.

                    Counterfeit shopping websites

                    Employing sophisticated designs and plans, cybercriminals may produce and publish false retailer websites that either look original or that duplicate current retailer websites. The false shopping sites might offer contracts that are too good to be true, For example, you might find prevalent brands of fashion and classy electronics at extremely low prices. And if you buy, you may either obtain the item and realize it’s counterfeit, or you may receive nothing at all.

                    The Nigerian letter scam

                    In this one of the longest-running online scams, you’ll receive an emotional message from someone pretending to be a government employee, entrepreneur, or member of a profusely rich foreign family asking you to help them recover a large sum of money from a foreign bank. In exchange, the individual promises to give you some of the money. You must ignore these fake messages or report to cybercrime complaint center in your area of residence.

                    Unexpected prize scam

                    In this scam, you receive an email that claim you’ve won a large amount of cash, a free tour to an exotic place, or some other amazing prize. The message will say that if you want to claim your tour or prizes, you only need to pay a small fee. Once you pay the fee, you will never hear from the organization again.

                    Extortion or “hitman” scam

                    In this type of scam, the fraudster may threaten to disconcert or hurt you or a family member unless a ransom is paid. The cybercriminal may have collected details about your life from social media profiles, which could make the claim appear more genuine or pressing.

                     

                    How to protect yourself against online scams?

                     

                    Anyone can fall prey to online scams these days, so it’s important to know how you can protect yourself against the internet scams which have become an unfortunate reality in today’s digital world. There are a number of ways that can help you protect against online scams, such as setting up a multilayered security features; being unresponsive to scam messages, installing antivirus software; backing up your data; and never relying on unsolicited phone calls or emails.

                    TAGS

                    • Cyber Crime
                    • Security Updates
                    • Phishing scam
                    • Romance scam
                    • Quick-money promise

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