Hackers and cybercrime prevention
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News
27 Mar 2024
Ransomware gang leaks data stolen from Scottish NHS board
Data stolen from an earlier attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been leaked by a ransomware gang that claims to be in possession of much more content Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2024
Cyber spies, not cyber criminals, behind most zero-day exploitation
Analysis from Google has found that zero-day vulnerabilities are much more heavily exploited for espionage purposes than for financially motivated cyber crime Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2021
DarkMarket takedown results in 150 arrests
A coordinated operation by law enforcement has seen 150 taken into custody amid allegations of buying or selling illicit goods on the dark web Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2021
Cyber experts on how to nobble a Nobelium attack
A recent spate of attempted Nobelium cyber attacks were mostly unsuccessful, but serve as a reminder to pay attention to some more fundamental aspects of security Continue Reading
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E-Zine
26 Oct 2021
Managing cyber risk by integrating supply chains
In this week’s Computer Weekly, our latest Buyer’s Guide examines the security and IT integration challenges of modern supply chains, especially post-pandemic – while we also talk to the CEO of software provider SolarWinds about how the company overcame its huge supply chain attack. And we look at how a small town in Lancashire was chosen as the HQ for the UK’s new National Cyber Force. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2021
Attempted hack causes Tesco website outage
Retailer’s website and app back after attempted hack caused problems over the weekend Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2021
Multi-government operation targets REvil ransomware group
REvil has been forced offline by a multi-government hacking operation, marking the second time in 2021 that the group has gone dark Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2021
Airport operator MAG boosts threat visibility with hybrid SOC
With budget concerns weighing heavy during the pandemic, Manchester Airports Group ditched an impending capex-heavy cyber investment in favour of a hybrid managed/in-house approach. Learn more about its experience Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2021
APAC organisations warm to zero trust
Two-thirds of APAC organisations have a zero-trust strategy even as they grapple with the lack of skills and other organisational challenges, study finds Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
US intelligence agencies issue advisory on BlackMatter gang
Joint advisory on ransomware gang warns about potential of further attacks on critical infrastructure providers Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
LightBasin hackers breach 13 telcos in two years
Hackers have obtained an undisclosed volume of subscriber information and call metadata in a sustained campaign against telecommunications firms Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2021
How Samlesbury, Lancashire became the home of the National Cyber Force
The National Cyber Force, a new branch of the military, is gearing up to fight battles in cyber space from the fields of Lancashire. Its presence is expected to bring a high-tech renaissance to the region Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Oct 2021
No easy fix for vulnerability exploitation, so be prepared
Vulnerability management and disclosure is a tricky business with ethical and business ramifications for software vendors, CISOs and ethical hackers alike – and CISOs sit right in the middle of this Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Oct 2021
Doing the right thing: How CISOs should approach responsible disclosure
Owen Wright, responsible for penetration testing and adversary simulation at Context, part of Accenture Security, advises how CISOs should approach responsible disclosure Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
Apple scheme to detect child abuse creates serious privacy and security risks, say scientists
Apple’s plan to automatically scan photos to detect child abuse would unduly risk the privacy and security of law-abiding citizens and could open up the way to surveillance, say the world’s top cryptographic experts Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Oct 2021
CW APAC, October 2021: Tech Career Guide
Despite marked improvements, tech still faces a diversity problem. In this handbook, focused on cyber security’s gender gap in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at the mentoring programmes aiming to combat the issue, the career path of IAG’s Elaine Muir, how hacking won Claudean Zheng a job and what else needs to be done to tackle the ongoing gender imbalance Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
NHS Digital enhances in-house cyber awareness drive
Keep IT Confidential campaign aims to help NHS staff understand more about security threats and learn how to reduce risk Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
FCA warns over future hybrid working security risks
Earlier this week, the Financial Conduct Authority issued fresh guidance to regulated organisations on keeping hybrid workers safe and secure Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
Microsoft warns of MysterySnail on October Patch Tuesday
Microsoft has fixed a zero-day that is being actively exploited to deliver a new remote access trojan dubbed MysterySnail to targets Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
Former signals intel leader named godfather of UK security
Sixth annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards honours former Royal Corps of Signals colonel and infosec pioneer John Doody Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
Australia unveils ransomware action plan
The Australian government has established a task force to address the ransomware menace and is proposing legislation to mandate reporting of ransomware incidents by businesses Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2021
Microsoft thwarts mega-DDoS attack on Azure platform
2.4Tbps DDoS attack on an undisclosed Microsoft Azure customer may have been the largest ever attempted against a single target Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Malaysia’s highway authority improves DR capabilities
The Malaysian Highway Authority is now more resilient against cyber attacks through a local disaster-recovery-as-a-service offering powered by Veeam software Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Covid-19 will loom over cyber strategy for years to come
In remarks delivered to a Chatham House conference, NCSC head Lindy Cameron reflects on the security challenges facing the UK, and sets out some plans for the future Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Singapore refreshes cyber security strategy
The city-state updates its national cyber security strategy to shore up the security of critical infrastructure and enterprises while growing its cyber security industry, among other goals Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
Fast-moving Ryuk campaign targets healthcare organisations
Newly designated FIN12 gang leverages the work of the cyber criminal ecosystem to conduct lightning-fast ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Oct 2021
Addressing the backup dilemma to ransomware recovery
Everyone knows good backups are essential if one is to recover from a ransomware attack, but using them effectively poses challenges that IT teams need to know about Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
Twitch data breach investigations continue
Investigations are ongoing into a 125GB data breach that hit livestreaming platform Twitch, apparently the work of hacktivists Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
US lawmakers propose ransomware reporting rules
Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren lends her support to a bill that would require corporate ransomware victims to disclose more information about their attacks to the authorities Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Gaming service Twitch hacked, data leaked
Users of livestreaming platform Twitch may be at risk after a 125GB torrent of data was leaked Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Apache web server users urged to patch immediately
New zero-day in Apache HTTP Server is already being actively exploited and must be addressed immediately Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Auto-enrolment begins for Google multi-factor authentication
Google has started to turn on multi-factor authentication on consumer accounts by default, and aims to auto-enrol 150 million users by the end of 2021 Continue Reading
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Podcast
06 Oct 2021
Top women in UK tech, AI on puffin island – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss CW’s annual programme to choose the most influential women in UK tech, as well as Newham Sparks, and puffin-counting AI Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2021
New Python-based ransomware attacks unfold in record time
Sophos researchers detail a new variety of Python-based ransomware attack targeting VMware ESXi-hosted VMs Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2021
Mandiant name returns to fore ahead of FireEye sale
Mandiant has completed its corporate rebrand pending the imminent sale of the FireEye products business to a private equity group Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2021
Two arrests made in European ransomware investigation
Unnamed ransomware operation was disrupted last week in Kiev, Ukraine, following a coordinated investigation Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Oct 2021
Security Think Tank: Embracing vulnerability management for the greater good
When it comes to vulnerability management, CISOs should define a responsible disclosure policy so that they can receive and manage identified vulnerabilities transparently, practically and collaboratively, says Paul Watts of the ISF Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
Amnesty International exploited in malware campaign
According to new intelligence from Cisco Talos, Amnesty International’s branding and profile is being used as part of a new malware campaign that exploits people’s fears of the notorious Pegasus spyware app Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
JVCKenwood hit by Conti ransomware attack
Nearly 2TB of data was stolen from Japanese electronics firm in a Conti ransomware hit Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
IR35: Giant Group cyber attack prompts renewed calls for statutory regulation of umbrella companies
As details about the fallout from the cyber attack on the Giant Group umbrella company emerge, stakeholders say the incident should prompt the government to expedite regulating contractor payroll processing firms Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
UK consumers would collectively pay over £1bn a year for control of their data
UK consumers are willing to pay a small fee per month to have control of the data they share with Google and Facebook Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
Russia arrests prominent cyber security executive
Founder and CEO of cyber security firm Group-IB detained in Moscow on treason charges Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
FoggyWeb malware latest tool of dangerous Nobelium APT
Microsoft’s threat intelligence team warns of a new strain of malware being used by the Russia-linked Nobelium APT Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
Dedicated number for victims of fraud launched amid national security threat
Consumers that suspect they are being targeted by fraudsters can call 159 to be directly linked to their bank, as part of a 12-month pilot Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
The Security Interviews: How SolarWinds came through its darkest hour
In his first major UK press interview, SolarWinds CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna tells Computer Weekly how a relentless focus on transparency saw the company safely through a nightmare cyber breach scenario Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
UK consumer trust in banks, retailers and telcos declines as scams increase
Consumers are blaming banks, retailers and social media for the huge increase in online scams, survey shows Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2021
How one red team exercise averted a new SolarWinds-style attack
Palo Alto Networks shares details of how its red teamers found and sealed a customer vulnerability that could have led to another SolarWinds-style supply chain attack Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2021
Women and BAME people bear brunt of cyber crime impact
Cyber crime has a disproportionate impact on women and BAME people, according to a new report Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Sep 2021
brute-force attack
A brute-force attack is a trial-and-error method used by application programs to decode login information and encryption keys to use them to gain unauthorized access to systems. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2021
What it takes to attract and retain women in cyber security
The narrowing gender gap may be a cause for cheer, but more needs to be done to curb discrimination, and attract and retain women for cyber security roles in Asia-Pacific Continue Reading
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Video
24 Sep 2021
Empowering APAC women on the frontlines of cyber security
In this webinar, we discuss the issues facing women in cyber security, the challenges of breaking into the field and why it’s important to close the gender gap Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Sep 2021
Facial recognition cannot be a standalone authentication method
As more organisations look to facial recognition to improve their digital identity practices, they must remember that it cannot stand in isolation Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2021
How Australia punches above its weight in cyber security
Australia is playing to its strengths in niche areas such as governance and deep tech to punch above its weight in the cyber security industry Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
Fresh alert over Conti ransomware surge
Conti ransomware crew appears increasingly active, prompting fresh warnings from the US authorities Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
MoD in second leak of Afghan citizens’ data
A second breach of data relating to Afghan citizens at risk of Taliban reprisals has been reported by the Ministry of Defence Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
Threat actors target VMware vCenter Server users
Users of VMware vCenter Server are advised to patch a series of vulnerabilities post haste Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
Authorised push payment fraud sees huge increase as criminals switch tactics
Criminals tricking people into making payments through channels such as fake emails and websites have stolen more money than payment card fraudsters Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
US sanctions Suex crypto exchange over ransomware links
US Treasury cracks down on cryptocurrency exchange that supposedly facilitated proceeds from multiple ransomware gangs Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Spanish police bust Mafia-linked phishing gang
A joint operation between European authorities has dismantled a cyber criminal gang with links to the Italian Mafia Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
BlackMatter gang ramps up attacks on multiple victims
A wave of new BlackMatter ransomware attacks is hitting organisations around the world, even as the US authorities mull new sanctions on ransom payment infrastructure Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Sep 2021
email spam
Email spam, also known as junk email, refers to unsolicited email messages, usually sent in bulk to a large list of recipients. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
Dutch education administrators underestimate threat of cyber crime
Research shows educational establishments in the Netherlands are becoming favoured targets of cyber criminals and administrators are underestimating the risks Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
Bitdefender launches free REvil ransomware decryptor
Working alongside law enforcement partners, Bitdefender has developed and released a tool to help REvil victims recover their data for free Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Sep 2021
shadow password file
A shadow password file, also known as /etc/shadow, is a system file in Linux that stores encrypted user passwords and is accessible only to the root user, preventing unauthorized users or malicious actors from breaking into the system. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
Travel-themed phishing lures spiked this summer
As people begin to take holidays again after more than a year of restrictions and lockdowns, opportunist cyber criminals have taken note, according to new data from Palo Alto’s Unit 42 Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Microsoft patches 66 vulnerabilities in September update
Another lighter-than-usual Patch Tuesday update includes important fixes for recently disclosed vulnerabilities, including a dangerous zero-day, and an update in the PrintNightmare saga Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Australia and Singapore have higher incidences of insecure databases
Five-year longitudinal study by Imperva shows the proportion of databases with at least one known vulnerability in Australia and Singapore are among the world’s highest Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2021
Mass health tracker data breach has UK impact
The leak of a database of 61 million users of health-tracking devices includes records on individuals located in the UK Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2021
Cost of ransomware attack in financial sector exceeds $2m
Mid-sized financial services organisations worldwide spend an average of over $2m recovering from ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2021
Apple patches ForcedEntry vulnerability used by spyware firm NSO
Apple patches ForcedEntry vulnerability that was used to target political activists with spyware Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2021
Smishing attacks up sevenfold in six months
Scam text messages are reaching pandemic proportions, thanks in part to the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2021
Olympus likely victim of BlackMatter ransomware
Key IT systems remain shut off at Olympus, five days after what seems to have been a BlackMatter ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2021
Latest Microsoft zero-day being actively exploited
New Microsoft zero-day CVE-2021-40444 affects multiple versions of Windows and is probably being exploited through convincing phishing attacks Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2021
REvil reappearance may herald new ransom campaigns
The re-emergence of the infamous REvil ransomware gang is a likely sign that more high-profile attacks will unfold over the coming weeks Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2021
Stolen credit card data worth about £13 on dark web, PayPal worth more
The average price of a stolen credit card on a dark web marketplace comes in at around $17.40, or £12.60, according to new data – but the real money for cyber criminals is in hacked PayPal accounts Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Sep 2021
Bridging the gender gap in cyber security
Some professional groups and companies in Asia are working hard to improve awareness of the cyber security profession and mentoring talented women in a bid to bridge the gender gap Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2021
OT security in APAC remains work in progress
Two operational technology security experts shed light on the state of OT security in the region, and what’s being done to address skills, competency and organisational challenges Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2021
Banking anti-fraud scheme blocks 65% more fraud
Scheme designed to protect vulnerable people against banking fraud has been expanded to include online scams Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2021
How NZ schools are tapping managed network services
Using managed network services has freed up time and resources for New Zealand school teachers and alleviated the pressure and challenges of maintaining technology infrastructure Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2021
How do SOAR and SIEM services fare in a rapidly changing cyber threat landscape?
Given that cyber risks are rapidly growing in sophistication and number, we look at whether SIEM and SOAR security tools are still effective Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2021
Berlin court reverses ban on use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials
Berlin Superior Court allows use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials but lawyers say the question will ultimately need to be decided by the German Supreme Court Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2021
Mandiant, Sophos detail dangerous ProxyShell attacks
Threat researchers and incident responders continue to track threat activity around the dangerous ProxyShell Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities, including impactful ransomware hits Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2021
China accused of cyber attacks on Norwegian IT systems
China-based cyber attackers have been blamed for multiple assaults on IT systems in Norway Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
How high can the contactless card limit go without two-factor authentication?
The spending limit for contactless cards has reached an eyebrow-raising triple-digit figure – £100 – raising questions about the need for user authentication Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
Twitter tests auto-block feature for accounts at risk of abuse
Latest Twitter feature automatically blocks abusive users, and is intended to help victims regain control of their experience on the platform Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2021
Experts warn on Office 365 phishing attacks
Newly observed campaign is particularly dangerous because it appears to neutralise one of the most widely known anti-phishing techniques Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Sep 2021
Making a mark in cyber security
Claudean Zheng’s knack for hacking landed her a career in cyber security, one that has been dotted by stints in both public and private sectors Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2021
GovTech launches vulnerability rewards programme
Vulnerability rewards programme will offer rewards ranging from $250 to $5,000 to white hat hackers who find vulnerabilities in critical government systems Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Aug 2021
Supply chain cyber security is only as strong as the weakest link
A spate of high-profile cyber attacks has highlighted the criticality of supply chain security and put new pressures on security leaders. How can we ensure that cyber security remains robust down the full length of supply chains? Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Aug 2021
How the cyber security market is evolving
The cyber security market has gained even greater importance in the post-Covid era and continues to grow and evolve. But what factors are driving trends in that market and what should your organisation consider when making cyber security investments? Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Tech giants commit to Biden's cyber security action plan
Some of the world’s most prominent tech giants have made a series of commitments to enhance the US’ national cyber security posture following a high-profile meeting with president Biden Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
NZ privacy lead John Edwards named new information commissioner
DCMS has named John Edwards, currently New Zealand privacy commissioner, to succeed Elizabeth Denham as UK information commissioner Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2021
How women can succeed in cyber security
A cyber security professional at Australia’s IAG shares her career journey and insights on how women can succeed in the field Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
Calling the cops for ransomware attacks doesn’t help, say cyber pros
A new study for the #Ransomaware campaign reveals some insight into why so few victims report ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
UK loses £1.3bn to fraud and cyber crime so far this year
New figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show a threefold spike in reported financial losses to fraud and cyber crime in the first six months of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
13 million malware attacks on Linux seen in wild
Cryptominers, web shells and ransomware are the most common varieties of malwares targeting Linux systems, thanks to its prevalence as the backbone of most public cloud services Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
Half of MS Exchange servers at risk in ProxyShell debacle
Up to 50% of MS Exchange users in the UK are exposed to three vulnerabilities that are now being actively exploited Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Aug 2021
The ransomware debate – to pay or not to pay?
The debate around banning ransomware payments is highly nuanced, and we must take care to avoid overt victim-blaming, in favour of an open and honest approach, says SASIG’s Martin Smith Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
More data breaches in Australia arising from ransomware
The number of data breaches in Australia arising out of ransomware attacks grew by 24% during the first half of 2021, according to OAIC’s latest data breach report Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Aug 2021
certificate revocation list (CRL)
A certificate revocation list (CRL) is a list of digital certificates that have been revoked by the issuing Certificate Authority (CA) before their actual or assigned expiration date. Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2021
How the pandemic transformed IAG’s Hangar 51 accelerator
Businesses of all shapes and sizes have had to take a different approach during the pandemic – Dupsy Abiola, head of global innovation at IAG, explains how IAG transformed its Hangar 51 accelerator during the coronavirus outbreak Continue Reading
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News
19 Aug 2021
IT leaders fear ‘trickle-down’ of nation-state cyber attacks
Three-quarters of IT decision-makers are concerned that the tactics, techniques and procedures used by nation-state attackers could be used against them Continue Reading