Web application security

What is Log4Shell, and why are we panicking about it?

It’s been described as a ‘design failure of catastrophic proportions’ that threatens the very fabric of the digital world. Find out what the Log4j2 Log4Shell panic is all about, and what you should do about it Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK and US to collaborate on privacy innovation contest

Joint UK-US innovation challenge contest centring on privacy-enhancing technology announced at Summit for Democracy in Washington DC Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

2021 another record-breaker for vulnerability disclosure

More than 50 CVEs were logged every day in 2021, more than at any time since records began, while ethical hackers continue to prove their value Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Attackers leveraging the supply chain

Security learning is a career-long process, so as 2021 draws to a close, participants in the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank sum up the most important cyber lessons they have taken away from the past 12 months Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

Security Think Tank: In the cloud, anti-human approaches set us up to fail

Security learning is a career-long process, so as 2021 draws to a close, participants in the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank sum up the most important cyber lessons they’ve taken away from the past 12 months Continue Reading

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• Mike Lloyd, RedSeal

UK’s surveillance culture may be normalising use of tech for abuse

Intense surveillance of public spaces by UK authorities may be playing a part in the normalisation of cyber stalking in intimate relationships Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

cookie poisoning

Cookie poisoning is a type of cyber attack in which a bad actor hijacks, forges, alters or manipulates a cookie to gain unauthorized access to a user's account, open a new account in the user's name or steal the user's information for purposes such as identity theft. Continue Reading

By

• Rahul Awati

Memento ransomware gang quick to retool for ‘optimum’ outcome

The operators of a new ransomware called Memento are quick to retool for ‘success’ if they run up against a competent defender, says Sophos Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security startups line up on Cyber Runway

Some 108 cyber security startups representing the UK’s most cutting-edge innovators are to join Plexal’s Cyber Runway accelerator Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Zero-days: The next element of the service-based cyber economy?

Digital Shadows researchers have reported on the emergence of zero-days as a service, which could be the next big thing in the cyber criminal underworld Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

November Patch Tuesday drop fixes bugs in Excel, Exchange Server

Another relatively light Patch Tuesday drop from Microsoft addresses 55 vulnerabilities, two of them already being exploited Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How cosmetics retailer Lush made over its approach to authentication

Evolving approaches to IT at cosmetics retailer Lush meant the organisation’s previous approach to authentication was no longer up to scratch. Find out how it overcame this hurdle Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The Netherlands works on resilience with large-scale national cyber exercise

For the Netherlands, the biggest challenge in a large-scale cyber crisis is to maintain speed while exercising due care Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Spyware firm NSO and others added to US banned Entity List

US government bans target Israeli spyware makers and cyber firms in Russia and Singapore Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

script kiddie

Script kiddie is a derogative term that computer hackers coined to refer to immature, but often just as dangerous, exploiters of internet security weaknesses. Continue Reading

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• Ben Lutkevich, Site Editor

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

By

• Andrew Morris, Turnkey Consulting

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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• Owen Wright, Accenture Security

Encryption protects the marginalised – and it’s under threat

Encryption keeps marginalised groups connected and safe, but new regulatory attempts to break it put them at risk Continue Reading

By

• Callum Voge

Google Cybersecurity Action Team springs into life

Google has announced a new Cybersecurity Action Team, with a mission to support security and digital transformation in governments, critical infrastructure, enterprises and small businesses Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Craft beer specialist Brewdog fixes serious app vulnerability

Vulnerability in brewer’s mobile app could have resulted in serious consequences for its shareholders and customers Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Responsible vulnerability disclosure is a joint effort

By working hand-in-hand, developers and security researchers can both play a vital role in ensuring newly-discovered vulnerabilities are addressed appropriately, writes Paddy Francis of Airbus CyberSecurity Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Israeli Orca to invest in UK cyber scene

Tel Aviv-headquartered Orca Security wants to set up a new R&D centre in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

ICO cookie consent: How will the plan affect businesses?

A data privacy and compliance expert considers what the ICO’s proposals for an overhaul of cookie consent procedures could mean for businesses Continue Reading

By

• Peter Borner

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Threat actors target VMware vCenter Server users

Users of VMware vCenter Server are advised to patch a series of vulnerabilities post haste Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Kim Loohuis

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Marriages Are Back On The Agenda – Even In IT

Ah – the return of “normality” in the UK – i.e., people are still getting ill but the government admits it doesn’t care any longer, other than by increasing taxes… But enough of the ... Continue Reading

By

• Steve Broadhead, Broadband Testing

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Pub apps harvesting swathes of customer data unnecessarily

Some pub and restaurant chain apps demand data such as gender and marital status, raising eyebrows among privacy campaigners Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

MoD seeks security tech to harden military systems

The Defence and Security Accelerator has launched a programme to root out technology that will reduce the military’s exposure to cyber attacks Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Global VPN downloads soar in first half of 2021

Song remains the same with VPNs as repressive regimes’ continued regulatory demands and remote working see virtual private network usage rocket over the first six months of the year Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Security Think Tank: Building privacy-preserving apps and platforms

ISACA’s Gaurav Deep Singh Johar explores how to embed privacy practices into digital platform architecture Continue Reading

By

• Gaurav Deep Singh Johar

When is SIEM the right choice over SOAR?

Better instrumentation leads to better IT security but monitoring can quickly overload IT teams. Automation can help, but it may not always be needed Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cyber Runway programme supports new security businesses

The Cyber Runway programme is a government-backed scheme to support entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups in launching and growing new security businesses Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The DDoS Battle

In the many years I’ve been testing and analysing the security side of IT, one evident point is that the classic forms of attack: identifying common vulnerabilities and Distributed Denial of ... Continue Reading

By

• Steve Broadhead, Broadband Testing

The Netherlands still lacks digital resilience, says report

Report by National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security says the Netherlands’ digital resilience has improved, but is still insufficient Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

How Grab is using Kafka in fraud detection

Grab is using Apache Kafka in its fraud detection and prevention platform to ingest event streams from its mobile software development kits and client backends to pick up fraudulent activities Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Initial access brokers unaffected by ransomware content bans

Banning ransomware content from cyber crime forums has done little to prevent initial access brokers from advertising their services, with the number of access listings increasing in the second quarter of 2021 Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

US lawmakers call for probe into ‘arrogant’ spyware firm

US members of Congress have called for an investigation into NSO Group, the spyware supplier at the centre of a massive surveillance scandal Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

TikTok sets up cyber security hub in Dublin

Dublin-based cyber centre will oversee the security of TikTok’s users across Europe Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Malicious actors turn to obscure programming languages

Using new, lesser-known or otherwise uncommon programming languages to code new malwares can help skirt cyber defences Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government-led innovation can help cyber startups find a market

There are many reasons why early-stage cyber startups often struggle to get off the ground, but government-backed programmes can help them find a path Continue Reading

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• Saj Huq, Plexal

Five ways to ensure remote working security and compliance

A mix of on-site and remote working has become a fact of life for many organisations. We look at five key things you should consider to ensure compliance and security Continue Reading

By

• Valéry Rieß-Marchive, Rédacteur en chef
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Ripe for change – mixing digital innovation with traditional winemaking

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how global winemaker Concha y Toro uses the latest tech to enhance 150-year old traditional processes. Pharma giant GSK explains how an API strategy is changing its business model. And we talk to retailers using video technology to bridge the gap between in-store and online selling. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Pegasus mobile RAT abused to monitor journalists and activists

Israel-based surveillance specialist NSO Group is facing renewed pressure after it emerged its Pegasus mobile surveillance tool may be being widely abused by repressive regimes Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Tips to minimise vulnerabilities in web and mobile apps

Agile software development can sometimes be at odds with secure by design principles. We look at how organisations are balancing security with coding Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Multiple Microsoft bugs being actively exploited

Microsoft’s July Patch Tuesday update fixes 117 vulnerabilities, 13 rated as critical and four already being actively exploited Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Can a web app ever be truly secure?

Despite the wealth of vulnerability detection tools and practices, there remains a vast array of web application security breaches Continue Reading

By

• Bola Rotibi

Driving intelligence – behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we go behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software R&D centre. The UK’s largest supercomputer has gone live in Cambridge – we find out how it will transform healthcare research. And we talk to DWP’s digital chief about the restructuring of its IT capabilities. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Kaseya VSA services coming online after week-long outage

Kaseya has successfully deployed a patch to its ransomware-hit VSA product as per a revised schedule, and customers are beginning to come back online Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How software developers can create mobile apps securely and quickly

The mobile app market is booming, but to achieve success, organisations must develop mobile apps securely and rapidly Continue Reading

By

• Nicholas Fearn

Why identity is the central problem for the future of the internet

As debate rages over who has the right to control user identities online, is the concept of decentralised identity about to have its day? Continue Reading

By

• Nick Lambert

PrintNightmare haunts Microsoft as patch may miss mark

Microsoft dropped an out-of-band patch to fix PrintNightmare, but there are concerns it may not be totally effective. This does not mean it shouldn’t be applied Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

ICO to probe Hancock over private email use

Former health secretary faces an investigation by the UK’s data protection watchdog over his use of private email to conduct government business Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Opportunists seen targeting Kaseya REvil victims

Malwarebytes researchers highlight new spam campaign targeting businesses impacted by the ongoing Kaseya REvil ransomware incident Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: As offices reopen, address patching and ‘build drift’

With Covid-19 restrictions easing, offices are welcoming back remote workers this summer, bringing with them their notebooks and mobiles, and creating an endpoint management headache for CISOs. What do security teams need to account for to protect their returning office workers? Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

About 60 Kaseya customers hit by REvil

Kaseya has revised upward the number of managed service providers compromised by the REvil ransomware gang in a supply chain attack at the weekend Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Should I be worried about PrintNightmare?

The accidental publication of proof of concept code for a Windows vulnerability, and the reclassification of said bug from low to critical severity, has the cyber community concerned. Is it right to be? Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber attackers up the ante on embattled IT teams

Opportunistic threat actors are pouncing on embattled IT teams that are under pressure to expand remote work arrangements Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Do video games breed hackers?

The aim on Monday is to explore how the online wild west of gaming seemingly escalates young gamers from downloading simple cheat codes to launching full-scale DDoS attacks and even being involved ... Continue Reading

By

• Philip Virgo, Winsafe Ltd

Cyber espionage campaign targeted central Asian states

The Afghan, Kyrgyz and Uzbek governments are all thought to have been targeted by the same APT Continue Reading

Nominations open for 2021 Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards

Nominations are now open for this year’s edition of the Unsung Heroes Awards for cyber professionals and educators Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

LinkedIn denies exposure of 700 million user records is a data breach

Data relating to 700 million users of the LinkedIn networking platform has appeared for sale, but the firm says it is the victim of data scraping, not a security breach Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cops seize criminal VPN used by ransomware gangs

A coordinated sting has ended the operations of the DoubleVPN service, the owners of which are accused of harbouring cyber criminal activity Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Video game industry under relentless cyber attacks

Web application attacks against the global video game industry grew by 340% in 2020 as more people turn to gaming during pandemic lockdowns Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Lazada rolls out public bug bounty programme

Regional e-commerce giant Lazada is looking to uncover more vulnerabilities that could compromise data security in a public bug bounty programme that offers up to $10,000 per bounty Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

AWS launches bug-busting programme for developers

Amazon Web Services is inviting customers to probe their code for software bugs and vulnerabilities using its CodeGuru console Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NHS App reaches six million users, thanks to Covid vaccine feature

More than two million new users have downloaded the NHS App since it was updated in May to include Covid-19 vaccination status Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Lorca Ignite programme targets breakout cyber talent

Six of the most successful companies to have come through Lorca’s existing accelerators are being inducted into an intensive programme Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft fixes seven zero-days on its Patch Tuesday rounds

Fixes for six actively-exploited – and one yet-to-be-exploited – zero-day bugs are released in the June 2021 Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The rise and rise of supply chain attacks

Supply chain attacks in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere have intensified as cyber threat actors look to exploit the weakest links in business and digital supply chains Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Siloscape malware a risk to Windows containers, Kubernetes

Palo Alto’s Unit 42 reports on what appears to be the first-recorded malware targeting Kubernetes clusters through Windows containers Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

DNS attacks on the rise in APAC

Attacks on the domain name system in Asia-Pacific grew by 15% last year, with Malaysian organisations seeing the sharpest rise in damages among countries in the region Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Norway’s auditor general lifts lid on energy industry’s cyber security risks

Auditor General’s Office questions the security posture of Norway’s energy industry Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Pandemic a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance to reshape security

The volume of remote working has made it hard to paint an accurate picture of the true state of enterprise cyber security, but it presents an opportunity to change things up Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Buying a VPN? Here’s what you need to know

VPNs are an effective cyber security tool for businesses and remote workers, but there are many things to consider before purchasing and implementing one. We explore some of these Continue Reading

By

• Nicholas Fearn

More data stolen in January 2021 than in all of 2017, says report

The volume of data being stolen through breaches is growing steadily and shows no sign of slowing, according to a report from Imperva Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Legacy vulnerabilities may be biggest enterprise cyber risk

While high-profile cyber attacks and zero-days grab headlines, statistics gathered by network security specialists Cato suggest CISOs should be addressing legacy threats Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch researchers build security software to mimic human immune system

Software could help IT systems develop immunity to some cyber attacks in a similar way to how the body fights infection Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Why the security stack needs to move to the edge

Akamai’s chief technology officer Robert Blumofe makes the case for a decentralised security model to address cyber threats that are emanating from the network edge Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Lack of developer attention to cloud security prompts alerts

The personal data of over 100 million Android users may have been put at risk through a variety of cloud service misconfigurations Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Malicious scans for at-risk systems start minutes after disclosure

Statistics collated by Palo Alto Networks reveal malicious actors begin scanning the internet for systems at risk of new CVEs within minutes Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Okta and Auth0 to expand APAC coverage

Okta’s acquisition of rival Auth0 will enable both companies to expand their footprint in the Asia-Pacific region as demand for identity management services soars amid the pandemic Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Publishing exploit code does more harm than good, says report

Disclosing exploit code before patches are available gives malicious actors a ‘massive’ head-start, says Kenna Security Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor