Smart Home Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity

10 Ways to Improve Your Smart Home Security

Some of the major advantages to adopting smart technology for your home are that it can make your home safer and you can monitor it while you’re away. Each year, there are amazing new smart products being brought to the market. Here’s a look at smart technology that can add security, comfort, and savings to your smart home.


How Smart Technology Is Developing

Today, homes and buildings all over the world contain smart devices with sensors that communicate with data collection systems. Manufacturers of smart technology are increasingly encouraging homeowners to invest in multiple smart solutions that form a smart ecosystem. Large producers of smart devices such as Samsung, GE, and Trane are working on campaigns to promote safety, security and interoperability of smart equipment.

Homeowners can save money by monitoring usage of energy and water in real-time and conserving consumption. By knowing your consumption of kilowatt-hours in real-time, you can plan your energy budget more accurately and decisively.


Security Issues Exist with Smart Technology

The more your home is connected to the internet, the more you need to be concerned about using the most robust cybersecurity available. The technology is constantly improving, but so are the skills of cybercriminals. It’s possible for a hacker to hack into your home network if you don’t use sufficient cybersecurity. The Home Connectivity Alliance is currently working to improve security for connected smart home environments.

Congress members are looking into data privacy and security matters, although existing laws haven’t slowed down the most advanced cybercriminals. Manufacturers have been sued over privacy breaches relating to their data transmission devices.

So, it’s important to remember that anyone using internet-based technology can get hacked even with the strongest protection. It’s still important to make cybersecurity a priority so that you’re not making hacking easier for cybercriminals.

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Best Ways to Improve Smart Home Security

  1. Protect your privacy with a VPN – A virtual private network on your router adds a layer of privacy to your home connectivity. A reputable VPN will protect your connection with encryption. Using a VPN on your router will keep your smart TV viewing and other activity private.
  2. Use strong passwords for Wi-Fi network access – Weak or default passwords are equivalent to leaving the key in your ignition with the car door unlocked. Hackers prey upon weak easy-to-crack passwords, which is why it’s imperative to use the most complex and unconventional passwords as possible. Strong passwords don’t have easy-to-read words or number patterns in them, nor are they duplicated for multiple accounts.
  3. Keep IoT devices separate from computers – It’s best to isolate IoT devices from your network that provides access to data for desktops and mobile devices. You’ll be able to protect sensitive data transmitted by sensors. One way to separate the networks is to create a secondary guest network on your router and dedicate it to your smart devices.
  4. Customize privacy settings on devices – Since manufacturer defaults on privacy settings don’t necessarily work for everyone, it’s important to customize privacy settings for each smart device. Disable features you don’t need, such as cameras and microphones.
  5. Investigate smart products before buying – Reading product reviews of smart devices before a purchase can go a long way in choosing the right technology. Find out about homeowners in your situation and which smart products have made their lives better. It helps to research the company’s background and learn if it has had any major breaches. You should also read the manufacturer’s privacy policy before buying the item to ensure you understand the level of privacy the firm provides. It’s further helpful to learn which smart devices are compatible with each other.
  6. Learn what type of data is transmitted – Smart devices are capable of constantly sending information back to the manufacturer, so it’s important to know before you buy a device how the data is used by the manufacturer. Keep in mind this concern applies to all types of smart appliances, from coffee makers to televisions, etc. Be aware that some IoT devices allow you to opt out of data collection or delete collected data.
  7. Update your security software – It’s essential to update your security software on a regular basis so that your system can overcome vulnerabilities. Turning on automatic software updates will help keep your software current.
  8. Use encryption on your router – Since your router is the hub of all your smart home devices, it’s important that it’s well protected with an encryption method such as WPA2. Encryption is one of the strongest defenses against network spies.
  9. Adopt a multi-layered security strategy – While no system is bulletproof against cybercriminals, systems that are least likely to be penetrated encompass multiple layers of security. Antivirus software is one layer and alone doesn’t offer strong protection. But you can strengthen your smart home infrastructure by adding several other security layers, such as multi-factor authentication and 24/7 data monitoring.
  10. Monitor and secure your network – Make sure to secure your home wifi connection. Keep track of the number of devices connected to your home network. Don’t give access to some visitors you don’t know. The more people who have access to your network, the higher the risk of your data being compromised.


Conclusion

These days, you can improve the quality of your home tremendously simply by investing in smart technology. It helps to work with experienced experts who can install and maintain the right smart home security solutions for you.


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computer security
Cybersecurity

The Importance of Computer Security in Web Design: How to Keep Your Website Safe?

As the digital world becomes increasingly central to our lives, the need for robust computer security has never been greater. With cyber-attacks becoming more sophisticated, it’s essential that businesses and individuals take the necessary steps to protect their online assets. And, this is especially true for web designers, who are responsible for creating and maintaining websites that are often the primary point of contact between their clients and the online world.

Web designers play a critical role in protecting their clients’ online assets, and The Web Detective is here to help. As a web designer, you are responsible for making sure that the websites you create are not only visually appealing but also secure. With the increasing threat of cyber-attacks, it’s essential that you stay up-to-date on the latest security practices and technologies.


Understanding the Threat

Cyber-attacks are a major threat to the security of both individuals and businesses. There are various types of cyber-attacks, including:

  • Phishing attacks
  • Ransomware attacks
  • Malware attacks
  • Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks

These attacks can have a significant impact on businesses and individuals, including the theft of sensitive information, financial losses, and damage to reputation.


The Importance of Web Security in Web Design

As a web designer, it’s essential that you take the necessary steps to ensure the security of your clients’ websites. This includes:

  • Protecting clients’ confidential information: Websites often contain sensitive information, such as financial data and personal information. It’s essential that this information is protected from cyber-attacks.
  • Maintaining the credibility and reputation of the website: A security breach can damage the credibility and reputation of a website, and in turn, its owner. Web designers must take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening.


Best Practices for Computer Security in Web Design

There are several best practices that web designers can follow to ensure the security of their clients’ websites, including:

  • Keeping software and systems up-to-date: Software and systems must be kept up-to-date to ensure that they are protected from the latest security threats.
  • Implementing strong passwords and authentication processes: Strong passwords and authentication processes are essential for protecting sensitive information.
  • Securing the website through encryption and secure socket layers (SSL): Encryption and SSL ensure that data transmitted over the internet is protected from cyber-attacks.


The Role of Security Manager in Web Security

Security Managers can play a critical role in helping web designers stay ahead of cyber-threats.

Security Managers provides a comprehensive suite of security tools and services that can help web designers assess the security of their clients’ websites. These tools can identify potential security vulnerabilities and provide recommendations for how to remediate them. In addition, The Security Manager provides ongoing security monitoring and alerts, allowing web designers to stay informed about potential threats and take action to protect their clients’ online assets.

By using these types securities, web designers can ensure that their clients’ websites are protected from the latest cyber-threats and maintain the credibility and reputation of their online presence.


Conclusion

In conclusion, computer security is a critical aspect of web design that cannot be ignored. Web designers play a crucial role in protecting their clients’ online assets and must take the necessary steps to ensure the security of their clients’ websites. Security Managers provides a comprehensive suite of security tools and services that can help web designers stay ahead of cyber-threats and ensure the security of their clients’ online presence. By taking advantage of these tools, web designers can give their clients peace of mind and maintain the credibility and reputation of their websites.


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ransomware attack
Cybersecurity

Kaseya Launches Patches to Address Security Loopholes

A ransomware attack prompted Kaseya to roll out new patches as a means of securing customers. Specifically, the Virtual System Administrator, or VSA, was exploited by cybercriminals. Potentially, 1,500 or more businesses worldwide were affected by ransomware owing to holes in associated security.

Kaseya told customers that were suspected of being infected with this ransomware to deactivate servers ahead of the coming patch. It took about ten days, but now a patch has arrived. Specifically, this patch rectifies a number of notable security flaws. These include the following:

  • Fixing a bypass in two-factor authentication
  • Logic flaw and credential leaks
  • Vulnerabilities in cross-site scripting


Understanding What Happened to Secure Your Business

Since Kaseya’s software is primarily of the Software as a Service (SaaS) variety, infection at the core of Kaseya ultimately affects a diversity of users. It’s like poisoning a river while it’s a creek up the mountain: the waters keep flowing, and many downstream get poisoned.

Well, in this case, the “downstream” folks were those using endpoints, of which current estimates put the number impacted in the neighborhood of a million. At least, that was the claim of the hackers. It’s a plausible claim. If each affected business had 1,000 endpoints, then 1,500 affected businesses would average a little under 700 endpoints per operation.


The Timeline of the Attack

Initial instances of contamination were observed around July 2nd, and as of July 13th, things had been curbed. REvil and Sodinikibi were first realized to be the ransomware culprits. By July 4th, a detection tool was launched to help businesses know if they were compromised.

Damages from the ransomware were only lightly covered by media outlets and the full extent of the cyberattack was not explored in depth. By July 5th, a $70,000,000 demand was issued by hackers to Kaseya. By the 6th, a patch was supposed to be online, but delays knocked it back. The delay continued through July 7th. By the following day, fake email warnings were going out, further compromising affected parties.

On the 10th of July, it was revealed key leaders among Kaseya knew about the vulnerability exploited by hackers, but said nothing; or at least not enough–whistleblowers revealed this. By the 11th, real patches began to be implemented. Progress was made by the 12th, by the 13th, IT Glue Integration was able to be reactivated.


What Can Be Learned?

This was a “zero day attack”, and more details are explained in The Washington Post. Essentially, the cybercriminals exploited an attack even sophisticated higher-level IT officials were unaware of–but for those exposed by the whistleblower, of course. Call what happened to Kaseya a sort of canary in the coal mine. An attack like this will happen again, and to another large company providing services via cloud-based technology.

Certainly, there will be increases in security. Patches will be disseminated. However, zero day attacks incorporating “streams” of data at cloud-based “nodes” will continue to affect a wide variety of customers going forward. That’s just the unattractive reality of the situation. Also, this is a sort of hack attack that has government influence–the Post article seems to believe the Kremlin could have halted the attack.

Well, it’s hard to know whether the Post is playing politics or not these days. What’s easy to know is that patching solutions for security are perhaps more fundamental than ever. When new security options become available, you need to tap into them right away. Also, it’s important to have failover protections in place that can cover several weeks of operating without core tech functionality.


What To Do

Cybercrime is nothing new, but sometimes the way in which it is pursued is novel. Therefore, it would be best to have all the latest security, and partner your business with cybersecurity professionals who make top-tier security a primary prerogative. Also, it is wise to compartmentalize sensitive data so that ransomware attacks like this won’t impact your business operations. Lastly, keep employees well-trained on the latest best practices to ensure they’re always up to date on how to conduct themselves amid shifty digital waters safely.


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Colonial Pipeline hack
Cybersecurity

Colonial Ransomware Attack Forces New Security Regulations

Today’s most deviant hackers have the capability to shut down huge entities, which was the case in May 2021 with the Colonial Pipeline hack. The nation’s largest pipeline for gas and oil products was the target of cybercriminals who demanded $5 million in ransom in order for Colonial to regain control of its pipeline. The company paid the ransom in cryptocurrency. Here’s a look at what this attack means for your business.


Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack

Hackers were able to shut down 550 miles of the Colonial Pipeline, which created fuel shortages for residents throughout the eastern region of the United States. The shortages triggered a spike on gas prices on the East Coast. As you may realize by now, the breach was one of the largest ransomware attacks in U.S. history. On a positive note, the FBI reported they recovered the ransom money.

IDC (International Data Corporation) found that about a quarter of businesses surveyed reported experiencing some type of data breach that led to a loss or expense of $10,000 to $20,000. More shocking is that over a third of respondents claimed they suffered at least 16 cyberattacks in the past few years.


Why Cyberattacks Are Getting More Serious

The Colonial Pipeline hack is just one of several examples of a large organization getting hacked. Other huge recent attacks have struck Microsoft Exchange email servers and software developer Solarwinds. The point should be clear that no entity is immune from a cyber disaster. Ransomware has become one of the fastest growing crimes in cyberspace, so it’s wise to learn more about cybersecurity and plan ahead.

Just because no one has a bulletproof solution against the most deceptive hackers doesn’t mean you should give up defending your digital assets. Your objective should be to make life so frustrating for hackers, they’ll be the ones giving up after wasting too much time trying to crack the walls of your multi-layered cybersecurity. Some of the strongest solutions involve virtualization, encryption, multifactor authentication, and 24/7 network monitoring.

Your business cannot afford to rely on just antivirus software, since you need additional layers of security. An experienced IT team that keeps up with the latest threats through cybersecurity networks can recommend solutions based on your existing infrastructure. They can further help your system become more efficient, flexible, and scalable through cloud solutions.


Executive Order to Modernize Cybersecurity

President Joe Biden signed an executive order to strengthen cybersecurity in the United States. Here are some of the components of this initiative:

  • IT service providers must report cybersecurity breaches to the government that could impact Federal departments and networks.
  • Removes contractual barriers that could discourage IT providers from reporting breaches.
  • Introduces standards and definitions for federal responses to cyber disasters.
  • Encourages the federal government to adopt more cloud-based infrastructure and cloud services.
  • Requires federal agencies to adopt modern cybersecurity strategies such as multifactor authentication and encryption.
    • Calls for the government to purchase higher quality cybersecurity software.
  • Requires greater transparency from software developers about its security data.
  • Establishment of a “Cybersecurity Safety Review Board” involving a mix of business and civic leaders who meet to discuss response to cyberattacks. The board makes recommendations for improving data protection from analyzing cyber incidents.

Ultimately, you and your IT team need to prepare a disaster recovery plan so you know exactly what steps to take in the event of an emergency. Make sure your business complies with federal regulations regarding privacy.


Conclusion

Every business can learn from huge cyberattacks such as the Colonial Pipeline hack. Preparing your company for a cybersecurity breach is the best way to deal with cyber threats. Working with cybersecurity specialists is an essential piece of the puzzle to protecting your digital assets from hackers.

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ransomware attack
Cybersecurity

Kaseya Ransomware Attack: What You Need to Know So Far

What Happened?

Recently, there was a ransomware attack on Kaseya, a tech company out of Miami whose primary services involve providing a worldwide customer base with tech management solutions. The group that did the attack is called REvil, and they’re reputed to have been responsible for shutting down both a major meat processor and the colonial pipeline attack earlier this year.


What’s The Impact?

The fallout from this latest developing ransomware attack has impacted hundreds of Kaseya’s customers. In Sweden, there were grocery and pharmacy chains impacted, as well as a railway. These customers of Kaseya suffered direct impact from the ransomware.

The attack was noticed and addressed publicly as of July 2nd. Presently, it’s expected that approximately 36k companies have been in one way or another impacted by the attack on Kaseya.

As of July 7th Kaseya is advising customers with on-premise VSA servers to remain offline until they receive the patch along with futher security recommendations. On Sunday, July 4, Kaseya began advising some SaaS customers in Europe, Asia, and the UK to begin reactivating servers. Monday saw Kaseya begin advising the same in the United States for certain clients. Unfortunately on July 6th they discovered an issue and will be delaying restoration of SaaS services until the evening of July 8th. Presently, the totality of the issue has not yet been resolved.


Preventative Measures

A detection tool was released to some 900 customers which reveals whether or not some sort of compromise has taken place in terms of security. This ransomware attack is presently being investigated by the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency. For the majority of clients, returns in stages are being perscribed–at least in regards Software as a Service (SaaS) server arrays whose functionality was diminished by associated precautions.

In order to avoid compromise if your company is involved with Kaseya tech solutions, look into any products related to VSA either directly or indirectly. This is where the ransomware is “centered” so avoid using endpoint options related to VSA until Kaseya gives your company the go-ahead. The crux is, VSA is aimed at small to medium-sized businesses and is designed for remote monitoring solutions, as well as routine maintenance such as updates in security software.

The good news is, Kaseya has told the press that they are completely positive with regards to the genesis of this ransomware attack, and they’ve taken the proper steps to fix the issue. However, given how recent the event is at the time of this writing, it’s wise to be as cautious for a few more days at least. Ransomware, adware, and Trojan malware can hide until hackers activate it.


Safeguarding Operations

The threat of a ransomware attack won’t go away; at least that’s the expectation of those who make IT pursuits their professional business. The attacks will simply shift over time. Even large companies can be impacted. Why is this the case? Well, as new tech develops, so also do new ways of misusing that tech in an illegal manner. Accordingly, new threats follow new innovations. So to recap:

  • Kaseya has addressed the issue and is beginning to restore services
  • Presently, it’s wise to be cautious, given how recent the attack was
  • Outsourcing tech security to cybersecurity experts is advisable


Improving Operational Security

Though Kaseya has addressed the REvil attack, you will want to remain cautious, and locally outsourcing tech security is wise. Also, you should train staff with regards to best practices, and assure all your data is properly backed up in a way that allows a secure reboot.

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zero trust security
Cybersecurity

Zero-Trust Security: What It Is and Why You Need It

The prevalence of distributed teams and the influx of IoT devices into organizational networks require continuous verification of all users and devices as they use applications and access data.

A zero-trust access approach is necessary for network administrators to protect networks and applications. A robust access control technology is needed to monitor networks and applications that require highly guarded access controls.


What Is Zero Trust Security?

A zero-trust security system requires that every device accessing a private network, whether physically or logically within the network perimeter, must go through rigorous identity verification.

Security for IT networks is traditionally based upon the fence and gate concept. Perimeter security makes it hard to access the network from outside while assuming that anyone inside the network can be trusted. Thus, once an attacker has gained access to the network, they have free reign.

As a result, perimeter security systems are vulnerable because organizations no longer store their data in a centralized location. It’s a challenge to secure an entire network with a single security control because the information is often spread across multiple cloud vendors. Nobody has default trust in a zero-trust network, not from inside the organization or from outside. Everyone must confirm their rights to access network resources.


The Main Principles of a Zero Trust Network

A practical zero trust security approach incorporates a variety of best practices and technologies. These can be summarized as follows:

Least-privilege access

A general would give soldiers the necessary information but only to the extent that they needed to know. This reduces the risk of each user being exposed to sensitive information on the network.

Micro-segmentation

Micro-segmentation is another zero-trust network principle. A micro-segmentation system allows for separate access to different areas of a network by breaking up the perimeter of security into small zones.

A data center with files in it could, for instance, utilize micro-segmentation, creating many separate zones. People or programs that have access to one of these zones won’t gain access to the other zones unless authorization is obtained separately.

Data usage control

When someone has access to data, they can use it however they want. Implementing data usage controls limits what they can do with the data once they get it. Among these measures is removing permissions to save data to USB disks, email, or cloud apps.


Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Use Cases

Among the critical applications of the zero-trust network include:

VPN alternative

According to Gartner, 60% of enterprises plan to phase out most of their remote access VPNs in favor of ZTNA by 2023 because VPNs are slow, offer poor security, and are difficult to manage. A zero-trust network architecture resolves the shortcoming of VPNs.

It takes more time for the IT department to implement ZTNA, but the increase in control and decrease in vulnerabilities are worth it.

Secure multi-cloud access

Companies are increasingly adopting the cloud, and 37% intend to use ZTNA to safeguard their multi-cloud strategies. It allows IT departments to create a fast and secure connection to all computer resources within a company. ZTNA enables secure, close-range access to distributed workgroups, replacing traditional, network-centric security perimeters.

Reduced third-party risk

There are security gaps created by third-party access to enterprise systems, typically granted to third parties. By ensuring that only authorized users can access the network and the applications, ZTNA significantly reduces the risks that third parties could access sensitive data.

Accelerated M&A integration

Integrating traditional M&As can take multiple years because of the overlapping IPs and networks that organizations must converge. Through ZTNA, a successful merger and acquisition can be made less time-consuming and easier to manage, providing immediate value to your business.


Considerations for ZTNA

An organization should consider several things when deciding on the ZTNA solution:

Are there any requirements for installing an endpoint agent? Which operating systems are supported? Unless ZTNA technologies support clientless technologies, they may not be able to provide third-party user access and BYOD capabilities.

Can the trust broker remain associated with the data path after the device or user passes authentication?

Gartner recommends ZTNA service providers for enterprises because they are easier to deploy, more accessible, and better equipped to protect users from DDoS attacks.

How does partial or complete cloaking or the ability to allow or block inbound connections affect the security requirements of isolated applications?

What are the authentication standards that the trust broker supports? Is there an option for integrating into a cloud-based or local directory identity service?


Conclusion

VPNs, firewalls, and other perimeter security measures will not be replaced overnight by ZTNA services. But in time, and as new security models go live, organizations will begin to focus on ZTNA, identity, and access management solutions over the “castle-and-moat” approach to network security.

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Preventing Data Security Breaches
Cybersecurity

Detecting and Preventing Data Security Breaches: What You Should Know

When it comes to data security, many businesses aren’t up to par. Just take a look at some of the ones in the media over the past few years. It took those companies months to figure out that there was something wrong!

For example, Verifone had a data breach for six months before realizing it, and Forever 21 had one in March 2017 that took nine months to detect.

Many studies indicate that a breach occurring from privilege abuse and insider threats takes longer to find (about 191 days). Unfortunately, many companies focus solely on the bottom line and don’t recognize the signs.

Related: Learning from Top Data Breaches in History

If a company fails to prioritize data security and data security breach occurs, then it risks losing everything. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent them. Here’s what you need to know about detecting and preventing data security breaches.


How to Detect a Data Breach

Early detection is crucial to protect customer information and sensitive company documents.

Indicators that signal something might be wrong can include:

  • High network/system activity
  • Abnormal user activity
  • New software on the system
  • Messages from ransomware
  • Unusual messages on the network
  • Unexpected password/username changes

Of course, these aren’t the only things to worry about, but they’re the most common. Anything that looks strange should be reported to the IT department immediately.

Companies can also use various cybersecurity tools to detect vulnerabilities and suspicious activity. This often isn’t effective because the techniques used by cybercriminals are more advanced, so detection doesn’t happen until the breach occurs.

Read on: Data Loss Prevention Strategies You Should Use in Your Business

Data security consultants can be beneficial here. These companies have data discovery methods and solutions to find breaches and can warn you of any existing or potential issues as soon as possible. They may also comb through dark web marketplaces and forums to check for your information, use repositories that search for leaked records, and visit paste sites.

In the meantime, you can do certain things to detect a breach on your end. If you notice anything odd, leave it alone. Many people panic and try to remove the problem, but that tampers with evidence and alerts the hacker that you’re catching on.

Without raising suspicion, you can collect important evidence, such as log files, active connections, and a list of your running processes. If you’re in doubt, it’s best to call a professional data security company. The experts can go in and get the evidence without changing anything.

It’s also important to report everything internally, such as to your IT department. Log every incident and issue you have, and make sure that everyone knows there could be a breach.


Prevention Is Key

Data security often relies heavily on preventing a breach. It’s much easier to have strong passwords instead of tracking odd network processes and concerns.

With many strategies out there, it might be a good idea to try some of the newest trends for cybersecurity. For example, AI-enabled detection systems can predict new attacks and notify admins (or whoever you choose) about potential breaches instantly.

Your in-house IT team should:

  • Update/patch software.
  • Educate employees about data security best practices.
  • Enforce multi-factor authentication.
  • Require strong credentials (password/username).
  • Upgrade devices as software updates becomes unavailable.
  • Use high-grade encryption.

Since many people are working remotely now, data security is harder to handle and more important than ever. Employees use their own devices, so a strict BYOD policy is essential, as well.

Read more: All You Need to Know About Ransomware and Ways to Prevent It

Detecting a data breach isn’t easy, but there are things you can do to identify them. The most obvious is to document everything, create reports, and let employees know what’s going on.

However, detection might not be enough, and some companies take many months to spot and stop a breach. Feeling like there’s a problem and taking control are different things. Take advantage of the services of a reputable data security company, use preventative measures whenever possible, and stay vigilant!

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Data Loss Prevention Strategies
Cybersecurity

Data Loss Prevention Strategies You Should Use in Your Business

Data plays a huge role in organizational operations today, irrespective of industry. While digital technologies greatly promote automation and cost-efficiency, they nevertheless pose a considerable risk for your company’s confidential data, such as customer databases, trade secrets, and financial information.

Related: All You Need to Know About Ransomware and Ways to Prevent It

Let’s talk about data loss prevention (DLP) and how to implement it in your business.

The Basics of Data Security

Data security includes several solutions that must be combined to ensure an optimal level of protection. This involves knowing which data is the most important in the organization (Data Classification), where it is located (Data Discovery), how to protect it (encryption, access control), and prevent its leakage (DLP: Data Leakage Prevention).

The majority of data leaks are accidental

Data loss mainly occurs via email and through removable storage devices, including optical media and USB drives. 95% of the data lost this way is unintentional. In other words, someone accidentally uses the wrong recipient in their email client’s auto-completing feature. Even with many disclaimers on unintended recipients and email confidentiality, data loss through email is highly prevalent.

Unhappy employees play a role, too

Not every data leak has an external source. A good number of these cases involve unhappy employees in your organization—the infamous inside job. Most data is leaked via USB drives, cameras, photocopiers, and printers. When an employee maliciously decides to access and leak company data illegally, nothing can be done to stop it.

There could be leaks in your communication environment

Instant messaging and email platforms speed up business communication, but they can also be vulnerable areas for data leaks to external parties. The most prevalent method of attack is malware sent using email. Malware is reportedly the most successful means of data breach and leakage. Other techniques involve phishing and social engineering schemes that use a company’s legitimate email account to get employees to disclose confidential corporate data.

Keep reading: Learning from Top Data Breaches in History


Data Loss Prevention Approaches

In the wake of integrated tech solutions deployment projects, processes affecting both data and diverse applications generate an increase in the criticality of information systems. As listed below, data loss prevention approaches are not necessarily expensive, but they can help your business leverage technology without risking sensitive personal and business process data.

Encrypt backup media – To reduce the risk of data theft due to the disappearance or loss of tape storage media, Gartner recommends the use of encryption. Depending on the storage infrastructure used, it could be either an encryption box or a software solution.

Secure workstations – One of the primary missions of the RSSI is the control of the computer fleet, both landlines, and laptops, particularly in terms of security updates. The manager will have to make sure to upgrade the security environments associated with them (firewall, antivirus, antispyware, etc.) and supervise the use of portable recording media, such as USB keys and CD-ROM, as well as that of access to the IS from remote machines.

Implement database control – Set up a Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) system. Deploy a solution that monitors database activity, generating alerts in the event of suspicious behavior. This can limit operating errors, block attacks and ensure a clear separation of roles between administrators in particular.

Read more: Healthcare Data Security: Ways to Safeguard Private Health Information

Ensure policy compliance – If a disgruntled employee or a malicious contractor decides to steal confidential company data, there’s little you can do to stop it. To prove that you comply with most standards, it is your responsibility to, at least, do what your peers are doing, which is to reduce your exposure as much as possible.

Whether it’s a minor inconvenience or a significant financial disruption, a data leak is a matter of great concern. Depending on the nature of the data lost, consequences could include loss of revenue and a tarnished company reputation. Use the above tips to reduce the risk of data leaks in your enterprise. If you’re curious to learn more about data security and best practices for protecting your data from a panel of cyber intelligence experts, join us on Thursday, May 27th at 11am PT for our Demystifying Data Security webinar. Register now!

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Learning from Top Data Breaches
Cybersecurity

Learning from Top Data Breaches in History

Even though you may not hear much about the top data breaches in the news unless you read tech publications, several horrific examples have occurred in the past few decades. These cybersecurity meltdowns can cost millions of dollars to fix the damages on top of litigation and reputation issues. Here’s a look at some of the worst online data disasters of all time.

Related: Why You Need to Strengthen Your IIoT Security


Adobe, October 2013

Over 150 million user records were breached as Adobe reported cybercriminals gained access to nearly 3 million credit card records. The hackers were also able to crack encryption and steal login data for an initially unannounced number of accounts. Later in the month, Adobe added that IDs and passwords were breached for 38 million active users.

Many cybersecurity experts considered this event one of the top data breaches at the time. Adobe paid over $1 million in legal fees and an undisclosed amount to victims who filed claims against the graphic design provider for violating the Customer Records Act. Yet bigger breaches affecting other big players would follow.


MySpace, 2013 and Yahoo, 2013-2014

At one time, MySpace was the biggest social network while Facebook was the newcomer until it dominated social media in 2009. By 2013 MySpace was becoming a fading website, overshadowed by several social networks. What brought the original king of social media back into tech industry news in 2016 was the company’s announcement of a breach impacting 360 million user accounts three years earlier.

The data became available for sale on LeakedSource, a searchable database of stolen passwords used by hackers on the dark web. As bad as that breach sounds, it wasn’t nearly as shocking as Yahoo’s 2013-2014 breach of 3 billion user accounts. Technically, that’s actually the biggest breach ever if you count the victims.

First, Yahoo said in 2016 the disaster affected 500 million users, then revised it to the 3 billion figure the following year. These attacks eventually cost Yahoo’s later parent company Verizon about $350 million.

Keep reading: 5 Ways to Keep Smart Appliances Safe from Security Threats


eBay, May 2014

This cybersecurity breach exposed the online marketplace provider’s entire list of user accounts, which added up to 145 million. Hackers broke through encrypted passwords to breach confidential information such as names, addresses, and birthdates. Fortunately, credit card numbers were stored in another location and weren’t compromised.


Equifax, July 2017

One of the most widely-reported data breaches affected one of the three major credit bureaus. It exposed around 143 million customer accounts. It proved that no one is too big to be immune to a cyberattack. Even though the company originally thought the breach occurred on July 29, it later announced the attack probably began in May.

Exposed in the breach were consumer credit card numbers, social security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and other confidential data. An unpatched application vulnerability allowed the attackers to penetrate the system. Not only was the network not well segmented, Equafix did not report the incident to the public immediately.


Canva, May 2019

The Australian graphic design cloud service was hit with a cyberattack that compromised email addresses, usernames, and other sensitive information, which impacted about 61 million users. Canva initially stated the attack was limited to the intruders viewing data without stealing it. Known as Gnosticplayers, the perpetrators notified ZDNet to take credit for the attack.

Later the story got worse when Canva revealed about 4 million user accounts with hacked passwords were discovered by the company. More shockwaves were felt when the company announced these passwords had been decrypted and shared online.

Read more: All You Need to Know About Ransomware and Ways to Prevent It


Conclusion

What can we learn from the top data breaches of all time? One thing is that organizations of all sizes – even tech or financial giants – can be breached. Another revelation is we usually don’t find out about the worst breaches until years later. So, it’s best to take cybersecurity seriously and implement the strongest cybersecurity strategies available for both personal and business related data.

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IITS Cybersecurity Smart Vehicle
Cybersecurity

ITS Cybersecurity is Important in the Age of Smart Vehicles

Cars keep getting smarter, but so do hackers, which is why Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) need to invest in the most robust ITS cybersecurity available. Self-driving cars are in their infancy, while hackers have now been around for decades. Here’s a look at the current solutions for an ITS to build a strong defense against cybercriminals.

Related: Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles


Risks an ITS Faces with Smart Vehicles

One of the greatest risks facing any firm in an interconnected supply chain is that a breach in one system can spread throughout the entire ecosystem. Since self-driving vehicles rely on wireless connectivity to be controlled remotely, there are built-in vulnerabilities to overcome. Hackers are able to penetrate wireless networks much more easily than hardwired networks.

An ITS framework may encompass connections with local infrastructure including traffic signals and traffic monitoring devices. Sensors and cameras are placed throughout the ecosystem such as on roads and at weather stations. An advanced ITS system has access to traffic flow data and controls. It may also include smart payment systems such as toll booths and parking meters.

All of these interactive endpoints can be compromised by sophisticated hackers, which is rare but has happened. Hackers, for example, can penetrate an electronic sign to change its message. The worst damage can be a database breach of confidential information that leads to expensive lawsuits. Or perhaps a self-driving vehicle can be hacked and controlled remotely to cause dangerous accidents.

Auto manufacturers and transportation companies have moved toward smart technology to reduce costs and waste. As early adopters of smart ecosystems, these organizations will be setting the tone for years to come on what the proper standards should be with omnipresent mobile sensors. Proactive security measures must go beyond the internet as well. IoT-based companies must constantly monitor their automated vehicles to make sure the machines aren’t controlled by nefarious characters.

Keep reading: Paving the Way Toward Autonomous Vehicles


What ITS Cybersecurity Must Do

The key to protecting an ITS from breaches is to implement modern ITS cybersecurity solutions. This strategy can’t guarantee it will stop the most crafty cybercriminals, but turning to best practice principles work at mitigating most cyberthreats. The solution involves a combination of the right technology, knowledgeable IT expertise, and setting strict cybersecurity policies.

As far as cybersecurity technology, it’s best to build multiple layers of protection, especially for wireless applications. These solutions include network segmenting, which limits access to just one segment of a network as a measure to reduce data loss or damage. Another solution is 24/7 network monitoring software for detecting cyber threats. Other strong security solutions include firewalls, firmware, and encryption.

Your IT consultant or team can advise you on the most reliable solutions for blocking unwanted visitors to your network. Another advantage to working with IT experts is that they can train your staff on how to spot cybersecurity threats in email phishing schemes. IT technicians also can develop a disaster recovery plan and conduct system audits to detect vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, IT pros can help you set cybersecurity policies such as banning certain connections and only allowing specific devices to access your network. When an intruder shows up who isn’t included on the permission list, a 24/7 monitoring system can send immediate alerts to management and block the unwanted visitor’s access.

Read more: The Future of Flight with Advanced Digital Technologies


Conclusion

Advancements in ITS cybersecurity will be greatly needed in the future to ensure secure supply chains around the world. Current methods have been mostly effective, there are still certain vulnerabilities these operations must overcome. The more big data becomes shared with self-driving vehicles, the more important it will be to make sure these vehicles are safe and secure, both physically and digitally.

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