Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Home Blog Page 141
AI cybersecurity guidance for small businesses

Know where your business is exposed, what matters most, and what to fix first.

CyberExperts gives small businesses AI-generated cyber checkups, practical recommendations, and recurring cyber hygiene monitoring — without enterprise consulting complexity.

Get an AI Cyber CheckupSee how it works
AI Cyber CheckupIdentify likely weak points and get a prioritized action plan.
Recurring MonitoringStay current with updated cyber hygiene guidance over time.
Built for SMBsPractical recommendations for real-world small business setups.

Most small businesses know cybersecurity matters. Very few know what to fix first.

CyberExperts turns cybersecurity confusion into a practical action plan. Instead of vague fear, generic checklists, or expensive consulting, you get AI-generated guidance focused on likely risks, weak spots, and the most important next steps.

How it works

1. Tell us about your businessShare your team size, tools, email setup, device practices, and current security habits.
2. CyberExperts analyzes your setupOur AI reviews likely weak points, common risks, and practical cyber hygiene gaps.
3. Get a prioritized action planReceive clear next steps in plain English — focused on what matters most.
4. Stay current with ongoing monitoringAdd recurring cyber hygiene monitoring if you want updated guidance over time.

Start with a checkup. Continue with monitoring.

AI Small Business Cyber Checkup

A one-time AI-generated assessment that identifies likely weaknesses, highlights the biggest issues, and gives you a practical action plan.

  • Likely weak points and avoidable risks
  • Top-priority recommendations
  • Plain-English next steps
Start Checkup

AI Cyber Hygiene Monitor

A recurring cyber hygiene subscription that updates your recommendations, flags likely weak spots, and helps you stay current over time.

  • Recurring reassessment
  • Updated recommendations
  • Refreshed priorities over time
See Monitoring

What CyberExperts does — and does not do

Done by AICyberExperts is built as an AI-delivered cybersecurity guidance product.
For small businessesDesigned for operators who want practical guidance without enterprise complexity.
Not a magic guaranteeIt helps identify likely risks and prioritize what to fix first.
Recurring option availableContinue with ongoing Cyber Hygiene Monitor updates over time.

See your biggest cybersecurity gaps in plain English.

Start with an AI Cyber Checkup and get a practical view of what to fix first.

Get an AI Cyber CheckupView Monitoring

7 Easy Steps – How to Become a Cybersecurity Specialist

George Mutune
-
2
7 Easy Steps – How to Become a Cybersecurity Specialist

We outline how to  become a cybersecurity specialist and enter a rewarding and exciting career path.

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields today. As a result, there is a huge skill gap in the cybersecurity industry. This gap has been widening. Organizations report that the shortage of cybersecurity skills has increased in every year since 2016.[1]

How to become a cybersecurity specialist

Similarly, the World Economic Forum indicated in a 2019 report that the U.S. has more than 200,000 cybersecurity specialist positions that are hard to fill.[2]

However, organizations are prioritizing cybersecurity due to an increase in cyber-crime. This leads to our question:

How can one take advantage of the situation and become a cybersecurity specialist?

First, Identify your desired career path

Cybersecurity is a broad field with multiple career paths. You should first identify a suitable career before you join the industry. Various cybersecurity careers have different roles and responsibilities. There are different skills required for different roles. Identifying your ideal position first will ensure that you are on target for a fulfilling career.

Common career paths include:

Chief Information Security Career (CISO)
Cybersecurity Consultant
Security Architect
Penetration Tester/Ethical Hacker

Gain general IT experience

General IT skills are an essential foundation. You must understand how technology works to secure it from hackers. Some cybersecurity professionals gain experience in college. Others don’t focus on IT until later in their careers.

Some of the entry-level jobs that can be used to gain experience include:

Web developer
Systems administrator
IT technician
computer software engineer.

Continuously Learn

Cybersecurity evolves every day due to the emergence of new technologies and hacking techniques. Cyber-criminals create more than 350,000 new malware and unwanted applications every day.[3] New threats mean that a cybersecurity professional has to learn new ways of securing information systems and data continuously.

Success can only be possible through continuous learning. Acquiring new cybersecurity skills also opens up new opportunities that will help you progress in your career.

For example, an ethical hacker should be familiar with all skills a hacker uses to penetrate systems. Otherwise, the ethical hacker might fail to identify some vulnerabilities. Failures like this could lead to a data breach.

Continuous learning enables one to acquire new skills needed in the ever-changing field of cybersecurity.

Obtain cybersecurity certifications

By 2021, cybersecurity jobs will have exceeded 3.5 million.[4] There will be a lot of job openings! But this does not mean that it will be easy for job seekers.  Organizations are only interested in the most skilled professionals. To demonstrate that you have the needed skills, you should work to obtain cybersecurity certifications.

Certifications prove that you have the skills needed to do the job and are instrumental in helping you get the job you want. Many cybersecurity industry jobs require certifications as a prerequisite.

Examples of certifications that can build your cybersecurity career are listed below:

  1. Certified ethical hacker (CEH)
  2. CompTIA Security+
  3. SANS GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
  4. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
  5. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  6. Certified Information Systems Security Practitioner (CISPS)

Select a holistic cybersecurity course

A comprehensive cybersecurity course often offers two learning methods:

Practical – how-to, hands-on, and step by step (lab work and on the job training)
Theoretical – classroom training

Both types of learning are required if you are to become proficient in your chosen cybersecurity field.

Through a holistic cybersecurity approach, you gain enough skills which enable you to anticipate security risks and threats and be proactive in developing new solutions. It further provides you with the knowledge needed to handle cybersecurity incidences as they occur.

A holistic program enables you to adapt to technological changes since they significantly impact the cybersecurity landscape. A cybersecurity specialist must be able to apply hands-on experience to adapt to new trends. A holistic cybersecurity program provides such capabilities.

Understand the cybersecurity industry

It is vital to first understand the industry before embarking on a cybersecurity career. You should:

  • Have an understanding the available cybersecurity jobs
  • Know the training required for each job

Understanding the cybersecurity industry plays an integral role in the decision-making process when choosing the field in which to specialize. People sometimes rush into a career only to switch to a different domain. Learn all you can about the industry so that you can be confident that you are choosing the right path for you.

Choose a cybersecurity field you are passionate about

The cybersecurity industry provides professionals with enormous opportunities for pursuing individual interests. You should thus pursue the area in which you are most passionate. For instance, a person passionate about hacking would make a great ethical hacker. Someone who loves fighting the bad guys would be suited for an Incident Response position.

Network with other cybersecurity experts

Networking can provide many opportunities for advancing a cybersecurity career. Cybersecurity requires a lot of creativity. Interacting with other professionals can offer avenues to learn and grow.  There are many cybersecurity-focused events and meetups that you can attend.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity careers are incredibly satisfying and pay well. Because of this, it is a great time to consider a career in cybersecurity. There are many different ways that you can learn about cybersecurity. Many online sites offer training in various cybersecurity fields. Acquiring certifications are added advantages for building a career in cybersecurity.

  1. https://www.csoonline.com/article/3331983/the-cybersecurity-skills-shortage-is-getting-worse.html ↑
  2. https://blog.eccouncil.org/the-truth-about-the-growing-cybersecurity-skill-gap/ ↑
  3. https://www.av-test.org/en/statistics/malware/ ↑
  4. https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/ ↑

12 Types of Cybersecurity

Hicham
-
0
12 Types of Cybersecurity

The purpose of this Types of Cybersecurity Guide is to provide a simple framework for integrating cybersecurity activities and give a brief overview of the security controls that should be exercised.

Cybercrime is a growing concern in the digital environment. Most smaller companies do not have their own cyber security teams and cybercriminals who seek financial or business benefits are likely to target these smaller and more vulnerable targets.

This Types of Cybersecurity Guide contains the different types of cybersecurity and their safeguards. We have compiled a list of 12 cybersecurity themes, along with basic and advanced recommendations that will help protect against data breaches and cyber-attacks.

12 Types of Cybersecurity / Cybersecurity Themes:

ENGAGE TOP MANAGEMENT

Involving top management in the project is essential to creating a sustainable training strategy throughout the organization.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Designate an information security officer.
  • Identify your ICT risk and protect your business for the future.
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements regarding privacy, data processing and security.
  • Be aware of cyber threats and vulnerabilities on your networks.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Make sure the information security officer is an independent agent who is not part of the IT department.
  • Clearly define the objectives of system and network monitoring.
  • Identify the legal consequences of a data leak, a network failure, etc.
  • Periodically conduct a risk and security audit. Communicate the results and the action plan to management.

DEVELOP A SECURITY POLICY AND A CODE OF CONDUCT

This is a set of rules, laws, and practices that must be followed in the workplace.  It is based on existing risks and aimed at making management and employees more accountable for the prevention of security incidents.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Create and apply procedures for the arrival and departure of users (staff, trainees, etc.).
  • Describe roles and responsibilities for security (physical, personnel).
  • Develop and distribute a code of conduct for the use of computing resources.
  • Schedule and run security audits.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Create a classification scheme and traceability of sensitive information.
  • Introduce the notions of “need to know”, “least privilege” and “segregation of duties” into your corporate policies and processes.
  • Publish a responsible disclosure policy.
  • Store sensitive documents in locked cabinets.
  • Destroy sensitive documents with a shredder.
  • At the end of the work day, destroy the documents left on the printer.
  • Apply Locked Print if available.
  • Develop a concept and training plan for cybersecurity.

SENSITIZE YOUR WORKERS TO CYBER RISKS

Workers are the weakest link in the information security chain. Make your internal and external employees aware of information security risks. Make sure they understand your messages and test their knowledge. They will be your first line of defense in case of attack.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Inform your users to your code of conduct. Regularly remind users of the importance of safe behavior.
  • Regularly remind users that information should be considered sensitive and handled in a manner that respects the rules of privacy protection.
  • Inform users about how to recognize phishing (e-mail fraud) and how to react.
  • Inform accounting staff about the phenomenon of “CEO fraud” and provide for control procedures in connection with the execution of payments.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Integrate knowledge and respect of the code of conduct into staff evaluation.
  • Periodically evaluate user awareness and responsiveness.

MANAGE YOUR IMPORTANT COMPUTER RESOURCES

It is obvious that securing important data is a central issue for all businesses today. There are multiple threats to information systems and most company systems contain crucial private information.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Inform about the importance of all equipment and software licenses.
  • Keep a detailed and up-to-date map of all your networks and interconnections.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Use a configuration management tool (or at least one tool such as Microsoft MMC, etc.).
  • Define a basic security configuration.
  • Make sure that Service Level Agreements and other Agreements have security clauses.
  • Implement a change control process.
  • Implement a uniform level of security for all your networks.
  • Regularly audit all configurations (including servers, firewalls, and network components).

UPDATE ALL PROGRAMS

Updates play an important role in protecting your devices as they can fix errors or fix security vulnerabilities. They also give you access to the latest software features and design improvements.

Take the example of an antivirus: An antivirus is software that can fight against computer attacks, malware, and for the security of your device (computer or smartphone). This software must be regularly updated because new computer viruses are constantly being created.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Introduce an internal culture of the “patch” (workstations, mobile devices, servers, network components, etc.).
  • Perform security updates of all software as soon as possible.
  • Automate the update process and audit its effectiveness.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Set up a test and reference environment for new patches.
  • Update all third-party software, such as browsers and plugins.
  • Perform a full backup for the servers before the update and create emergency repair disks after the update.

INSTALL ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION

This is a crucial step to protect your personal data!

Your computer or device contains a lot of files and data about you. This includes photos and text documents (pay slips, taxes, scans, etc.).  It also includes your browsing data.

This data can be used to exploit certain sensitive data that could lead to the theft of your digital identity. Examples of this include spoofing your identity using your private information including your phone number, email, photos, etc.). This spoofing may be used to harm you financially or harm your reputation.

Viruses spread to both computers and smartphones (iOS or Android).  They also can affect tablets and other devices.

It is necessary to ensure that all of your devices are protected by antivirus software.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Antivirus software is installed on all workstations and servers.
  • Antivirus updates are automatically done.
  • Users know how antivirus software alerts you of a viral infection.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • All virus alerts are analyzed by an ICT expert.
  • Antivirus software is installed on all mobile devices.
  • Antivirus is regularly tested using the EICAR test.

SAVE ALL INFORMATION

Your company’s employees exchange sensitive documents internally and externally on a daily basis. For legal, strategic, and security reasons, your data must be regularly backed up. It is prudent to engage a solution provider for your backup strategy. A trusted provider can ensure that your data is backed up and can assist with restoring data.

Data security is not just about adopting a backup solution. You should establish a data backup policy within your organization and establish procedures that must be followed by all employees.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Back up your important data daily.
  • Host your backup solutions on your own servers or in the cloud.
  • Back up backups offline and in a separate location (if possible, away from their source).
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Backups are stored in a vault or in a secure data center.
  • Periodic restore tests are performed to evaluate the quality of backups.
  • Encrypt data stored in the cloud.

MANAGE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS

In the workplace, all computers connected to a server can be considered to be part of the network. You are responsible for the security of this vast system and you must defend the network against intruders. You must also ensure the integrity of data on computers inside the network.

Maintaining the physical security of your computing environment is essential to protecting your systems. Any system that is connected and left unattended is vulnerable to unauthorized access.

The areas around the computer and the computer hardware must be physically protected from intruders and unauthorized access.

You must also prevent unauthorized connection to a system or network by assigning a password or connection control. All accounts on a system must be password protected. While a password is a simple authentication mechanism, it protects the entire network from intruders. A strong password will protect against brute force attacks.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Change all default passwords.
  • Nobody has administrator privileges for daily tasks.
  • Keep a limited and up-to-date list of system administrator accounts.
  • Passwords must be at least 10 characters long (a combination of character types) and must be changed periodically or whenever there is a suspicion of compromise.
  • Use only individual accounts and never share your passwords.
  • Disable unused accounts immediately.
  • Make authentication and password rules mandatory.
  • Rights and privileges are managed by user groups.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Users are only allowed to access the information they need to perform their missions.
  • Detect and block unused accounts; Use multi-factor authentication.
  • Block access to the Internet from accounts with administrator rights.
  • Detect irregular access to information and systems (delays, applications, data, etc.).
  • Frequently audit the central directory (Active Directory or LDAP directory).
  • Limit worker access with a badge system and create multiple security zones.
  • Save all visits.
  • Organize office cleaning during working hours or under permanent supervision.

SECURE WORKSTATIONS AND MOBILE DEVICES

The number of threats on smartphones continues to grow. Android devices are especially targeted by hackers. All users are at risk and business users are heavily targeted.

The business workstation is also a common target for computer attacks. Implementing simple and quick tips for protecting your employees’ workstations is one of the most important steps you can take to secure your infrastructure.

Poorly protected workstations are a vulnerability that hackers look to exploit to gain personal data. Workstations can also become gateways for attacks on more sensitive systems within the company. There are some simple steps to apply to guard against these risks.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Workstations and unused mobile devices are locked automatically.
  • Laptops, smartphones and tablets are never left unattended.
  • Disable the “Autorun” function of external media.
  • Store or copy all data on a server or NAS (Network Area Storage).
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Discarded hard drives, media and printers containing data are physically destroyed.
  • Prohibit connection of personal devices to the organization’s information system.
  • Encrypt hard drives on laptops.
  • Sensitive or confidential data is transmitted only in encrypted form.
  • Technically prevent the connection of unregistered portable media.
  • Data stored in the cloud is encrypted (eg BoxCryptor).
  • The guarantees offered by the cloud provider correspond to the criticality level of the stored information.
  • External media players such as USB sticks are checked for viruses before they are connected to a computer.

SECURING SERVERS AND NETWORK COMPONENTS

The security measures to be taken to secure a server depend on the services that it runs, the level of confidentiality of the data it contains, and the risks involved.

System administrators or network administrators are responsible for the preparation, installation, and maintenance of the servers. The role of a system administrator does not stop with the installation and configuration of machines. This person also holds a key role in network security over the long term.

The more connected a company is, the more vulnerable it is. New communication or sharing technologies (e-mail, mobility, video conferencing, online tools) have become part of our daily lives. These technologies also generate new challenges for the security of your business.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Change all default passwords and disable unused accounts.
  • Protect Wi-Fi with WPA2 encryption.
  • Close unused ports and services.
  • Avoid remote connection to servers.
  • Use secure applications and protocols.
  • Security logs on servers and firewalls are kept for a period of at least 1 month.
  • The public Wi-Fi network is separate from the corporate network.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Security logs are kept for a period of at least 6 months Protect enterprise Wi-Fi by WPA2.
  • Enterprise with a system
    device registration.
  • Reinforce all systems according to the supplier’s recommendations.
  • Use a network (logically) separate from the user’s network for server administration.
  • Evaluate all events and alerts for servers, firewalls and network components.
  • An alert-based analysis and alerting system for detecting malicious behavior (SIEM).
  • An IDS / IPS system (Intrusion Detection / Prevention System) monitors all communications.
  • Physical access to servers and network components is limited to a minimum number of people.
  • All physical access to servers and network components is logged.
  • Perform intrusion tests and vulnerability scans.

SECURE REMOTE ACCESS

Mobile staff, adoption of cloud applications, and expanded network access for consultants and business partners are blurring the boundaries of the traditional network security perimeter. Organizations must deploy remote access security solutions in order to keep data secure when employees are inside and outside of the office.

When enterprise resources are dispersed across local, cloud, and virtual applications, it is critical to have a central management point from which uniform access controls will be defined and enforced to ensure security and optimal transparency.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Remote access should be closed automatically when idle for a period of time.
  • Limit remote access to what is strictly necessary.
  • All connections to the corporate network are secure and encrypted.
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Only allow Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections from endpoints.
  • Strong authentication is used when connecting from outside public networks.
  • Remote access is limited to the IP addresses of the providers and the necessary regions.

HAVE A PLAN FOR CONTINUITY OF ACTIVITIES AND AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

This is the set of measures aimed at ensuring, under various crisis scenarios (including in the face of extreme shocks), the maintenance of services essential to the business. A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) includes risk analysis to deal with multiple scenarios. It can be an IT problem, a data breach attack, a natural disaster on a site, a fire, or another scenario.

The business continuity plan provides for the maintenance of the company’s essential services such as the work of certain services on a fallback site. It also provides for the planned recovery of activities.

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is essential for any sector when there is a risk of disruption of critical activities that may lead to economic losses or to reputation losses of the company.

Responding correctly to scenarios, including sending a clear and precise alert using a crisis management system, can increase credibility among employees and customers.
The management and control of risks associated with a change is essential to ensure the sustainability of a company.

It is necessary to carry out one or more crisis risk analyzes:

Analysis of the repercussions on the operations: in the context of a crisis scenario, what are the activities, the processes essential to the durability of the company?

IT risk analysis: Is the use of IT essential to the smooth running of the business? In case of affirmation, what impacts should we expect to face?

Chemical, Flood or Fire Risk Analysis: Does the company have a hazardous substance that can ignite? Is it located in a flood risk zone? Is it surrounded by other companies equipped with dangerous substances? A disaster can be caused by the proximity of other risks of internal or external origin.

BASIC PROTECTION
  • Have an incident management plan to respond to an incident
  • Have a business continuity plan to preserve the business
  • All workers must know the point of contact to report an incident
  • Distribute and update contact point information (internal and external contacts, management and technical contacts, etc.)
  • Report all incidents to the management
ADVANCED PROTECTION
  • Evaluate and test these plans annually.
  • Evaluate the advisability of insurance against incidents of
    cybersecurity.
  • Install emergency devices for utility services (electricity, telephone, Internet, etc.).

CONCLUSION

Cybercrime is growing at a fast pace and more and more businesses are being targeted. In the United States, nearly 44% of small businesses have been victims of a cyberattack and the number continues to increase each year. This crime could cost more than $ 2 billion in 2019. This is four times more than in 2015.

Developing a strong, multi-layered security strategy using each of the 12 types of cybersecurity that we outlined can save a business.

Continuous training of employees and the implementation of security technologies will provide the first line of defense and significantly reduce the number of security breaches.

Finally, a reliable backup and recovery solution will be the second and most important layer that gives businesses the ability to reboot quickly in the event of a major incident.

THIS TYPES OF CYBERSECURITY GUIDE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY TECHNICAL EXPERT HICHAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH “cyberexperts.com“. IT IS BASED ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES IN ORDER TO HAVE A ROBUST DEFENSE AND FACE THE DIGITAL THREAT.

Note: The information provided on this types of cybersecurity guide is exclusive of a general nature and do not intend to take into consideration any particular situation.

IoT Cybersecurity Issues

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
IoT Cybersecurity Issues

The Internet of things encompasses all components that are interconnected by a worldwide computer network and communicate with each other. The components transmit data through shared resources like servers and storage devices. Security becomes paramount to all these components because these devices can be used by hackers. Hackers may gain access to confidential information.

The Internet of things helps in sharing resources and making life better, but also it comes with challenges.  Your cybersecurity is critical when it comes to the internet of things (IoT). This article describes the effects of poor IoT security.

  1. Loss of information and data

Just by connecting your laptop to the internet, you are now part of the internet of things. All your information that is on your computer is at risk. Hackers use code scripts and techniques to search for and detect new devices that have recently connected to the internet of things. They have advanced technologies to know if these components have proper cybersecurity controls. If they do not have the appropriate controls, then it is easy for hackers to access your private information.

Hackers will use unprotected components as a gateway or access point to other protected components, putting even the protected components at risk.

For your safety, you should have firewalls to protect all your connected components so that they may not fall prey to hackers. Having a reliable antivirus software will also assist you in making sure that you are safe from attacks.

IoT components may be used as botnets that are controlled remotely using malware. As technology advances, hackers are becoming more sophisticated. IoT devices often have limited processing power. But when many thousands of IoT devices are leveraged as botnets, they can be mighty. They can be used to create a disruptive denial of service attack that creates havoc for the targeted organizations.

Guidelines for Cybersecurity on Ships

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Guidelines for Cybersecurity on Ships

Ships have become a target for cyber attacks. Hackers know that many of the ships are vulnerable, making them easy to hack.

One of the things that have made ships an easy target is because they often do not take security precautions. Most of them do not have instruments that prevent and protect them from cyberattacks. They rely on old technology, which has many vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities make them easy to be attacked by hackers who have sophisticated technology.

Ships need to invest in new technology, and they also need to have security standards to protect them from hackers.

Security standards are an essential aspect of any organization. They assist in protecting the interests of those institutions. For ships, they need standards to develop understanding and awareness of the critical elements of cybersecurity and cyber safety.

They focus on distinctive issues onboard ships. Consequences of not following standards could be severe, like physical loss of vessels, damage to boats, bodily injury to crew and onboard people, or the loss of cargo.

Here are standards to make sure that ships stay secure and there cybersecurity is not infringed:

  1. Establishment of awareness of the safety, security and commercial risk

Everyone onboard needs to know the chances that the ship is exposed to when sailing. Management should have safety measures taken to mitigate the risks and also should have a plan that can be made in the event of an attack. The education of security measures should ensure that all on the ship are aware of the risks.

  • Protection of ship with IT infrastructure

For the vessel to be safe, there is a need to use technology to protect it from attackers. Equipment like firewalls that can protect the ship from intruders and against vulnerabilities that allow the ship’s GPS systems to be attacked.

  • Authentication and authorization system

Access controls should be in place. Everyone should go through an authentication and authorization process before being allowed to access information or even certain private areas of the ship. Management of the users is critical to make sure that only those with “Need to Know” can access the information that they need.

  • Recovery plan

If a security event occurs, there is a need for a Blan B. A rollback plan or a restoration plan should be in place to make sure everything can go back to normal even after an attack has occurred. There must be resilience for the ship to go on.

In conclusion, maritime is facing many attacks in recent years and should be focused on cybersecurity. Ships are losing millions of dollars from attacks and are the high time to focus on security.

Challenges in cybersecurity that are hard to protect yourself from

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Challenges in cybersecurity that are hard to protect yourself from

As we continue to look for ways to curb cyber threats, companies and individuals are increasingly facing more and advanced threats. Cybercriminals use various methods to execute their threats. There is no clear way to deal with or to eradicate cyber crime though there are some ways we can limit the risk and protect ourselves from these criminals.

Some challenges in cybersecurity are more complex than others and are more challenging. In this article, we are going to walk you through some of these threats that are somehow very hard to mitigate. Some of these threats are from outside the company or workplace while others are just from within the organization.

1 Ransomware

Ransomware is one of the most aggressive tricks used by the black hat hackers. It involves taking a computer or even the whole network hostage. The files or data in that particular computer under hostage becomes inaccessible by the user until the victim pays some ransom fees typically paid in the form of cryptocurrency such as bitcoin.

The number of ransomware incidents has increased by around 36%, the rate at which it is growing is very alarming. Unfortunately, criminals are here to stay. These attackers spread viruses to the company and its customers. They then demand fees to clear the infection. The virus removed after the victim pays the price (hopefully).

2 The Internet of Things (IoT)

In the current generation, most people globally at least have an iPhone, television, a tablet, and a computer. More than 80% have smartphones. The internet of things ensures that all the devices that you own connect. It’s the fast track of essential change and is how the future economies shall work.

The experience of placing a sensor on all the objects at minimal cost is exciting but could also be very dangerous. It’s very risky and can pose serious security issues. Cybercriminals can exploit the devices and use them for ransomware attacks or DDoS attacks. The interconnectedness of these devices makes the consumer susceptible to attackers.

3 Information flow among devices

Some employees connect personal devices to those at work. The employee’s devices are doubling as both personal devices and work devices. This act can comprise the company’s data or other confidential information.

4 Cloud-based services and computing

Many companies have embraced the use of cloud computing; it enables companies and organizations to be swifter in their operations. Long gone are the days when companies had to pay large sums of money to purchase expensive software. Today most of them use SaaS solutions; they are cloud-based, are readily available, and are inexpensive. The answers are very appealing but might pose serious security threats to the companies.

5 Access to confidential information.

Internal threats are more complex to detect and deal with as compared to external attacks, which can be easily recognizable. The internal attack is more ambiguous when it involves access control. If an employee decides to download a file that is not related to job duties, it is difficult to discern whether this is an attack or just a mistake.

A Step by Step Guide on how a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment is Performed

Donald Korinchak, MBA, PMP, CISSP, CASP, ITILv3
-
0
A Step by Step Guide on how a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment is Performed

Risk assessment needs to be done frequently for any organization. These risk assessments protect against cybersecurity threats that are happening every day.

It is an essential activity that needs to be executed carefully. The following steps can act as a guide to risk assessment.

Almost every organization relies on information technology and information systems to complete transactions and conduct daily business. Many risks are introduced during these transactions. These risks need to be examined to ensure that they are mitigated effectively.

The cyber risk assessment is used to identify, estimate, and prioritize the risk to an institution’s operations. By providing the organization with an executive summary, cyber risk assessment helps in making informed decisions to support the proper risk responses.

We are going to review the steps used when performing cybersecurity risk assessment:

Identifying the size, scope of assessment, and complexity of your organization assets

It is essential to understand the architecture and details of the system that you need to protect.

First, identify exactly what you are going to assess. This will allow you to determine the scope of your assessment. It will also help you plan your time wisely, and you will not leave any component or forget anything at all.

Make a list of everything that needs to be assessed.  This includes data, partners, and vendors. Identify data exchanges, both physical and logical containers such as removal devices, data centers, code, and scripts.

This initial step will help to determine how your cybersecurity risk assessment will be successful. Make sure you do not omit valuable assets, as this can be devastating to your findings.

Determining assets value

Knowing the asset value of everything that needs to be assessed will help you see the importance of it.

Determining asset value can be difficult because it is affected by many factors.

Ask yourself questions like if the company loses the data, how time or money will it cost to start again from the ground up. You can ask yourself how far competitors would go to obtaining your data.  If there is a compromise, what revenue can be lost, and how much damage will occur?  These questions will help you in knowing how valuable your assets are.

Vulnerability and threat identification

Make a list of potential and relevant threats to your systems to help you do your cybersecurity assessment.  Common risks include unauthorized access, internal attacks, misuse of privileges, data leakage, or unintentional exposure of information. Data loss caused by poor back-up processes is also a vulnerability.

Internal auditing can assist you in knowing the vulnerable areas of the system. Doing a vulnerability scan will also give you information regarding areas that need to be addressed.

Weighing the cost of prevention

Calculations should be done at this stage to determine if the value of the data or system is worthy of the cost of the mitigation methods.

Implementation stage

Your assessment will help to determine what you controls you should implement. The identified controls will be applied and put into action. The plan should always be cost-effective and practical. You need to closely monitor to ensure that the controls meet the expectations of the organization.

Tips to Avoid Becoming a Social Engineering Victim

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Tips to Avoid Becoming a Social Engineering Victim

Cybercriminals are smart, sneaky, and are becoming more creative with how they conduct cyber-attacks. Social engineering is a core tool that is being used by these malicious people to execute their plans and exploit their targets to the fullest.  They will use all their best techniques and skills to lure you into their traps.

You need to know how to avoid these bad minded people who can easily manipulate you if you are not careful. These hackers are hoping that you are naïve, and you do not know what to do.  Here are a few tips to help you avoid social engineering attacks:

Pamper yourself with knowledge, be informed

You need to be well educated about what is happening in the world of social engineering. As they say, information is power. Information is the most powerful tool to help you avoid social engineering attacks.  Read up to date details on how phishing techniques are currently being used.

You should also research websites that describe how to identify cyber-attacks and how to protect yourself from hackers. There are many different types of attacks to learn about, but they all fall into just a handful of attack categories.

Be calm and slow when dealing with cyber-attacks.

Hackers use your emotions at their advantage; they convey a sense of urgency to cause you to make mistakes. You are most vulnerable to be attacked is when you are not yourself, tensed, acting in urgency, and portraying signs of confusion.

Take a deep breath and calm down if you have received any request concerning your personal information. Think about what is being asked of you so that you can realize that a scam is in progress.

Due diligence

Performing due diligence can be of great help in social engineering cases. Don’t jump to conclusions. But instead, follow all the steps in authenticating any information you receive.

If you receive an email request to send the personal information, you should call the bank before providing your information. Do not disclose any information if you are not sure. You should wait until you take steps to ensure that you are not socially engineered. It never a matter of life or death, so it can surely wait. Validate the email address that has sent the information and the phone number that may have called you.

Never click of links or download attachments from unknown sources

This is how hackers get malware to your computer for them to access it remotely and steal your information. Always treat it as spam until you know exactly where it originated.

Strong password

Make sure that your password is secure. Always make it your norm to change your password frequently. Do not use any default passwords. Eight or more character password, which is a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols is strong.

Avoid sharing too much on social media

Hackers can track you down online due to your constant sharing of your personal information. They can know all your traits and get your personal information from social media. Always be sensitive when it comes to social media, if it is possible, keep off from it of you feel you may be a target.

Security Issues in 5G Networks

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Security Issues in 5G Networks

The rollout of AT&T and Verizon 5G NETWORKS is in progress. Several cities are being turned up for 5G, and there are many more in the planning stages.

People are anxiously waiting for 5G and are excited about how it will take network speed to another level.  5G promises much higher speed and greater reliability. 5G will change the way network devices communicate as it will deliver significant advances in the technology sector. But as with any new technology rollout, there are severe security implications that need to be considered and addressed.

Network security

One of the significant issues that must be addressed is network security. A study conducted by scientists from ETH Zurich, the University of Lorraine/INRIA, and the University of Dundee, indicated that interceptions in 5G communications are easy. The study implies that hackers will not have difficulties in hacking the communication that is using 5G. This study contradicts information that describes how 5G networks are protected against International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers.

Data theft

Data is vulnerable to theft on 5G networks. The scientists argue that there is a lack of precision and security goals are under-specified.  There is a need to increase protection in the 5G network to enable it to protect data from loss or being intercepted by hackers.

Serious 5G Vulnerabilities must be dealt with

Researchers from different universities have discovered that there are severe vulnerabilities in 5G.  There is a broader attack surface related to accelerating the adoption of virtualized distributed network infrastructures and the use of containerized workloads. This increased attack surface makes 5G networks an excellent playground for hackers. As a result of the distributed systems and containerized environment, it is difficult to ensure that systems and applications remain protected against newly identified vulnerabilities.

Denial of service attack

With 5G, you will be able to have many different types of connected devices in your home and can check on them remotely with the use of applications. This introduces new challenges and new opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Imagine that a malicious neighbor gains control of your home devices while you are away on vacation. You may come home to a warm refrigerator, a wet house, and destroyed electronics!

In conclusion, this 5G network is a significant advancement, but it also has serious security challenges. Existing 4G security challenges are amplified with the new architecture of 5G. We expect that 5G network exploits will be in the news as the 5G rollout continues.

Basic principles of Ethical Hacking – Footprinting

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Basic principles of Ethical Hacking – Footprinting

The first step in ethical hacking is to gather information on the target system. The tools and techniques used to gather this information is called Footprinting. Footprinting includes gathering information about the network, host and also people who work in that organization. It is a key process that needs to be done thoroughly for any ethical hacker to be successful.

Security posture

Footprinting helps in assessing the security posture of an organization. It allows the ethical hacker to learn the IP addresses, DNS information, operating systems, phone numbers, email ids, and other valuable information.  Footprinting can provide an overview of how an organization prioritizes it’s security posture.

Attack surface reduction

Footprinting allows the ethical hacker to understand the attack surface. One of the first things that and ethical hacker will do is analyze what ports are open and determine the characteristics of the target system.

What is the easiest way to reduce the attack surface? Be sure to close all unused ports. This is a very basic concept but hackers love when this concept is overlooked. And it often is!

Network mapping

Footprinting will assist in drawing network maps of the target organization. These network maps cover topology, routers, servers and other key components in the network. Footprinting helps to identify the details of the network components and may even allow the ethical hacker to identify the physical location of the components!

Three Easy Ways to Protect Your Website from Cyber Attacks

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Three Easy Ways to Protect Your Website from Cyber Attacks

You might not think that your website is a target for hacking. The truth is, however, that all websites are targets for hackers. It is best to take action to mitigate the threat from hackers before you end up being a victim.

Installation of a secure socket layer in your website

Security socket layer (SSL) will guard your website from intruders. SSL will enable your website to submit personal and financial information securely. Getting and installing an SSL certificate is quite easy. In most cases you just need to order the SSL certificate from your website host. Their technical team will configure and install it. Easy as pie!

Avoid or restrict file uploading to your website

Files that are uploaded may contain script or malicious codes that can execute and harm your website. You need to treat all uploaded files as suspicious and always do virus scans before you do anything with them.

The best way to be safe is to just avoid this issue. Do not let users upload files to your website! If there is a need for users to transfer files to you using a web interface then it is important ot restrict the file types and implement scanning to identify any threats.

Use of website vulnerability scanners

Website vulnerability scanners are useful in finding all your weak areas on your website that can be used by hackers to cause an alarm. It is a secure way to identify SQL injection and XSS attacks. Website vulnerability scanners will find vulnerabilities before the hackers do!

Top hacking techniques

Oliviah Nelson
-
1
Top hacking techniques

Hackers have been coming up with different ways of hacking, and it is time for you to know those techniques for you to be on the safe side. When you get to know their tricks, you will be able to keep yourself safe and be able to counter any malicious activity that may be planned against you.

Denial of service (DoS)

This attack is accomplished by hackers taking down servers or sites by flooding them with a lot of traffic. Hackers use Botnets – hundreds or thousands of maliciously controlled computers – to flood the target with so many requests that legitimate users cannot access the system.

Fake wireless access points

Always be careful when accessing wireless access points. You might end up getting into the hands a malicious actor. One technique that hackers use is to create a fake wireless access point. When you connect the hacker will get all your information. If you must use a public wireless access point you should use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) so that you can keep your data safe. A VPN will prevent someone from accessing to your phone or computer with your permission. It will also hide the IP address of your machine or phone from the public domain.

Key logger

A Key logger gives a report of what you type on your computer. It is a simple technique which can be quite harmful. Key loggers record all of your key sequences and keystrokes every time you use your keyboard. After recording it sends a report to the hacker and provides crucial information like username and passwords.  Hackers have used this technique to obtain usernames and passwords for online baking platforms in order to empty out bank accounts.

You could counter this through the use of virtual keyboards. You should consider using a virtual keyboard anytime you need to type any highly sensitive information.

Water hole attack

Water hole attacks are conducted by creating a fake website that looks just like a company’s real website. These websites have everything that the real version of the website has. If you accidentily access the fake website your login information will be captured without your knowledge! You will just get an error message that you entered your password incorrectly. Your username and password will be recorded and then you will be transferred to the real website so that it works the second time you try.

Be sure you learn about the latest developments as far as cyber security is concerned. You may want to enroll in cybersecurity training to know the best practices and be able to protect yourself from hackers.

Ways Hackers Get Into Your Website

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
Ways Hackers Get Into Your Website

Hackers know that many websites are not secure and are easy targets. In 2019 the number of hacked websites rose by 32 percent. This is alarming and shows how risky websites can be. Google believes that this number will continue to grow.

There are many different ways in which hackers can get into your website.

Uninstalled Security updates

The lack of essential updates to your website may put your site at risk. Always be on the safe side by making sure that you have updated your web server software, CMS, plugins, and all the software that is being used by your website.

Vulnerable themes and plugins

Some developers do not continue to maintain plugins and themes. These themes and plugins become obsolete when they are not updated regularly.

This is very dangerous and will likely lead to a website compromise. Be sure that all of your website components are actively being updated. If you see a theme or plugin that has not been updated for months, then you can assume that the developer is no longer supporting it. Be sure to remove it from your site!

Some free plugins are created by hackers who want you to install them on your website. The hackers use those installed plugins as an access point to your site. So be careful what you use on your website.

Shared hosting

Your site could be vulnerable when it is being hosted on shared hosting. Other websites that are hosted on the same server may not be patched and may be vulnerable to hackers. Hackers could use one of the vulnerable website to get into the server that is hosting your website. This risk can be mitigated by hosting providers through the isolation of resources within the server.

Passwords

Make sure that you change the default usernames and passwords in your site or your server. Some people forget to change the password and continue to use the default password. You need to create a strong password that is not easy to guess and is not predictable. Adding two-factor authentication is recommended.

How airplanes should protect themselves from cyber threats 

Oliviah Nelson
-
0
How airplanes should protect themselves from cyber threats 

There are always more than five thousand planes on the skies every single minute and most of these aircraft rely on software for their operations. Any failure in the airline industry or even just a single airline could lead to a massive grounding of planes or worse!

Air traffic management has embraced the use of digital technologies in airports and for a supply chain in order to improve efficiencies.

Cyber criminals may have taken advantage of this to create an access point to the systems in order to steal data or to create damages. There is a greater need for all the aviation stakeholders to come together and boost the security efforts to ensure that their customers travel safely.

The airline industry has been taking the cybersecurity risks very seriously and is actively working to mitigate the possible risks.

How to keep safe from cyber threats in an airplane

There are several actions needed to ensure safety in the aircraft industry and at an independent organization level.

Aircraft industries should conduct independent cyber security audits. An effective audit will identify all of the necessary cyber security controls and document them. The audit findings will identify the issues that need to be addressed. These findings should then be prioritized and steps should be taken to mitigate the risks related to these findings.

There should be a clear framework set in place by the industry with domain-specific steps that can be used to mitigate and manage cyber threats.

A good cybersecurity framework should be based on five principles: identification, protection, detection, responding and recovery. 

A proper cyber risk management framework should also take care of four basic elements: adequate infrastructure for monitoring and detection, the proper process of following the procedures, clear identified roles and responsibilities and built-in oversight and proper documentation.

There is great power and strength in teamwork. Aircraft industries must collaborate and come together to ensure there is safety in the industry. The industry should also work with other industries to share best practices, strengthen IT systems, and create a security-minded culture.

Supply partners and all involved stakeholders must work together as a team to develop trust so that they are able to identify and mitigate cyber risks.

1...140141142...149Page 141 of 149

CyberExperts is your cybersecurity news and education website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos in the cybersecurity industry.

Contact us: [email protected]

© Copyright - CyberExperts.com