Fifty Years of Computing – Doug Engelbart

Fifty years ago, in 1968, computers were big mainframe systems that were programmed using large decks of punch cards.  All output came out of a printer.  There were no computer displays yet, just rows of blinking light bulbs that were call a “monitor.”  All programs were run as batch jobs, one at a time.  There were no windows, no multi-tasking, no interactive computing as we know it today.

On December 8, 1968 a computer engineer named Doug Engelbart made a presentation ...

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19
JAN
0

Apple, Computers and Internet

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Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy – What Countries Are Using Cyber-Espionage Tactics?

The press has been relentless lately in its coverage of Russian cyber-espionage and disinformation campaigns on Facebook and other social networks prior to the last US Presidential campaign.  But is Russia the first to engage in election rigging on this sort?  Hardly.  We thought that looking at the state of cyber-espionage as a tactic in international relations might be interesting, and we were right.  It turns out that cyber-espionage is not ...

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17
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, law and policy, News and politics, surveillance

What the Heck is a Watering Hole Attack?

We’ve all seen this on National Geographic.  A lion, tiger, or other top predator hides near a water hole and waits for some sort of four-legged lunch to stop by for a drink.  Cyber-criminals and other attackers are using a similar technique to download and install malware from niche or industry specific websites to computer systems at targeted businesses.  Here’s ...

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15
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, malware, social engineering, Software vulnerability, Web Design, WordPress

Free Dark Web Report from Experian – Part Three

On Monday and Wednesday we took an in depth look at the free dark web scan being offered by Experian.  As we found out on Wednesday, I was not too impressed with the results of the free scan.  Better information is available from HaveIBeenPwned.com.

What is Experian really offering?  The free scan just looked for the email address I provided, ...

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12
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, Identity Theft, passwords, Security

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Free Dark Web Report from Experian – Part Two

On Monday we started an investigation into the free dark web scan that is being offered by credit agency Experian.  Again, this is NOT Equifax, who breached our information last year.  This is a different credit agency.

When we ran the free scan on Experian, they found three results.  But I knew there was more to find, because I had ...

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10
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, Dark Web, Identity Theft, passwords, Security

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Free Dark Web Report from Experian – Part One

I caught an ad on TV the other night that made me curious.  Experian is offering a “free dark web report,”  ostensibly to see if any of your personal data is for sale on the Dark Web.  Well I don’t really need a test to tell me that.  Since the Equifax breach, I am pretty sure all of us have information for ...

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8
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, Dark Web, Identity Theft, passwords, Security

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Weekend Update

A quick Saturday digest of cybersecurity news articles from other sources.

20 Worst Passwords of 2017

Nearly identical to last year’s list.  Some people never learn.  If you are using any of these passwords, please change them now!

Announcing the Free Cyber Security for Beginners Course

Build your online security skills for free with this practical course from Heimdal Security.

Microsoft Word slams ...

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6
JAN
0

Apple, Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, smartphones, social engineering, Software vulnerability, Weekend Update

Jail Time for Executives Who Fail To Report A Breach?

Since Equifax leaked credit and identity information on ALL of us last year, I have been in a foul mood about the clueless and technically inept C-level corporate executives who are responsible for these breaches.  Throw the bums in jail!

Well, a law working its way through Congress may do just that.  For the first time executives may be facing not just ritual termination, and shaming in the press, but actual ...

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5
JAN
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, law and policy, News and politics

Privileged Accounts Are Poorly Managed

Privileged accounts, typically administrator accounts, are the all powerful user accounts who can do anything on a computer, server, network, or domain.  These are the top targets for cyber-criminals and other malicious hackers.  And they generally are poorly managed.  Here are some common mistakes we see when conduction security reviews for clients.

  • Domain, Network, and Server Administrators – These accounts are often used ...
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3
JAN
0

authentication, Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, passwords, Security

Blocking Is Not Just For Football-Part 2

On Wednesday we looked at IP blocking and geo-blocking as cybersecurity tactics.  Today we finish our review of blocking techniques with sender blocking and domain blocking.

Sender Blocking

Many of us are familiar with sender blocking.  Blocking an email sender, and adding them to our sender blacklist, is one of the ways that spam and phishing email filtering works.  Modern spam filters also analyze content and ...

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29
DEC
0

Computers and Internet, cybersecurity, Security

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