Tag Archive for: IMPORTANT

Ransomware-as-a-Service: The Threat That’s Making Cyber Resilience More Important Than Ever

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In late 2023, we covered the topic of cyber-attacks through a very detailed interview with Ram Elboim, CEO of Sygnia. As seen from that interview, the subject is dynamic, susceptible, and requires quite a lot of technical knowledge. The recent cyber-attack suffered by the British Library in London is a concrete example.

Due to ransomware – a program that, once installed, renders a system inaccessible – library services are unavailable, and sensitive user and employee data, including names, e-mails, and phone numbers, have been stolen. Usually, groups that carry such attacks demand a financial ransom to make the data accessible again.

Together with Sygnia and two of its leading figures, such as CEO Ram Elboim and UK and Northern Europe Manager Director Azeem Aleem, we will try to build on this example to understand other aspects of this complex and dangerous world.

The attack suffered by the British Library in London shocked everyone for several reasons. What happened? Who carried out the attack? Why does this attack represent such a big problem? 

Azeem: “The cyber-attack on the British Library highlights how ransomware gangs, are leaving no stone unturned, attacking not only businesses of all sectors that have high-value data, but now academia too. It also shows the brutal nature of triple extortion attack methods – crippling business operations and stealing data, before putting it up for ransom and publishing the data. Academic environments typically have fewer security protocols, with under-invested security teams, and are riddled with unpatched software and apps, that when combined, create the perfect playing field for hackers.

The British Library is a national treasure with a collection that holds some of the World’s most prized manuscripts, music scores, sound recordings, and first-edition books, including William Shakespeare’s plays. In this case, the Rhysida gang, a relatively new but substantial ransomware group, shut down the British Library’s website, phone systems, and other onsite services, causing an outage before stealing user data and employee details – almost 500,000 files amounting to 573GB. Within a matter of weeks, the gang had threatened to…

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Why Ransomware Is Important Discussion When Embracing Crypto

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Crypto ownership should come with cybersecurity awareness and the adoption of best practices in fending off the threats of possible direct crypto theft as well as extortion and ransom demands.

Despite all the skepticism, cryptocurrency adoption has steadily risen over the years. The number of people who are expected to use crypto as a payment method or for other purposes is expected to surpass 300 million in 2024, significantly higher than the current number of users. It appears all the doubts and mockery have not stopped cryptocurrencies from gaining new adopters.

This may give crypto fans a boost, but it is not meant to hide the unflattering details that skeptics assail, especially when it comes to the risks and threats. Downplaying the dangers is counterproductive and unhelpful towards meaningful crypto adoption. The growing number of ransomware attacks, in particular, is an important point to discuss substantively.

Aside from preparing for the possibility of crypto theft and price crashes, crypto users should also watch out for cases of ransomware attacks. The link between the two may be obscure but they are worth exploring, especially for those who are new to the world of cryptocurrency.

Preferred Ransom

Digital currency that affords some degree of anonymity has been the preferred currency of cyber criminals. Several high-profile attacks involve bitcoin or other cryptocurrency demands for the ransom. In a 2021 attack, for example, major meat supplier JBS reportedly paid a ransom in Bitcoin worth $11 million. The Colonial Pipeline attack in 2022 forced the American oil pipeline system company to shell out $5 million. Most ransomware attacks have resulted in ransom payments.

A survey among companies that have been affected by ransomware attacks reveals that an overwhelming majority of them decide to pay the ransom just to recover their hostage files and restore normal operations as soon as possible. For many, it costs them less to pay the ransom than to go through the lengthy process of cracking the ransomware decryption code to recover files and go after the perpetrators. This is unfortunate and discrepant with industry and government policy on ransom payment.

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Cyber Security – Why Cyber Security is Important

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What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity, short for “cybersecurity technology” or “cybersecurity practices,” refers to a set of measures, technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect computer systems, networks, devices, and data from digital threats, attacks, and unauthorized access.

Its primary goal is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of digital assets and systems in the face of a constantly evolving landscape of cyber threats.

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Imagine you have lost money and valuable things in your house. How will you protect your valuable things from theft?

There are a lot of methods like hiding it from others, keeping a locker and safeguarding it with a secure key or passcode etc.

In the Digital World, Cyber Security is the technology that provides ways to hide and protect your digital assets like Sensitive Data, PII-Personally Identifiable Information, Intellectual Property, Government identifiable information, and other confidential information.

More information about why cyber security is Important.

  1. Protecting Personal Information:

One of the most significant reasons why cybersecurity is essential is to safeguard our personal information. Think about all the data you have online – your email, social media accounts, bank details, and more. Without proper cybersecurity measures, this information could fall into the wrong hands, leading to identity theft, financial loss, and privacy invasion.

  1. Safeguarding Businesses:

Cybersecurity is not only about individuals; it’s crucial for businesses too. Companies store massive amounts of sensitive data, including customer information, trade secrets, and financial records. A successful cyberattack can cripple a business, resulting in financial losses and damage to its reputation.

  1. Protecting National Security:

Cyberattacks are not limited to individuals or businesses. They can also target critical infrastructure, government institutions, and even national security. Ensuring strong cybersecurity measures is a matter of national importance to protect against cyber espionage and cyber warfare.

  1. Preserving Trust:

The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, from online shopping to social…

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How to delete your search history and why that’s important

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Some of the products written about here are offered in affiliation with AOL. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Beautiful south american woman working at computer at office

It’s a good idea to clear your browser history regularly. (Photo: Getty)

You may not give your search history much thought, but by practicing good browser hygiene, you can help maintain your privacy online.

Your computer’s search history is like a diary of your life. If you don’t delete it regularly, you might be exposing more sensitive data than you think. So it’s a good idea to clear your browsing history now and then. And if you ever use a public computer, always clear your search history after each session.

Installing and running a powerful tool like System Mechanic can assist in keeping your browsing history private. Quick Scan, a program that comes with System Mechanic, alerts you to any compromised privacy settings and helps find browser-stored passwords that may be vulnerable to hacking.

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You can also help maintain your privacy while online by opening a private browsing window, called “incognito” in some browsers. You can close it when you’re done and delete your browsing history on the browsers you use.

However, it’s important to point out that when you clear, delete, or hide browsing history on-screen, you do not remove your visits to those websites. In other words, even though the next person to use your computer won’t be able to see where you’ve been if you clear your history, the sites you visit still can. If you’re concerned about websites sharing your data with a third party, installing a system tune-up like System Mechanic can help. The software helps prevent your private data from being shared with third-party companies.

Smiling man working at home

Use a public computer? Be sure to clear your browser history each time. (Photo: Getty)

Leaving breadcrumbs of your identity all over the internet can make it easier for scammers to collect enough information about your private life to deceive you.

“No matter what information someone contacting you already claims to have about you, never confirm or help fill out that data further, or provide them any additional information…

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