Security policy and user awareness
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News
23 May 2024
Northern Ireland police face £750,000 fine after data protection blunder put lives at risks
Information commissioner John Edwards uses discretion to reduce proposed fine from £5.6m to £750,000 Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2024
Rockwell urges users to disconnect ICS equipment
ICS systems maker Rockwell Automation calls on users to take steps to secure their equipment, and reminds them there is no reason to ever have its hardware connected to the public internet, as it tracks an increase in global threat activity Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Jun 2024
True cloud security requires in-depth understanding
This month, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank considers how CISOs and security practitioners should ensure that the business can make use of public cloud services safely and securely and avoid accidental or deliberate data leakage. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2024
Pure Storage hit by Snowflake credential hackers
Pure Storage emerges as the latest victim of a fast-spreading breach of Snowflake customers targeting users with lax credential security measures in place Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2024
More than 160 Snowflake customers hit in targeted data theft spree
Mandiant reports that more than 160 Snowflake customers have been hit in a broad data theft and extortion campaign targeting organisations that have failed to pay proper attention to securing valuable credentials Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2024
DDoS gang threatens to disrupt European elections
Russian hacktivists are threatening to disrupt the European Parliament elections, while the BBC reports on new deepfake threats to the UK’s electoral process Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2024
Sophos uncovers Chinese state-sponsored campaign in Southeast Asia
Sophos found three distinct clusters of activity targeted at a high-level government organisation that appeared to be tied to Chinese interests in the South China Sea Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2024
FBI finds 7,000 LockBit decryption keys in blow to criminal gang
The US authorities say they now have more than 7,000 LockBit decryption keys in their possession and are urging victims of the prolific ransomware gang to come forward Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2024
OAIC files civil penalty action against Medibank
The OAIC alleges that Medibank failed to take reasonable steps to protect the personal information of 9.7 million Australians in the October 2022 data breach Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Jun 2024
Security Think Tank: The cloud just got more complicated
This month, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank considers how CISOs and security practitioners should ensure that the business can make use of public cloud services safely and securely and avoid accidental or deliberate data leakage. Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Jun 2024
Building a more secure, and sustainable, open source ecosystem
In April 2024, the discovery of an intentionally-placed backdoor in the open source XZ Utils data compression caused concern. Sentry's Chad Whitacre says a more thoughtful approach is needed to balance the individual freedom and creativity of open source, with more rigorous security practice. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2024
Russia used fake AI Tom Cruise in Olympic disinformation campaign
Microsoft threat researchers report a surge in Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the 2024 Summer Olympics, including AI-enhanced propaganda Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2024
97 FTSE 100 firms exposed to supply chain breaches
Between March 2023 and March 2024, 97 out of 100 companies on the UK’s FTSE 100 list were put at risk of compromise following supply chain breaches at third-party suppliers Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2024
Proofpoint exposes AFF scammers’ piano gambit
Ransomware and nation state actors dominate the headlines, but fraud and scams still net career cyber criminals thousands from unsuspecting members of the public. Proofpoint reports on a campaign targeting victims of a musical inclination Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2024
Organisations value digital trust, but aren’t working at it
Three quarters of organisations believe digital trust is relevant to their businesses, yet clear gaps in strategies still seem to persist Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 May 2024
How to avoid joining the Dead Java Code Society
Unused or dead Java code is bogging down software engineers and developers, causing weird dependencies and security risks. Eric Costlow of Azul shares some advice on how to avoid becoming a member of a rather unpleasant club Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2024
Executive Interview: Why Dell wants to be your one-stop AI shop
At Dell Technologies World in Las Vegas, artificial intelligence was the talk of the town as Dell staked out an all-encompassing strategy ahead of an anticipated goldrush. Dell’s Nick Brackney explains why the tech giant believes it's onto a winner Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2024
Northern Ireland police face £750,000 fine after data protection blunder put lives at risks
Information commissioner John Edwards uses discretion to reduce proposed fine from £5.6m to £750,000 Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2024
Rockwell urges users to disconnect ICS equipment
ICS systems maker Rockwell Automation calls on users to take steps to secure their equipment, and reminds them there is no reason to ever have its hardware connected to the public internet, as it tracks an increase in global threat activity Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2024
Parliamentary committee criticises big tech response to election threats
Parliamentary committee says tech companies ‘regurgitated publicly available content’ and failed to address questions raised by MPs and peers Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2024
The Security Interviews: What is the real cyber threat from China?
Former NCSC boss Ciaran Martin talks about nation-state attacks, why the UK has become so exercised about cyber espionage, and how our leaders are in danger of misunderstanding their adversaries Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2024
Why the UK needs to fix its broken IT security market
Ollie Whitehouse, CTO of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, says the market for secure software is broken. Are new laws required to make software companies liable for poor security? Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2024
GCHQ to protect politicians and election candidates from cyber attacks
The National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, to protect election candidates from hostile state cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2024
Cyber Safety Force wants to change conversation around risk
A consortium to help cyber pros better manage risk has launched, with ambitious goals to change the nature of the conversation from cyber security to cyber safety Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2024
Critical SharePoint, Qakbot-linked flaws focus of May Patch Tuesday
A critical SharePoint vulnerability warrants attention this month, but it is another flaw that seems to be linked to the infamous Qakbot malware that is drawing attention Continue Reading
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News
14 May 2024
China poses genuine and increasing cyber security risk to UK, says GCHQ director
GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler uses her first major public speech to warn that China poses a significant cyber security threat to the UK Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 May 2024
The UK may not have a choice on a ransomware payment ban
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 May 2024
How to create a cloud security policy, step by step
What are the necessary components of a cloud security policy, and why should an organization go to the trouble to create one? Download a template to get the process started. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2024
Major breach of customer information developing at Dell
Almost 50 million data records relating to Dell customers appear to have been compromised in a major cyber breach Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2024
Cyber attack victims need to speak up, says ICO
The Information Commissioner’s Office is urging organisations to be transparent and learn from each other’s mistakes as it reveals most of the cyber attacks it responds to stem from the same core errors Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 May 2024
Zero Trust: Unravelling the enigma and charting the future
A special interest group aims to start a long-overdue discourse on the merits, dangers, costs, and development of Zero Trust and IAM in information security Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 May 2024
Embrace alternative education pathways for cyber success
Shifting focus toward passion, adaptability, and a willingness to learn can revolutionise talent acquisition, fostering a more diverse and effective cyber security force. Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2024
Microsoft beefs up cyber initiative after hard-hitting US report
Microsoft is expanding its recently launched Secure Future Initiative in the wake of a hard-hitting US government report on recent nation state intrusions into its systems Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
Why IAM is central to cyber security
BeyondTrust’s chief security strategist talks up the importance of identity and access management, and the role of cyber insurance in driving security improvements Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
NCSC updates warning over hacktivist threat to CNI
The NCSC and CISA have warned about the evolving threat from Russia-backed hacktivist threat actors targeting critical national infrastructure, after a number of American utilities were attacked Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
EMEA CISOs must address human factors behind cyber incidents
The 17th annual Verizon report on data breaches makes for sobering reading for security pros, urging them to do more to address the human factors involved in cyber incidents, and highlighting ongoing issues with zero-day patching Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
Secure coding benchmark to increase standards among developers
Developer security advocate Secure Code Warrior has launched what it claims is the industry’s first benchmark designed to quantify the security competence of its customers’ software developer teams Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Persistent data breaches deny people with HIV dignity and privacy
The ICO has urged charities and healthcare organisations that work with people living with HIV to do better when it comes to protecting their personal data, after the HIV status of more than 100 people was accidentally disclosed by London’s Central YMCA Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2024
UK’s long-awaited device security law kicks in
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act has become law across the UK, enforcing basic cyber security standards across connected products sold to the public Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2024
Progress being made on gender diversity in cyber
Women make up a higher percentage of new entrants to the cyber security profession, particularly among younger age groups, and are increasingly taking up leadership positions and hiring roles, but challenges still persist Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Mandatory MFA pays off for GitHub and OSS community
Mandating multifactor authentication for select developers has been a huge success for GitHub, the platform reports, and now it wants to go further Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Cyber training leader KnowBe4 to buy email security firm Egress
Security awareness training and phishing simulation specialist KnowBe4 is to buy email security expert Egress Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
TikTok ban sails through US Senate
A law that will ban TikTok in the US unless its owner sells up pronto passed the US Senate by a landslide majority after being included in a package of military aid Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Education will be key to good AI regulation: A view from the USA
Computer Weekly sat down with Salesforce’s vice-president of federal government affairs, Hugh Gamble, to find out how the US is forging a path towards AI regulation, and how things look from Capitol Hill Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Apr 2024
Questions for IT and cyber leaders from the CSRB Microsoft report
The US government's CSRB report on last year's state sponsored cyber attacks on Microsoft raises significant concerns for Redmond and its customers. Expert Owen Sayers outlines five key questions IT and cyber security leaders should now consider Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2024
IT leaders hiring CISOs aplenty, but don’t fully understand the role
Most businesses now have a CISO, but perceptions of what CISOs are supposed to do, and confusion over the value they offer, may be holding back harmonious relations, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
CSA warns of emerging security risks with cloud and AI
Few users appreciate the security risks of cloud and have the expertise to implement the complex security controls, says CSA chief executive David Koh Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Approaches to ransomware need a course correction
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2024
Mandiant formally pins Sandworm cyber attacks on APT44 group
Mandiant has formally attributed a long-running campaign of cyber attacks by a Russian state actor known as Sandworm to a newly designated advanced persistent threat group to be called APT44 Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
CISOs not yet convinced to invest in AI
CISOs say their eyes are fixed firmly on threats like ransomware and supply chain attacks, and while AI is becoming a threat that needs to be dealt with, it’s not yet an immediate spending priority Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
CW Innovation Awards: Balancing security and user experience
The National University of Singapore’s Safe initiative has strengthened the security of IT systems and end-user devices while prioritising user experience through passwordless access Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Apr 2024
2024 election security: Confronting disinformation and deepfakes
Although disinformation and deepfakes are a threat to electoral integrity, we already have ways to counter emerging threats and there is an opportunity is to adapt and scale these approaches to counter the challenge to democracy, writes Saj Huq. Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
Recognising APAC’s trailblazers in digital transformation
DBS Bank and NUS were among the top industry innovators that were lauded for various transformational initiatives at the Computer Weekly Innovation Awards APAC 2024 Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2024
More social engineering attacks on open source projects observed
In the wake of the recent XZ Utils scare, maintainers of another open source project have come forward to say they may have experienced similar social engineering attacks Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2024
Apple iPhone security alert renews spyware concerns
An Apple security alert received by users in 92 countries raises fresh fears over ongoing campaigns by users of mercenary spyware products Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2024
5G networks and biometric breakthroughs: Navigating opportunities and risks
Businesses are quickly adopting 5G to introduce advanced security features such as facial recognition, but while these technologies improve safety and ease of use, they also raise concerns about how sensitive biometric information is gathered and may be misused Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
UK plc failing on multiple cyber measures
Government report shows 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported a cyber attack or breach in the past 12 months and organisations across the UK are failing on multiple cyber measures Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Is a cyber arms control treaty out of reach?
The world needs cyber arms control more than ever, but the challenges facing a multilateral agreement will be hard to surmount, according to researchers at Germany’s Digital Society Institute Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2024
What Cisco’s Splunk acquisition means for APAC customers
APAC organisations can expect better visibility and insights into their networks and applications along with automation and response capabilities to improve their digital resilience Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
China ramps up use of AI misinformation
Microsoft researchers have identified a growing pattern of AI-laced misinformation and political interference coming from Chinese threat actors Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
How Oracle Red Bull Racing guards against cyber threats
The F1 team is tapping managed security services, conducting penetration tests and improving security awareness among employees to fend off cyber threats such as phishing and ransomware Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2024
Obituary: Professor Ross Anderson, pioneer in security engineering and campaigner
Ross Anderson, a titan in the field of security engineering and campaigner for privacy and security, has passed away Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Banning ransomware payments is not so straightforward
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
03 Apr 2024
RDP abused in over 90% of cyber attacks, Sophos finds
Threat actors continue to see great success using simple, tried and tested methods, and many defenders are failing to do the basics Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Ransomware lessons from the armed forces
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2024
UK plc going backwards on cyber maturity, Cisco report claims
Fewer UK organisations believe their cyber security postures have reached a mature level than did so 12 months ago, as they struggle to keep up with new challenges and a fast-evolving threat landscape Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2024
Counter-eavesdropping agency unlawfully used surveillance powers to identify journalist’s source
More than 750 journalists had their communications data accessed by law enforcement and government agencies between 2018 and 2022 Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2024
NCSC reaffirms guidance for those at risk of Chinese state hacking
As the UK and US governments announce sanctions and indictments of a Chinese state threat actor, the NCSC has reiterated its security advice for individuals at risk of being targeted for espionage purposes Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2024
US authorities charge seven over Chinese hacking
The US Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese nationals linked to the APT31 threat actor that targeted politicians in the UK and US Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2024
Which? calls for government action on fake banking sites
Amid high volumes of spoofed, fraudulent banking websites, Which? is calling for the government to implement new legal obligations for domain registrars Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2024
NCSC guidance to help CEOs work through cyber incidents
The NCSC has published in-depth guidance on how business leaders should respond to a cyber attack or data breach. Learn about some of the key steps you will need to follow Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2024
UK’s cyber resilience stagnates as more fall victim to attacks
The government is calling on businesses to ramp up their cyber protections as study shows improvements to resilience are stagnating amid an ever-growing volume of attacks Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Mar 2024
Board-level buy-in: preparing cyber defences the right way
The cyber security function isn’t a back office team that is never seen and never heard. To truly protect the company, cyber security touches every corner of the business, and it starts from the top Continue Reading
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News
19 Mar 2024
Australia’s cyber security spending to grow 11.5% this year
Highly publicised cyber attacks and growing regulatory obligations are keeping security and risk top of mind for Australian organisations this year, says Gartner Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2024
The Security Interviews: Alex Yampolskiy, SecurityScorecard
Alex Yampolskiy conceived the idea for risk management specialist SecurityScorecard after getting stung by a SaaS supplier that was being cavalier with its customer data. He tells his story to Computer Weekly Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2024
UK’s AI ambitions pointless while cyber security is still neglected
The UK’s AI ambitions may be at considerable risk without stronger cyber defences across the private and public sectors Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2024
Microsoft AI-powered cyber service to go live in April
After a year being previewed by beta customers, Microsoft’s much vaunted Copilot for Security service is about to go on general release, promising time savings and improved accuracy for hard-pressed security pros Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2024
British Library opens up over ransomware attack to help others
The British Library has opted for full transparency after experiencing a devastating ransomware attack, publishing details of the intrusion, its response and the lessons it has learned Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2024
March Patch Tuesday throws up two critical Hyper-V flaws
Two critical vulnerabilities in Windows Hyper-V stand out on an otherwise unremarkable Patch Tuesday Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2024
Dutch organisations vulnerable to deepfake fraud
With the information many employees share on social media, Dutch companies are especially vulnerable to a new form of fraud Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2024
OSS leaders detail commitments to bolster software security
CISA has announced a number of actions to help secure the global open source ecosystem, as leading package repositories including the Python and Rust foundations advance their own initiatives Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2024
Rapid7 hits out over botched vulnerability disclosure
Software development firm JetBrains and security specialist Rapid7 fall out over the handling of a critical vulnerability disclosure, while customers are left rushing to patch Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2024
Banning ransomware payments back on the agenda
The idea of banning ransomware payments to cyber criminals is back on the agenda, with former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin arguing that tougher measures need to be taken Continue Reading
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E-Zine
05 Mar 2024
Authorised access only – biometrics in the workplace
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine how biometrics technologies are transforming identity and access management. We analyse research that shows a mismatch between managerial expectations of generative AI and worker experience. And we look at how to assess the best hybrid cloud management tools. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Mar 2024
Ivanti vulnerabilities explained: Everything you need to know
A series of vulnerabilities in Ivanti products have caused concern worldwide. Delve into some of the key issues arising from the Ivanti disclosures, looking at the vulnerabilities and their impact, what affected users should do, and learn about new developments Continue Reading
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News
29 Feb 2024
Okta doubles down on cyber in wake of high-profile breaches
Okta launches Secure Identity Commitment to shore up its technology in the wake of a damaging breach and elevate best practice around identity Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2024
75% of third-party breaches target software, IT supply chains
Data drawn from SecurityScorecard’s telemetry reveals how supply chain breaches are becoming a weapon of choice for threat actors Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2024
Users love their cyber teams, but find them frustrating
Despite strong support for security teams, a good number of ordinary workers see them as obstructive to business goals, and would like to see them operate more transparently Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2024
Storage technology explained: Ransomware and storage and backup
We look at ransomware attacks, and the importance of good backup practice as well as immutable snapshots, air-gapping, network segmentation, AI anomaly detection and supplier warranties Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2024
Black Basta and Bl00dy ransomware gangs exploiting ConnectWise vulns
More ransomware gangs have been observed exploiting two dangerous vulnerabilities in ConnectWise ScreenConnect software, prompting new warnings for users to get patching Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2024
Majority of UK employees ‘willingly gamble’ with security
Human-centric threats originating from employees continue to damage organisations both financially and reputationally, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2024
ConnectWise users see cyber attacks surge, including ransomware
ConnectWise ScreenConnect users who have yet to patch against a critical vulnerability are now being targeted by a barrage of cyber attacks, including ransomware Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Feb 2024
How can we adapt work practices to protect CISO mental health?
Cyber leaders are finding it harder to keep up with security requirements than just two years ago, risking a domino effect of dissatisfaction, burnout and eventually, resignation Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2024
LockBit locked out: Cyber community reacts
Reaction to the takedown of the LockBit ransomware gang is enthusiastic, but tempered with the knowledge that cyber criminals are often remarkably resilient Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2024
LockBit gang members arrested in Poland and Ukraine
The UK’s National Crime Agency and its global partners have shared more details on their audacious takedown of the LockBit ransomware operation, including news of two arrests Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2024
Cops take down LockBit ransomware gang
The notorious LockBit ransomware crew has been disrupted in an international law enforcement sting led by the UK's National Crime Agency Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Feb 2024
Bouncing back from a cyber attack
Organisations need to move away from victim blaming when cyber attacks on OT systems occur and focus on fostering collaboration between teams to minimise downtime, among other efforts to bounce back and return to business Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2024
Security-by-design push prompts new ISC2 accreditations
Security-by-design has become a hot-button regulatory issue. ISC2 has decided now is the time to upskill cyber pros around these vital software and hardware development principles Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2024
Microsoft: Nation-state hackers are exploiting ChatGPT
Threat actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia have all been probing use cases for generative AI service ChatGPT, but have yet to use such tools in a full-blown cyber attack Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2024
Microsoft patches two zero-days for Valentine’s Day
Two security feature bypasses impacting Microsoft SmartScreen are on the February Patch Tuesday docket, among more than 70 issues Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2024
New variants of Qakbot malware under development
Despite its infrastructure having been taken down by the FBI last year, someone appears to be actively working on a new and improved version of the infamous Qakbot malware Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2024
Hunter-killer malware volumes seen surging
Latest Picus Security report on malware tactics, techniques and procedures reveals an increasing focus on disabling security defences Continue Reading