Data breach incident management and recovery

Ransomware kill switch may save 99% of files from encryption

MDR specialist Adlumin says its new features will help customers stop in-progress ransomware attacks before they can cause significant damage Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: How to tackle the scourge of ransomware?

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

By

• Toby Sibley and Louise Barber

Open source alert over intentionally placed backdoor

A backdoor in the open source XZ Utils data compression library could have led to widespread compromise across the Linux ecosystem - and the community is on the trail of a developer who seems to be behind it Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Sellafield to be prosecuted over alleged cyber compliance failure

Sellafield Ltd, the organisation responsible for cleaning up and decommissioning the UK's largest nuclear waste site, is to be prosecuted over alleged cyber security failings dating back to 2019 Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware gang leaks data stolen from Scottish NHS board

Data stolen from an earlier attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been leaked by a ransomware gang that claims to be in possession of much more content Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Qilin ransomware gang claims cyber attack on the Big Issue

A ransomware attack on the systems of publisher and social enterprise Big Issue Group has been claimed by the Qilin gang Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ukrainians crack network that stole 100m email, social accounts

Three members of an organised cyber criminal group who hacked and appropriated personal email and social media accounts face up to 15 years in prison Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

London Mayor’s Office reprimanded over data breach

The London Mayor’s Office has been reprimanded by the ICO after an internal error exposed the data of people who had made complaints against the Metropolitan Police Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

More DDoS attacks launched against APAC financial firms

The financial sector in Asia-Pacific saw more DDoS attacks in 2023, but no notable impact was reported, according to a report by Akamai and FS-ISAC Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government not facing up to CNI cyber risks, committee warns

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has accused the government of burying its head in the sand over the cyber threat to UK critical infrastructure Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Podcast: Immutable storage essential against ransomware, but...

...not all immutable storage is created equal. That’s the message from Paul Speciale of Scality, who looks at immutable storage, its variants and what’s needed to secure data Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Nation states buying hacking tools from underground Russian cyber forums

State-sponsored hacking groups, posing as hacktivists, are using Russian cyber crime forums to stock up on cyber weapons, says Check Point Software’s threat analyst, Sergey Shykevich Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

ALPHV/BlackCat gang vanishes amid ransomware ‘turmoil’

Mystery surrounds the apparent disappearance of the ALPHV/BlackCat cyber crime gang amid reports that a prominent US victim paid a $22m ransom Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Fancy Bear sniffs out Ubiquiti router users

The authorities have warned users of Ubiquiti EdgeRouter products to take remedial action after a number of devices were hijacked into a malicious botnet by a Russian cyber espionage unit Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

APAC firms bullish on IT spending

More than half of organisations plan to spend more on key areas such as cyber security, generative AI and cloud in a sign of growing optimism across the region Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

New version of ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware hits victims

An updated version of the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware has been spotted in the wild amid a series of attacks on American healthcare providers, prompting a new alert from the authorities Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

computer forensics (cyber forensics)

Computer forensics is the application of investigation and analysis techniques to gather and preserve evidence from a particular computing device in a way that is suitable for presentation in a court of law. Continue Reading

By

• Rahul Awati
• Ben Lutkevich, Site Editor

Cozy Bear and other APTs changing tack as cloud adoption increases

A change in APT tactics has been observed resulting from greater adoption of cloud-based services, according to the NCSC Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

LockBit bids to save face after NCA takedown

The LockBit gang’s ringleader resurfaces with new infrastructure and new victims, claiming to have shrugged off a multinational police sting Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Storage and backup spend in 2024 targets risk and resilience

The TechTarget and ESG spending intentions survey finds big bias towards averting risk and building organisational resilience, but on-premise storage a significant planned outlay Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NCA trolls under fire LockBit gang leaders

The NCA has teased details of the identity of LockBit's main admin via the gang’s compromised dark web site, and hinted that he has been engaging with law enforcement Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber experts alarmed by ‘trivial’ ConnectWise vulns

The disclosure of two dangerous vulnerabilities in the popular ConnectWise ScreenConnect product is drawing comparisons with major cyber incidents, including the 2021 Kaseya attack Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Inside LockBit: A ransomware gang in decline?

The LockBit ransomware gang was already on the ropes prior to the NCA-led takedown, according to security researchers Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Australian data breach report highlights supply chain risks

The OAIC has called for organisations to proactively address privacy risks from outsourcing personal information handling to third parties Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CVE volumes set to increase 25% this year

The number of reported Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures is likely to grow significantly in 2024, hitting a new high of almost 35,000, according to Coalition, a cyber insurance specialist Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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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• Marty Rickard

Southern Water customer data was taken in ransomware attack

Southern Water has started to contact customers whose data was stolen in a January 2024 ransomware attack on its systems Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

What will result from Cohesity’s Veritas acquisition?

The $7bn backup giant will leverage huge assets in enterprise customer base, compliance and governance intelligence, AI, R&D, and Kubernetes backup and storage Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Executives must face down state-sponsored hacking groups targeting firmware

State-backed groups have ratcheted up the pressure for cyber security professionals and executives. But that’s not an excuse to cede them the territory. Continue Reading

By

• Michael Marcotte

NCSC warns CNI operators over ‘living-off-the-land’ attacks

Malicious, state-backed actors may well be lurking in the UK’s most critical networks right now, and their operators may not even know until it is too late, warn the NCSC and its partners Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How Iranian cyber ops pivoted to target Israel after 7 October attacks

Microsoft has shared new intelligence on how Iranian government-aligned threat actors have turned their fire on Israel over the past four months Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

South Staffs Water faces group action over Clop ransomware attack

South Staffordshire Plc, the parent company of South Staffordshire and Cambridge Water, is facing legal action from customers whose data was compromised in a 2022 Clop ransomware attack Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s McPartland Cyber Review to probe trust in technology

The UK government has launched a cyber security review that will investigate how best to give businesses the confidence they need to use new technologies Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

IT security strategy: Assessing the risks of generative AI

Most industry watchers see 2024 as the year when generative artificial intelligence and large language models will begin moving into enterprise IT. We consider the security implications. Continue Reading

Blackbaud blasted for failing to prevent customer breaches

A supply chain attack at software supplier Blackbaud in 2020 saw data on multiple UK organisations compromised. The US authorities are now taking steps to ensure it can’t happen again Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US sanctions Iranians behind CNI cyber attacks

US government issues new sanctions against six Iranians suspected of being behind a series of cyber attacks targeting critical national infrastructure, notably water supply systems Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

IT security strategy: Assessing the risks of generative AI

Most industry watchers see 2024 as the year when generative AI and large language models will begin moving into enterprise IT Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor
• Adrian Bridgwater

Top 10 types of information security threats for IT teams

Know thine enemy -- and the common security threats that can bring an unprepared organization to its knees. Learn what these threats are and how to prevent them. Continue Reading

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• TechTarget Contributor

Security Think Tank: Expect more from GenAI in 2024

But 2024 also feels slightly different; the past 12 months have seen generative AI burst on to the scene, and this year its impact will continue to be felt, says Turnkey Consulting's Harshini Carey. Continue Reading

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• Harshini Carey, Turnkey Consulting

Quantum, AI and geopolitical conflict: '24 will be a big year for cyber

With big trends like quantum, generative AI and geopolitical conflict, 2024 looks set to be a big year in security, but defenders have an unparalleled opportunity to harness these trends for good, says Quorum's Federico Charosky Continue Reading

By

• Federico Charosky

Akira ransomware gang claims Lush cyber attack

The Akira ransomware gang claims to have stolen over 100GB of data from cosmetics manufacturer and retailer Lush Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mitigating the risks of modern application development

Organisations need to have visibility over their software supply chain, secure and monitor interfaces to legacy systems and adopt zero trust to mitigate the risks of modern application development Continue Reading

By

• Peter Lees

Southern Water confirms cyber attack after Black Basta claims

Southern Water, which supplies millions of customers in southeast England, has confirmed it has fallen victim to a cyber attack, although its services appear to be running normally Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Inside Cisco’s security platform strategy

Raj Chopra, senior vice-president of Cisco’s security business, outlines the company’s security platform strategy and how it brought different products together into a single platform Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Critical vulnerability exposes Fortra GoAnywhere users

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT users must take steps to address a newly disclosed zero-day vulnerability without delay Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

AI will heighten global ransomware threat, says NCSC

The benefits of artificial intelligence to cyber criminals being well-known, the NCSC now assesses it’s likely AI will soon be widely used to enhance ransomware attacks Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Podcast: Storage and compliance outlook for 2024

Interesting times ahead in 2024 as we talk to Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust, about updates to EU regs, PCI, NIST, post-Brexit divergence and 60 national elections across the globe Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Building an incident response framework for your enterprise

Understanding incident response framework standards and how to build the best framework for your organization is essential to prevent threats and mitigate cyber incidents. Continue Reading

By

• David Geer, Geer Communications
• Peter Sullivan

Top incident response service providers, vendors and software

Get help deciding between using in-house incident response software or outsourcing to an incident response service provider, and review a list of leading vendor options. Continue Reading

By

• Paul Kirvan

Leak of 26 billion records may prove to be ‘mother of all breaches’

The discovery of a dataset comprising 26 billion stolen records may prove to be record-breaking in both its size and the danger it poses to ordinary people Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

SEC bitcoin hack was result of SIM-swapping

A cyber attack on the US financial regulator earlier in January 2024 occurred after hackers took over one of its mobile phone accounts in a so-called SIM-swapping attack Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

SolarWinds hackers attack Microsoft in apparent recon mission

Russian-backed threat actor behind infamous 2020 SolarWinds Sunburst intrusion hacked into Microsoft’s systems, apparently in an attempt to get hold of intel on themselves Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Tech trends: what will be hot in 2024?

Five major technology trends for 2024 Continue Reading

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• Bev White, Nash Squared

Neighbouring Kent councils hit by simultaneous cyber attacks

Canterbury, Dover and Thanet Councils in Kent have all been struck by simultaneous cyber attacks knocking systems offline, with indications of a link between all three Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Powering up cyber security defences with AI

AI holds great promise when it comes to securing valuable, and vulnerable, data, but security teams face some challenges if they are to get the best out of it, writes IBM’s Christopher Meenan Continue Reading

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• Christopher Meenan

Cyber non-profit enlists ex-NCSC head as technical chair

Founding NCSC chief exec Ciaran Martin is to join the newly launched Cyber Monitoring Centre non-profit as chair of its technical committee Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NCSC invites security pros to join the big leagues

The NCSC is inviting security pros from across the UK to sign up to work with its experts on an intelligence-sharing initiative Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cloud-to-cloud backup: What it is and why you (probably) need it

Basic cloud data protection is just not enough. Several loopholes leave business data vulnerable and that means additional cloud-to-cloud backup should be seriously considered Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

The Security Interviews: Rebecca Taylor, SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit

In October 2023, Rebecca Taylor of the SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit was recognised at the annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards for her work. Computer Weekly caught up with her to talk mentoring, cyber career development and diversity Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CERT vs. CSIRT vs. SOC: What's the difference?

What's in a name? Parse the true differences between a CERT, a CSIRT, a CIRT and a SOC, before you decide what's best for your organization. Continue Reading

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• Ed Moyle, Drake Software

Victims of 2023 Capita data breaches head to High Court

More than 5,000 people impacted by data breaches arising from two cyber incidents affecting outsourcer Capita have joined a group action lawsuit Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How to create a CSIRT: 10 best practices

The time to organize and train a CSIRT is long before a security incident occurs. Certain steps should be followed to create an effective, cross-functional team. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Moyle, Drake Software

The human toll of ransomware: how IT pros suffer during incidents

Any ransomware attack causes significant challenges for a business or organisation going through such incident. But ransomware attacks also have tremendous impact on the staff – especially IT teams – working on mitigating the attack’s effect Continue Reading

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• Pia Hüsch, Jamie MacColl and Gareth Mott

British Library catalogues back online after ransomware attack

The British Library has restored online access to its main catalogue of nearly 40 million items on a limited basis as it continues the long and arduous process of recovering from a ransomware attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cosmetics retailer Lush dealing with mystery cyber incident

Cosmetics retailer Lush confirms it’s investigating a cyber attack of an undisclosed nature, but key public-facing systems appear to be unaffected Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

British Library cyber attack explained: What you need to know

In this essential guide, Computer Weekly investigates the cyber attack on the British Library that has rendered IT systems inoperable and caused service disruption to thousands of users Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Russia hacked ex-MI6 chief’s emails – what they reveal is more Dad’s Army than deep state

A Russian hacking group that published emails of ex-MI6 chief Richard Dearlove claimed to have uncovered a conspiracy, but it was more Dad’s Army than the ‘deep state’, Computer Weekly and Byline Times reveal Continue Reading

By

• Sophie Hill

NCA director sacked after WhatsApp and email security breaches

Nikki Holland, former director of investigations at the NCA, was sacked for “misconduct” after sending sensitive NCA information over personal email and WhatsApp Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Incident response: How to implement a communication plan

Communication is critical to an effective incident response plan. Here are five best practices for communication planning and a free, editable template to get started. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Chapple, University of Notre Dame

10 types of security incidents and how to prevent them

Cyberattacks are more varied and numerous than ever. Learn the key signs of common security incidents and how to respond to keep systems and data safe. Continue Reading

By

• TechTarget Contributor
• Alissa Irei, Senior Site Editor

SEC social media hack highlights value of MFA

The US SEC briefly appeared to approve new bitcoin trading rules after a social media account was targeted by troublemakers, proving the value of MFA once again Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Babuk Tortilla ransomware decryptor made available

A joint effort between Cisco Talos, Avast and the Dutch police will bring relief to many victims of a variant of the Babuk ransomware known as Tortilla Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Study reveals cyber risks to US elections

With the 2024 US presidential election cycle beginning, a study produced by Arctic Wolf has highlighted big gaps in preparedness and resourcing at government bodies across the US Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How to fix the top 5 cybersecurity vulnerabilities

Check out how to fix five top cybersecurity vulnerabilities to prevent data loss from poor endpoint security, ineffective network monitoring, weak authentication and other issues. Continue Reading

By

• Dave Shackleford, Voodoo Security

Top 30 incident response interview questions

Job interviews are nerve-wracking, but preparation can minimize jitters and position you to land the role. Get started with these incident response interview questions and answers. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Moyle, Drake Software

Top incident response tools: How to choose and use them

The OODA loop helps organizations throughout the incident response process, giving insight into the incident response tools needed to detect and respond to security events. Continue Reading

By

• Kevin Beaver, Principle Logic, LLC

How to become an incident responder: Requirements and more

Incident response is a growth area that provides career advancement options and a good salary. Here's an in-depth look at job requirements, salaries and available certifications. Continue Reading

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• Ed Moyle, Drake Software

British Library ransomware attack could cost up to £7m

The cost of recovering the British Library’s ransomware-stricken IT systems could be up to £7m, it has emerged Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

computer security incident response team (CSIRT)

A computer security incident response team, or CSIRT, is a group of IT professionals that provides an organization with services and support surrounding the assessment, management and prevention of cybersecurity-related emergencies, as well as coordination of incident response efforts. Continue Reading

By

• Katie Donegan, Social Media Manager
• Peter Sullivan

Dutch working to promote cooperation in Europe to keep internet safe

A Dutch cooperative approach offers national and international cooperation opportunities for ISPs to guard against DDoS attacks, lawful interception and detect abuse in networks Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Top 10 ASEAN IT stories of 2023

Organisations across the region have continued to shore up their cyber security posture while investing in infrastructure to pave the way for emerging technologies like GenAI Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget