Hackers and cybercrime prevention

UK cyber security progress stalled, says report

UK firms rank cyber attacks as a top business issue, but are stalling in cyber security best practice, lagging behind top performers in India Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

APT attack on telcos highlights need for comprehensive defence

A global cyber attack against multiple telecommunications firms underlines need for comprehensive approach to cyber defence, say researchers and industry commentators Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Airbus opens cyber innovation hub in Wales

Newport hub will focus on industrial control systems, artificial intelligence and data analytics Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cyber attackers using wider range of threats

Businesses need to ensure they are able to defend against a wide range of threats in the face of increased malicious Office documents, Mac malware and web application exploits, report shows Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK firms downloading vulnerable open source software

Vulnerable open source software components are posing a security threat to UK firms, according to a report that also shows how best practice, including automation, can reduce the risk Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Hospitality industry at highest risk of phishing

Benchmarking report shows average phish-prone percentage across all industries and sizes of organisations at 29.6% – up 2.6% since 2018 Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK takes world lead in surveillance camera security

Although the UK is sometimes referred to as “the most surveilled country” in the world, it has taken the lead in setting minimum security requirements for surveillance cameras. But how will this make a difference internationally? Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Nominations open for UK’s security unsung heroes

The Security Serious cyber awareness campaign has opened nominations for the fourth annual cyber security Unsung Heroes awards Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Parents don’t know enough about cyber careers

Research by the SANS Institute finds that while parents are aware of cyber security, they don’t know enough to encourage their children into cyber roles Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Small business not necessarily weakest security link

Small businesses may not be the weakest link in the supply chain after all, with a lack of skills and best practices being bigger factors, a study by (ISC)² reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Disaster planning: How to expect the unexpected

Focusing too much on specific disasters rather than considering an organisation’s data protection, network security and process requirements, can lead to unpredicted vulnerabilities Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Facebook officially unveils cryptocurrency plans

Facebook has released details about its Libra cryptocurrency, but questions still remain over how, and if, it will work Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Enterprises challenged with security basics

Visibility, security tool overload and manual reporting are cited as top concerns by UK security leaders, a report reveals Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK to launch security standard for surveillance cameras

The UK is launching the world’s first voluntary cyber security standard and compliance certification mark for the manufacturers of surveillance cameras Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Most mobile apps vulnerable to malware

iOS and Android apps equally vulnerable to being exploited remotely by malware, report reveals Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IoT Security Foundation publishes smart building whitepaper

The IoT Security Foundation has published a guide on security for smart buildings to highlight key issues and gather feedback to inform future guidance for industry stakeholders Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Converged security takes centre stage at IFSEC

The importance and benefits of combining physical and cyber security was underlined in the opening session of the 2019 IFSEC security conference Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Debugging bug bounty programmes

Bug bounty programmes have become popular, but poor programme management can lead to development teams becoming overwhelmed and bugs being missed. Continue Reading

Applying AI to road safety

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we visit a Tokyo project where artificial intelligence is helping to improve road safety by detecting potential subsidence. As bug bounty programmes become popular, we look at what’s involved and the pitfalls to avoid. And we discuss digital development in healthcare with NHS England. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Singapore faced fewer cyber threats in 2018

Despite the fall in the number of common cyber threats last year, Singapore will continue to face advanced persistent threats, CSA warns Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Security Think Tank: Business needs to see infosec pros as trusted advisers

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• RV Raghu, ISACA

DevSecOps is key to uniting opposing forces

Unifying DevOps and security teams with the aid of automation will bring harmony and added business benefits, says systems engineer Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Top infosec task is getting on board agenda

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Petra Wenham

Asco breaks silence on ransomware attack

A week after reportedly being hit by a ransomware attack, Belgium-based mechanical equipment manufacturer Asco has finally provided some details Continue Reading

Inside F5’s cyber security playbook

F5 Networks' CISO talks up measures that the application delivery and security specialist is employing to fend off cyber attackers that come knocking on its doors Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Building a cyber-physical immune system

Shantanu Rane, researcher in cyber-physical systems security at the Palo Alto Research Center, explains how our own immune systems can inspire the design of modern cyber-physical systems Continue Reading

By

• Shantanu Rane, PARC

Security Think Tank: Infosec needs to avoid FUD and keep it real

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Ellie Hurst, Advent IM

Innovation drives Nominet to cyber security

Embracing an innovation strategy for a mature organisation led domain name registry Nominet to found a cyber security business based on its core expertise, its CEO tells London Tech Week Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK firms need to address risky user habits

McAfee calls for companies to ramp up their security culture and improve the integration of technical security controls to minimise exposure from workers Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook London hiring spree focuses on tackling online harms

Facebook is hiring for 500 tech jobs in the capital in the next six months, with a particular focus on seeking out and clamping down on malicious content and fake accounts, and curbing other harmful behaviour on its platforms Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Security risk ratings key to security/business understanding

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Maxine Holt, Omdia

AI-enabled cyber attacks a reality soon, warns Mikko Hypponen

Technology continues to shape human conflict and artificial intelligence will be no exception, so business needs to up its ability to detect attacks and respond, says security expert Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Operational technology security improving, but attack surface continues to grow

Critical national infrastructure providers and others are improving cyber security capabilities around industrial control systems, but the cyber threat remains high and continues to evolve, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Focus on business impact and likelihood of cyber attacks

How can cyber security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

Are schools delivering on digital skills?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the differing approaches to teaching computer science across the UK and assess the pros and cons of each. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the technologies and best practices of multicloud environments. And we find out what you get for your money when buying cyber insurance. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Most code-signing processes insecure, study shows

The majority of organisations are failing to enforce security for code-signing processes, providing opportunities for cyber criminals, a survey reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

MP brands Huawei exec a ‘moral vacuum’ as operators demand 5G clarity

Huawei chief security officer John Suffolk faces tough questions from parliament’s Science and Technology Select Committee over the firm’s links to the Chinese government Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Frame cyber security impacts in business contexts

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Simon Persin, Turnkey Consulting

Implementing Dmarc a top priority for UK

Basic email security should be a top priority for UK firms, followed by reducing third-party web exposure and monitoring data flows leaving the enterprise, a Rapid7 study reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Infosec letter to the board

How can security professionals communicate effectively with the board and senior business leaders – what works and what doesn’t? Continue Reading

By

• Emma Bickerstaffe, Information Security Forum (ISF)

Large firms look to zero-trust security to reduce cyber risk

In the face of increasing cyber breach risk as organisations move to hybrid multi-cloud IT environments, just over half of large firms in Europe are planning a zero-trust approach to security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NotPetya offers industry-wide lessons, says Maersk’s tech chief

There are several key industry-wide lessons to be learned from the NotPetya attack in 2017, according to the information chief at one of the companies most heavily impacted Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Misconfigured container services are a security risk

Researchers at Palo Alto Networks have released details of the scale of misconfigured and exposed container services putting organisations at risk of cyber attack Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How ASEAN firms are using AI to combat cyber threats

Artificial intelligence tools are becoming a vital part of the security arsenal for organisations and cyber criminals alike Continue Reading

By

• Ai Lei Tao

Weak cyber security top challenge, says NCSC chief Ciaran Martin

UK cyber security agency NCSC is focusing on practical support and making the internet and technology safer to use, but says the area that needs most attention is improving basic cyber security in firms, says agency chief Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Firms face targeted bespoke cyber attacks, dark web study reveals

Academic study exposes prolific availability and demand for tailored malware, network access and corporate espionage services, which suggests many firms’ cyber defences are below standard Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Legacy IT systems a significant security challenge

Information security professionals need to work closely with the business to identify critical legacy IT systems to ensure security risks are managed effectively, CISO tells Infosecurity Europe Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Digital transformation an opportunity for security

Digital transformation is an opportunity not only for the business to up its game, but also for security teams to engage with and win over the business, CISO tells Infosecurity Europe Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Joining the dots to deliver effective cyber security

In too many organisations, cyber security is dislocated and siloed. Security chiefs need to take a more joined-up approach, but that is likely to mean a rethink of how the security team operates Continue Reading

By

• Ed Tucker, Human Firewall

London could be world cyber risk leader, says ex-Lloyd’s chief

Collaboration across the cyber insurance, technology and security organisations in London could make the capital a leading world centre on these topics, says former Lloyd’s of London boss Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Making threat intelligence greater than the sum of its parts

Organisations can become more secure if they join up their varied sources of intelligence about business threats, and avoid losing valuable information within individual silos Continue Reading

By

• Elliott Rose & Matthew Arnold

DNS – a security opportunity not to be overlooked, says Nominet

Domain name system data is the best-kept secret for eliminating network cyber threats, Nominet tells Infosecurity Europe attendees Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Nearly two-thirds of businesses hit by credential abuse

Most businesses admit to breaches relating to abuse of user credentials, according to a report that highlights cyber hygiene failings in the UK and the importance of greater visibility and integration to cyber defence capability Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Businesses investing blindly in cyber security

Businesses need to find out what their real cyber risks and weaknesses are before investing in new technologies, says ethical hacker Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Deterministic data-based AI key for security

AI-based cyber security systems have enormous potential, but under specific conditions that are essential for success, AI expert tells Infosecurity Europe Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cyber crime widely under-reported, Isaca study shows

Cyber crime, which is the top cyber threat to business, remains widely under-reported, and only a third of organisations are confident in their ability to detect and respond to threats, a study reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Australia’s Notifiable Data Breaches scheme drives compliance but issues remain

Australia’s data breach notification rules have largely been complied with, but some quarters are calling for more clarity on the reporting threshold and tougher action against errant firms Continue Reading

By

• Beverley Head

Business leaders failing to address cyber threats

Businesses are failing to address growing cyber threats as business leaders admit to knowledge gaps, a lack of resources and confusion about who is responsible for data breaches, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook loses bid to halt European court decision on EU-US data sharing

Irish Supreme Court dismisses attempt by Facebook to prevent the European Court of Justice considering the validity of US-EU data transfers, after Austrian lawyer Max Schrems argued that they put the privacy of EU citizens at risk Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

A lack of skills and ownership are top challenges to OT security

A lack of skills, visibility and clarity on which business function is responsible for securing operational technology are the biggest challenges to managing the risk, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

2.3 billion business and consumer data files exposed online

In the year since the GDPR compliance deadline, the number of data files exposed online without adequate protection is up more than 50% due to misconfigured security controls, report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Hackers targeting UK universities a threat to national security

Poorly defended UK university research that is mainly commissioned by government is a top target for hackers, putting national security at risk, a study reveals, underlining the need for better cyber security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Turla APT group beefs up cyber attack tool

An advanced persistent threat cyber espionage group has improved its tools to attack diplomatic targets, making their activities more difficult to detect and block Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cyber weapons readily available to criminals, researchers warn

Security researchers have discovered an attack campaign infrastructure designed to scan, brute-force and infect tens of thousands of MS-SQL and PHPMyAdmin servers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Perfect storm for data science in security

After nearly 20 years of research, the perfect storm of computing technologies is finally enabling data science to realise its potential to make valuable contributions to improving cyber security capabilities Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Dutch IT security firm dumps corporate structure

Boss of Netherlands-based Computest turns to self-management model to make company more nimble Continue Reading

By

• Kin Loohuis

Just over half of UK firms don’t have a cyber resilience plan

Many UK firms still lack cyber resilience and data protection capabilities covering email a year after the implementation of the GDPR aimed at improving personal data protection Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IBM’s investment in automation pays off in GDPR’s first year

The first year of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation has demonstrated the value of IBM’s investment in machine learning-based automation and the importance of having the right strategy and systems in place, according to the firm’s data protection officer Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Lapse in LinkedIn security certificate update

A lapse in the update of LinkedIn’s security certificate has once again underlined the importance of keeping track to avoid disruptions and phishing attacks, and how even big players are failing to get it right Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Police shut down Bestmixer bitcoin laundering service

The Bestmixer cryptocurrency laundering service has been shut down by Dutch anti-fraud police with support from Europol after a tip off by cyber security researchers at McAfee, significantly disrupting cyber criminal money flows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

TalkTalk admits new failings in 2015 data breach notification

TalkTalk’s failure to notify all those affected by its 2015 data breach highlights the importance of data visibility so that breach notifications are fast and accurate – a key requirement of the GDPR Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Effective IT segregation must involve the business

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• RV Raghu, ISACA

US grants Huawei stay of execution

US Commerce Department temporarily restores Huawei’s ability to maintain its existing networks and smartphone user base Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch lecturer researches the person behind the cyber criminal

Dutch academic is trying to get inside the mind of cyber criminals by understanding what makes them tick Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Planned UK age verification checks risky for internet users

Proposed controversial online age verification checks could increase the risk of identity theft and other cyber crimes, warn security experts, who advise parents to set technological boundaries and ensure their families are aware of risks Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: In-app segregation more intelligent and permissive

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Simon Persin, Turnkey Consulting

Cyber security scholarships on offer in Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast is backing the cyber security sector with funding for master of science scholarships Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 16

In this week’s episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna are joined by prolific Downtime author Ryan Priest to discuss retail sustainability, internet influencers and the tech battle between China and the US Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Security Think Tank: IT asset separation is a risk-based decision

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Deshini Newman, (ISC)²

Danske Bank launches initiative to help SME customers with cyber security

Danske Bank launches initiative to support the cyber security efforts of its SME customers Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

GDPR an opportunity to improve data systems and processes

A year after the official implementation of the GDPR, it is important to highlight the positive opportunities that compliance provides and the insights breach reports are providing, say Deloitte consultants Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Challenges of segregation

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gillespie

Identity custodians needed in digital era

Digital identity systems will fail if they do not take humans into account, warns identity innovator, suggesting that a ‘digital guardian’ could help overcome most of these challenges Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GozNym bust underlines cyber crime threat

A criminal network using GozNym malware has been shut down in an international law enforcement operation, but others are still operating, underlining the need for vigilance, warns a security expert Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Vulnerability assessment done. Now what?

Vulnerability assessment establishes the current state of an organisation’s cyber security, but to meet industry best practices, companies should go beyond that to achieve continuous improvement Continue Reading

By

• Sam Bocetta

Norwegian industry and state must combine to counter cyber threats

Norway has been targeted by two large ransomware attacks in recent months – and public and private organisations must react in a coordinated way Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Fujitsu sets out to restore trust in technology

Trust in technology, how to recapture it, and how to ensure AI doesn’t overstep its bounds were the big messages on the opening day of Fujitsu Forum in Tokyo Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Proper segregation is more important than ever

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Emma Bickerstaffe, Information Security Forum (ISF)

Microsoft working to support decentralised identity

Microsoft is among the big tech players aiming to help enable personalisation of products and services without putting privacy at risk Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Implement multifactor authentication, urges expert panel

Multifactor authentication should be a top priority for organisations to defend users from cyber attacks, coupled with zero-trust architecture and artificial intelligence-based technologies, says expert panel Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Understanding tech is key to effective data segregation

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Petra Wenham

APAC firms on the back foot in cyber security

Most Asia-Pacific organisations did not consider cyber security until after their digital transformation projects had begun, new survey finds Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Spyware targets WhatsApp users

Social media platform issues update after it discovered a flaw being exploited by commercial spyware Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Security Think Tank: How to realise the benefits of security zoning

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Paddy Francis

National Crime Agency calls for additional funding to tackle 21st century crime

Organised criminal gangs represent the biggest cyber threat to the UK, and law enforcement has identified rogue servers hosted in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Security standard for surveillance cameras set for launch

A long-overdue cyber security standard for the manufacturer of surveillance cameras is on track for an official launch in June Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security Think Tank: Benefits and challenges of security segmentation

What are the security benefits and challenges of segregating IT environments, and how best are these challenges overcome? Continue Reading

By

• Maxine Holt, Omdia

Debugging bug bounty programmes

Bug bounty programmes have recently become a popular method of vulnerability management, but poor programme management can lead to development teams becoming overwhelmed and bugs being missed Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Security Think Tank: Surviving the existential cyber punch, part 3

How should businesses plan to survive a potential cyber attack extinction event? Continue Reading

By

• Gregory Touhill, ISACA

Key lessons from an ethical hacker

Understanding hacker techniques and processes is the best way to defend against cyber attacks, and focusing on business risks is the best way to get security budget, according to an ethical hacker Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst