Do you recall one of the first really fun chemistry experiment you performed as a child? If your school followed the usual curriculum, then you probably made a model volcano and then added some baking soda to the opening, followed by the addition of vinegar. A variation of this experiment was to add the ingredients to a plastic bottle, then...

Tripwire's May 2022 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft. First on the patch priority list this month are 2 remote code execution vulnerabilities for Excel and a security feature bypass vulnerability for Office. Up next are patches that affect components of the Windows operating systems. These patches...

The great thing about working in the world of cybersecurity is that there's always something new. You may think you've seen it all, and then something comes along that completely surprises you. And that's certainly true of the GoodWill ransomware, which security firm CloudSEK described this week. In fact, the GoodWill ransomware stands out so much...

There is a sight gag that has been used in a number of movies and TV comedies that involves an apartment building lobby. It shows how people who don’t live there, but who want to get in anyway, such as Girl Guides looking to sell cookies to the tenants – simply run their fingers down every call button on the tenant directory, like a pianist...

Many modern businesses in almost every sector of the economy are adopting the latest technologies for greater connectivity and efficiency. However, while many of these technologies offer myriad benefits, they can also create new cybersecurity vulnerabilities. While much of the focus has remained on manufacturers and how they can bolster their...

All of us at Tripwire’s Vulnerability Exposure and Research Team (VERT) are constantly looking out for interesting stories and developments in the infosec world. Here’s what cybersecurity news stood out to us during the week of May 16, 2022. I’ve also included some comments on these stories. Watch Out! Hackers Begin Exploiting Recent Zyxel...

Anyone reading this post will have at least dipped their toes into the world of cloud services. As a result of this massive growth, the world of compliance has spent much of the last decade catching up with the implications of cloud services. For hosted infrastructure, “catching up” presents an interesting set of challenges since cloud managed...

After a busy start to the year, we were finally able to settle down and take a look at a new book. This time around, we’re looking at Go H*ck Yourself: A Simple Introduction to Cyber Attacks and Defense by Bryson Payne. The No Starch Press page describes the book as “an eye-opening, hands-on introduction to the world of hacking, from an award...

As high-profile data theft incidents continue to rise and become more sophisticated, there is a greater-than-ever need for emerging businesses to take their cybersecurity seriously. So, why do many entrepreneurs and “startup unicorns” consider it the turf of large-scale organizations only, even after some of the world’s largest corporations have...

Spanish police say that they have dismantled a phishing gang operating across the country, following the arrest of 13 people and the announcement that they are investigating a further seven suspects. According to police, the phishing ring defrauded some 146 victims, stealing at least 443,600 Euros from online bank accounts. Victims were tricked...

It should be hard for malicious hackers to break into systems, but all too often it isn't. That's a takeaway from a joint cybersecurity advisory issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the NSA and FBI, and their counterparts in Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom. The advisory, which is titled ...

#1 The history of the National Cyber Security Centre The UK's first cybersecurity strategy was launched in 2009 and outlined that whatever the shape of the cybersecurity mission, it made no sense to silo it away from other aspects of national security. To be effective, it had to be able to take advantage of high-grade intelligence and other...

A recent Facebook post from a family member made me realize that I needed to write about an overused term. A term, that when used, causes chaos and concern. I don’t blame the family member for using it, I’ve seen it used hundreds of times over the past few years and I’ve seen IT and cybersecurity professionals respond without correcting, even, on...

Have you ever dined in a restaurant with a police officer? When choosing a table, or seating location, law enforcement professionals will often choose the seat that positions them with their back to the wall. This plays out quite humorously when a group of law enforcement professionals dine together, all racing toward that coveted “protected”...

The first months of 2022 began slowly for privacy, but by the end of the first quarter we had our marching orders for the rest of the year. In the U.S., we saw an explosion of state privacy bills being put forward (again), the Senate utilized a seldom used maneuver to push President Biden’s Federal Trade Commission nominee through to confirmation,...

Cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated and devastating, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). With ransom demands rising and the cost of data breaches soaring, businesses are investing heavily in building their cyber defenses. However, cybersecurity is not bullet-proof. Buying a cyber risk insurance program can help outsource...

Today’s VERT Alert addresses Microsoft’s May 2022 Security Updates. VERT is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expects to ship ASPL-1002 on Wednesday, May 11th. CVE-2022-26925 In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEs Based on Microsoft’s limited documentation, this appears to be a resurgence and/or improved version of PetitPotam. This...

Compliance is a key part of any organisation and in business terms, it is about ensuring companies of all sizes and their employees comply with existing national and international laws. In the UK the Companies Act 2006 is the main legislation that forms the primary source of company law and businesses of all sizes must ensure they adhere to it to...

All of us at Tripwire’s Vulnerability Exposure and Research Team (VERT) are constantly looking out for interesting stories and developments in the infosec world. Here’s what cybersecurity news stood out to us during the week of May 2, 2022. I’ve also included some comments on these stories. Microsoft Azure Vulnerability Exposes PostgreSQL Databases...

The popularity of cloud services has increased exponentially in recent years. The prospects of saving on capital and operational expenditures have been significant driving forces in influencing companies to adopt cloud services. Scalability and elasticity are also key drivers that encourage companies to move to the cloud. However, moving to the...