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Tripwire Patch Priority Index for July 2024

Tripwire's July 2024 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft.First on the list are patches for Microsoft Office and Outlook that resolve remote code execution and spoofing vulnerabilities.Next are patches that affect components of the core Windows operating system. These patches resolve over 65 vulnerabilities, including elevation of privilege,...
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Cybersecurity: The Unsung Hero of SOX Compliance

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was enacted to restore public confidence in the wake of major corporate and accounting scandals. The legislation aims to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws.One key aspect of SOX compliance is ensuring the integrity and security of financial data. In the digital age,...
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3 Types of Bot Attacks to Guard Against

Bot attacks constitute a major danger to businesses and individuals. For five consecutive years, the percentage of global web traffic connected to bad bots has increased, reaching 32% in 2023, a 1.8% increase from 30.2% in 2022, while human traffic represented only 50.4%.These nefarious bots are designed to breach a system, access confidential files illegally, and disrupt normal operations, which...
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$75 Million Record-Breaking Ransom Paid To Cybercriminals, Say Researchers

The staggering sum of US $75 million has reportedly been paid to a ransomware gang in what is believed to be the largest known ransom payment made by a cyber attack victim since records began. Researchers at Zscaler claim in a new report that the record-breaking figure was paid by an undisclosed Fortune 50 company to the Dark Angels ransomware group. The reported payment almost doubles the...
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#TripwireBookClub - From its Origins to its Future: How AI Works

In our continuing series of book reviews, the Fortra team read How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science by Ronald T. Kneusel. The book is advertised as unraveling “the mysteries of artificial intelligence, without the complex math and unnecessary jargon.”I really enjoyed how the book began with an AI Overview. As a hot sauce fan, I found it amusing that the first example utilized a hot sauce factory....
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Re-Extortion: How Ransomware Gangs Re-Victimize Victims

Ransomware has evolved significantly since its inception. Initially, these attacks were relatively simple: malware would encrypt a victim's files, and the attacker would demand a ransom for the decryption key. However, as cybersecurity measures improved, so did ransomware gangs' tactics.Modern ransomware attacks often involve sophisticated techniques such as data exfiltration, where attackers...
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8 Daily Practices to Avoid Cybersecurity Burnout

Burnout happens when job demands such as workload, time pressure, and difficult clients are high, as well as when job resources, including quality leadership, autonomy and decision authority, recognition, and strong relationships, are lacking. The field of cybersecurity is particularly difficult, but that doesn't mean burnout is inevitable, and it doesn't mean you can't recover after experiencing...
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Navigating PCI DSS 4.0: Your Guide to Compliance Success

The transition to PCI DSS 4.0 is here. The transition period from PCI DSS 3.2 ended on March 31, 2024, so businesses in all sectors must focus on aligning their practices with the new requirements.This blog will guide you through the key points discussed by PCI experts Steven Sletten and Jeff Hall in a recent webinar held by Fortra on "PCI 4.0 is Here: Your Guide to Navigating Compliance Success....
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SEXi / APT Inc Ransomware - What You Need To Know

SEXi? Seriously? What are you talking about this time?Don't worry, I'm not trying to conjure images in your mind of Rod Stewart in his iconic leopard print trousers. Instead, I want to warn you about a cybercrime group that has gained notoriety for attacking VMware ESXi servers since February 2024.Excuse me for not knowing, but what is VMWare EXSi?EXSi is a hypervisor - allowing businesses who...
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The Dual Impact of AI on Power Grids: Efficiency and Vulnerability

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising solution to modernize power grids. The technology, alongside other upgrades like Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, could make energy infrastructure more reliable and sustainable. However, AI power grids also pose significant cybersecurity risks.Attacks against critical infrastructure are becoming more common. As energy authorities ramp...
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Securing Diverse Environments: Security Configuration Management

In our technologically advanced era, where cyber threats and data breaches are constantly evolving, it's crucial for companies to focus on Security Configuration Management (SCM) to protect their resources and information. Whether dealing with infrastructure, cloud services, industrial installations, or outsourced solutions, each environment presents unique security challenges that require...
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MitM Attacks: Understanding the Risks and Prevention Strategies

As our interactions with the digital world grow, connections will be established within seconds, leading to more online attacks. One type of attack we may be exposed to is known as a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) — a technique cyber attackers use to take over our online communications.The best way to stay safe online is with a better understanding of the problems caused by these digital attacks and...
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What are the Current Trends in Cloud Technology?

In recent years, cloud technology has become integral to business operations. Compared to on-premises infrastructure, it allows for improved scalability and flexibility, cost savings, collaboration, security, and data loss prevention. The cloud computing market is set to reach $679 billion in value in 2024.But what are the trends currently defining the cloud computing market? According to Donnie...
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HardBit Ransomware - What You Need To Know

What's happened?A new strain of the HardBit ransomware has emerged in the wild. It contains a protection mechanism in an attempt to prevent analysis from security researchers.HardBit? I think I've heard of that before.Quite possibly. HardBit first emerged in late 2022, and quickly made a name for itself as it attempted to extort ransom payments from corporations whose data it had encrypted.That...
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Looking for a Job in Cyber? Tips and Advice From the Pros

A career in cybersecurity can be rewarding, challenging, and, frankly, lucrative. But it's not the easiest industry to break into: the skills required for a cybersecurity role are both niche and specific, the bar for entry is relatively high, and there are very few entry-level jobs available. But don't be disheartened. The cybersecurity industry is crying out for fresh talent. With hard work, a...
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The Role Regulators Will Play in Guiding AI Adoption to Minimize Security Risks

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming more pervasive within different industries, its transformational power arrives with considerable security threats. AI is moving faster than policy, whereas the lightning-quick deployment of AI technologies has outpaced the creation of broad regulatory frameworks, raising questions about data privacy, ethical implications, and cybersecurity. This gap is...
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Low-Hanging Fruits Vs. Those at the Top of the Tree: Cybersecurity Edition

Companies often go for high-end cybersecurity solutions because dealing with complex problems looks impressive. The appeal of fancy tech and advanced security challenges gives them a sense of achievement and a chance to show off their skills - and says they're serious about staying ahead of cyber crooks.However, this isn't always the best strategy. Many significant risks arise from simple...
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5 Tips for Spotting and Avoiding Pig Butchering Scams

Pig butchering scams came onto the scene a few years ago and have been gaining momentum ever since. A unique take on an old classic, pig butchering is a typical investment scam with a romantic or relationship-based twist. The large sums of "invested" money are typically funneled into fake crypto apps where they are promptly lost. Those who have fallen victim to pig butchering scams have taken out...
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Addressing Client-Side Risks in PCI DSS 4.0

It seems like such a short time ago that the Security Standards Council released the newest version of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). It has been a full year, and version 4.0 is now in effect. Industries that adhere to the Standard were given the year to implement the new changes. The Standard includes limited exceptions for specific requirements, classifying them as...
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RansomHub Ransomware - What You Need To Know

What's RansomHub?Despite first appearing earlier this year, RansomHub is already considered one of the most prolific ransomware groups in existence.It operates a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, meaning that a central core of the group creates and maintains the ransomware code and infrastructure, and rents it out to other cybercriminals who act as affiliates.How has RansomHub become such...