Tickets went fast for BSides Charm 2017. In just over two hours, this three-year-old event sold out and looks like it will welcome about 1,000 students, hackers and Information Security professionals to Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor this weekend. Not bad for a con that drew just under 300 attendees in 2015. Perhaps it’s no surprise that BSides...

The upcoming GDPR compliance deadline of May 2018 affects any organization across the world that collects, processes, or stores data on citizens of the European Union. The intent behind the GDPR is to better protect the privacy of EU citizens, and the mechanism to do so is through harmonizing the existing data privacy laws across Europe. “The six...

Governments ought to disclose zero-day vulnerabilities and begin to collaborate to make digital disarmament more than just ‘a thing.’ The case for these policy changes is becoming increasingly clear as new public debates begin to take shape around online privacy, trust and the prevention of cyber conflict. However, much work lies ahead in correctly...

The cybersecurity industry can be made stronger if we attract more women and non-males. I've had the pleasure of interviewing some in my series. I spoke to Dr. Jessica Barker, who advises organizations on information security and maintains a blog at Cyber.uk. Then I spoke to Emily Crose, a network threat hunter. Most recently, I had the opportunity...

The title of this piece is quite obvious, but it is also an unappreciated fact. Consider for a moment the change we have seen over the last 30 years: access to cyberspace was scarce, often limited to enterprise users such as governments, educational institutions and the largest corporation, whereas today, there are billions of users that treat the...

Many organizations migrate to the cloud because of increased efficiency, data space, scalability, speed and other benefits. But cloud computing comes with its own security threats. To address these challenges, companies should create a hybrid cloud environment, confirm that their cloud security solution offers 24/7 monitoring and multi-layered...

Make no mistake: just like watching a perfect ballet performance, success is attributed to the hard work done behind the scenes. Only the best are chosen. The same goes for preparing and submitting a security project business case. Securing funding for a security project starts with a credible and comprehensive business case that not only justifies...

Fraudsters are using fake Delta Air Lines receipts that lack any flight information whatsoever to infect unsuspecting users with malware. An attack begins when a user receives a fake payment confirmation email from Delta Airlines. Fake Delta Airlines receipt. (Source: Heimdal Security) Notice...

Even if you’re not in the utility industry, it’s hard to ignore the slow march forward of the smart meter. The days of a utility employee stopping by to check the meter are well on their way out. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a system that relies on someone physically showing up to check the meter at all. Today, smart meters go beyond simply...

When the world's biggest online advertising platform is reported to be working on a technology to block ads in the world's most popular browser, it's no wonder that some eyebrows will be raised. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Google is planning to build an ad blocker into Google Chrome. The feature, which would be turned on by...

London gun owners want to know if the Metropolitan Police shared a database containing 30,000 firearm registrants' information with a marketing firm. On 18 April, 5,000 rifle owners and 25,000 shotgun owners living in London received a leaflet in the day's mail. Titled "Protect Your Firearms and Shotguns with SmartWater," the leaflet urges the...

In any conflict, humans are impacted. In conflict, the best scenario is that the individual leaves unscathed and perhaps even unaware of what could have been their misfortune, whereas in the worst of cases – such as kinetic warfare – the impact can be the ultimate price: loss of life. There is also a cruel truth of conflict that often gets looked...

Cyber security is a priority for every country in today's world. Canadian educators are among those who understand this fact. This explains why some of Canada's teachers are creating programs designed to foster students' interest and skills in the field. We at The State of Security are enthusiastic about these new cyber security educational programs...

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Top 20 Critical Security Controls, or "Foundational Controls," can help any organization address the growing number of digital security threats confronting them. Obviously, for these controls to reduce risk, a company must first implement them. Failure to do so can result in some real security nightmares. IT...

The world is currently experiencing a serious cyber security talent shortage that is having profound effects on businesses and governments alike. An alarming number of cyber security/information security professionals surveyed for ISACA’s State of Cyber Security 2017 report (37 percent of 633 respondents) said fewer than 1 in 4 job applicants...

What is the first thing you do upon returning from a conference, seminar, or other event? Quickly update your LinkedIn network with new contacts from the event? Draft a presentation that you promised as part of the business justification to attend the conference? Prioritize a list of products you want to implement, and why? Me? I add my latest...

Previously, I interviewed Dr. Jessica Barker. She's a woman who runs a firm, J L Barker Ltd., where she advises many British organizations on how to handle information more securely. Now, I'm honoured to talk to Emily Crose, a network threat hunter. I discovered her on Medium, where she wrote a thought-provoking article about the differences in her...

A restaurant chain has confirmed that a payment card breach affected more than three dozen of the locations it currently manages. On 14 April, Best American Hospitality Corp. (BAHC) revealed it had received a report indicating someone had stolen payment cards used at some of the corporate-affiliated...

In 2016, the U.S. gift card industry was worth $127 billion. That figure is expected to reach $160 billion by 2018. It's little wonder why. Everyone loves them! From the retailer's point of view, customers who shop using a gift card oftentimes spend more than the initial value of the card. As for the customers themselves, gift cards allow them to...

With analyst group Gartner valuing the annual global spending on educational technology at over £17 billion ($21 billion USD) in 2015, there's no doubt that technology implementation is shaping the future of education systems. The appropriate integration of technology guides students, teachers, and administrators towards clarity and extensibility....