Cybersecurity Awareness Blog

 Find the best information on how to protect your organization against cyber threats and empower team members to take an active role within your organization.

Cyber True Crime: The Affiliate Part 3
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Cyber True Crime: The Affiliate Part 3

Welcome back to Part 3 of the cyber true crime series The Affiliate. In Parts 1 and 2 we went over how a ransomware gang typically operates, how an organization finds out they have been the target of a NetWalker ransomware attack and how one becomes involved in the criminal organization. In this installment, you’ll learn how an international server works and how the Affiliate used them.

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In for the Long Haul: The Long-Term Effects of a Data Breach for SMBs
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In for the Long Haul: The Long-Term Effects of a Data Breach for SMBs

It’s a common belief that cybercriminals target large businesses for data breaches; however, the truth is that in 2021, small and medium businesses (SMBs) were the biggest and most easily accessible targets for data breaches. Sontiq’s Mid-Year 2021 report concluded that 69% of all data breaches for this year so far have been to small businesses.

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Cyber True Crime: The Affiliate Part 2
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Cyber True Crime: The Affiliate Part 2

Welcome back to the cyber true crime blog series The Affiliate. Part 1 provided an introduction to ransomware, how RaaS works and where the ransomware gang we’ll be focusing on, NetWalker, fits into the narrative. In this second installment, we unravel how one becomes a member of NetWalker and the sort of malicious activities that the ransomware gang participated in.

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Beauceron Security's 2022 Cybersecurity Predictions
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Beauceron Security's 2022 Cybersecurity Predictions

This year we sat down with Beauceron Security CEO, David Shipley, and asked him what his 2022 cybersecurity predictions are. You can listen to David’s full predictions below or keep reading to see a condensed version of what we believe the 2022 cyber landscape may have in store.

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Looking Back on 2021
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Looking Back on 2021

Join us as we take a look at the predictions we made last year for what the 2021 cyber threat landscape would look like and see which came true and which ones weren’t as big a threat as predicted. To view the 2021 Cybersecurity Predictions blog, click here.

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Dear Ransomware Gangs: An Open Letter to Cyber Criminals
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Dear Ransomware Gangs: An Open Letter to Cyber Criminals

Last week was an important week for Canada’s stance against ransomware gangs. On Monday, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security released their “Open letter to Canadian organizations about ransomware.” On Tuesday, CBC’s As it Happens reported on the recent arrest of an Ottawa man allegedly accused of participating in a ransomware gang. Beauceron Security CEO, David Shipley, was interviewed by As it Happens and gave his perspective on the situation.

To listen to David’s full interview with As it Happens, click here.

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How to Foster Positive Behavioral Change
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How to Foster Positive Behavioral Change

While it may be easy to place the blame on people for data breaches and other cybersecurity incidents, the truth is that people are an organization’s first and best line of defense. Instead of viewing people as the victim, or punishing them for risky cyber behavior, it’s time to change the narrative and instead focus on empowering them through a cybersecurity culture that focuses on positive behavioral change.

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Ransomware Basics
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Ransomware Basics

Ransomware, or ransom malware locks users out of their device or just certain files which can only be decrypted in exchange for a ransom. Back in the 1980s when ransomware attacks were just beginning to appear, cybercriminals would accept payment by mail. However, today payments are made via cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. In the early days of ransomware, cybercriminals mostly targeted individuals, but gradually shifted to targeting businesses small and large which offered a higher pay out. You don’t even need to be especially technologically talented to become a ransomware attacker now with the growth of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).

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Data Encryption and Ransomware
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Data Encryption and Ransomware

Data encryption is a way to keep your data safe by changing it from plain text to ciphertext. Encrypted data can be accessed by someone who has an encryption key and decrypted data can be accessed with a decryption key. Unencrypted data remains a liability and cyber risk for organizations in the event that a ransomware gang steals their data and publishes it online.

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