Has cybersecurity ever been more important than it is right now? What is a Data Breach? A data breach is any incident where confidential or personal information has been accessed without permission. Breaches are the result of a cyberattack where criminals gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network and steal the private, sensitive,…
A San Antonio school district has paid a ransom to hackers to regain control of its network in the latest ransomware attack on a local Texas government body. Judson ISD said it paid for access to its files but would not specify how much it cost, the San Antonio Express-News reports. The cyberattack took place…
Cybercriminals may target the popular event with ransomware, phishing, or DDoS attacks in a bid to increase their notoriety or make money. In 2016, they leaked private medical records of American stars like Simone Biles and Serena Williams. In 2018, they shut off online ticketing during the Olympics’ opening ceremony in South Korea. And in…
After a series of supply chain and ransomware attacks, the federal government is ramping up its effort to improve the nation’s cybersecurity. In the past several months, multiple federal departments and agencies announced new policy initiatives and regulatory directives to drive their cybersecurity agenda forward, and state regulators are following the trend. It is unmistakably…
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an IT authentication technique that requires a user to present at least two factors that prove their identity. We all use passwords to enter into our email systems, work databases, and bank accounts. We are usually forced to change our combinations periodically in the hopes that we’ll stay just a bit…
Ally Bank, a popular online financial institution, leaked user names and passwords in the clear to third-party marketing partners. They took over 2 months to notify customers of the breach and have so far refused to name who the data was leaked to. Companies we entrust with our data (and money) need to do better.…
The biggest global ransomware attack yet continued to bite Monday as details emerged on how the Russia-linked gang responsible breached the company whose software was the conduit. In essence, the criminals used a tool that helps protect against malware to spread it widely. An affiliate of the notorious REvil gang, infected thousands of victims in…
A group of Russian-speaking hackers have claimed responsibility for a massive ransomware attack over the holiday weekend that hit 200 U.S. companies and hundreds more worldwide, with the group demanding $70 million in bitcoin to restore the companies’ data in the latest debilitating cyberattack to hit the U.S. this year. Hackers breached Kaseya The ransom…
As the Department of Financial Services noted in the Cyber Insurance Risk Framework in February 2021, the cost of ransomware attacks has also shaken up the cyber insurance market. Because of ransomware, loss ratios on cyber insurance increased from an average of 42% during 2015-2019 to 73% in 2020. Cybercriminals keep demanding larger sums –…
Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on Wednesday introduced a bill that would take steps to potentially allow private sector companies to strike back at hackers launching attacks against their operations. The bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a study on what the potential benefits and risks may…