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Staying safe in the current climate of cyberattacks can be challenging and often frightening. With hacking and data theft becoming increasingly accessible and easier to execute, ensuring the safety of your personal information is essential. In this article, we will list the top ways to protect your identity on your   show more ...  

devices and accounts from being stolen. 10 Easy Steps to Secure Your Identity By following these 10 easy steps, you can secure your credentials, personal information, and more. 1. Using Strong Passwords Using strong passwords is the most obvious tip. Ensuring a hard-to-guess password makes it difficult for attackers to guess or crack your login credentials. Strong passwords include a mix of letters, numbers, symbols, and avoid obvious information like your name or date of birth. This reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access to your accounts and safeguards them. 2. VPN (Virtual Private Network) A VPN protects your identity by masking your IP address and routing your data through secure servers. This prevents hackers, ISPs, and others from tracking your online activities, ensuring your data remains private and your location and identity are hidden. 3. Encrypting Your Data Data encryption works by converting your information into code, readable only with the correct decryption key. Even if your data is compromised, it remains confidential and secure. Encryption prevents unauthorized access and safeguards your personal and sensitive information from hackers. 4. Installing Antivirus Software Antivirus software protects your identity by detecting and removing malware, including viruses, spyware, and keyloggers, which can steal personal information. It safeguards against phishing attacks and other cyber threats, ensuring your data remains secure and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information like passwords and financial details. 5. Avoiding the Use of Public Wi-Fi Avoiding public Wi-Fi reduces exposure to unsecured networks, which are prone to cyber-attacks. Hackers can retrieve sensitive information like passwords and personal details through public Wi-Fi. Using secure, private networks minimizes this risk, safeguarding your identity and personal data. 6. Utilizing the Principle of Least Privilege The principle of least privilege involves restricting account levels to only what users and systems necessarily need to perform their tasks. This limits potential damage from malware or insider threats, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information and protecting your personal data and identity. 7. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) MFA protects your identity by requiring multiple forms of verification, such as email verifications or facial recognition, to access accounts. This extra layer of security makes it significantly harder for unauthorized users to gain access. Even if your password is compromised, your data remains secure. 8. Installing Anti-Malware Software Anti-malware software detects, blocks, and removes malicious software designed to steal personal information. It prevents spyware, ransomware, and other threats from compromising your data, ensuring details like login credentials and financial information remain inaccessible to cybercriminals. 9. Switching to Digital Wallets Digital wallets encrypt payment information, reducing the need to share sensitive details with merchants. Card numbers are replaced with unique identifiers, preventing the interception of financial data during transactions. This enhances security and shields personal information from theft and unauthorized access. 10. Turning on Alerts Using alerts protects your identity by notifying you of suspicious activities, such as unauthorized logins or transactions, in real time. This early detection allows you to take immediate action, such as changing passwords or contacting financial institutions, preventing further compromise of your personal information and minimizing potential damage from identity theft. Conclusion We hope these tips have been informative and helpful in ensuring that you feel safer in an unsafe cyber world. Using these tips simultaneously is the best way to ensure your safety. Although one or two may seem like enough, you can never be too safe! As hacking becomes easier and more accessible to anyone who desires to steal identities or information, the cyber safety required to mitigate it is also becoming more accessible and easier to implement. We hope everyone stays safe out there with our tips!

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 Features

Whenever people ask the best way to protect their accounts and devices, the answer is always to use a strong password. But how exactly does one do that? What constitutes a good password? In this article, we explain six ways to create a strong password that makes hackers give up trying to guess your details and steal   show more ...  

your information. Keep reading to find out what your password should consist of to stay protected! Steps to Create a Strong Password 1. Avoid Common Words Avoid using easily guessable words or phrases. Examples include "123456," "password," or "qwerty." Instead, use phrases that may hold an unobvious personal meaning to you, such as a combination of words from a favorite book or a childhood memory. Hackers often use common password lists to guess and breach accounts, so avoid anything too predictable. 2. Avoid Personal Information Refrain from including any personal information in your password, such as your name, birthday, or address. Hackers can easily obtain this information through social engineering or data breaches, making it relatively simple for them to guess your password. Keeping your password unrelated to your personal life adds an extra layer of security. 3. The Lengthier, the Better The longer your password, the harder it is for hackers to crack through brute force attacks. A minimum of 12 characters is recommended, but going longer is better. For example, using a 16-character password significantly increases the number of possible combinations, making it more challenging for hackers to guess and increasing their likelihood of failing. 4. Use Complex Characters and Words Passwords that use a variety of character types—such as uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters—are better protected. For instance, a password like "P@ssw0rd123!" is much stronger than "password123." The complexity of using different forms of characters makes guessing much harder, especially if hackers use automated tools. 5. Randomize Passwords Generating random passwords using browser-recommended ones or a password manager can be very effective in protecting your account. Password managers can store the randomized passwords after creating them. If you are worried about forgetting these randomly generated ones, you can create your own passphrase that makes sense only to you, such as "Green!Apple#Mountain*Sky." Ensure it's not easily guessable or uses common phrases. 6. Update and Change Regularly Changing your passwords regularly is essential, especially if you have been warned of possible attempts at breaches or passwords being compromised. Regularly updating your passwords helps mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts, even if your current password is strong. It is important to create new ones instead of reusing old passwords, as hackers could use previously compromised credentials to gain access to other accounts. Conclusion When these six tips are combined, your password will keep your information secure. Repeating passwords or making variations of the same one fails to protect you. But with these tips, your first level of authentication is set to be almost impossible for hackers to penetrate. In a world where hacking and stealing information in cyberspace is becoming more common, it is essential for users to take the necessary steps to keep their passwords strong and their data protected. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks and ensure your personal information remains safe.

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 Cybersecurity News

Globe Life disclosed a recent cybersecurity incident that may have resulted in unauthorized access to its consumer and policyholder information. Globe Life is a Texas-based insurance holding company. It offers life, health, and worksite insurance products and services to consumers nationwide through its subsidiaries.   show more ...  

The company has over 3,600 employees and also owns several insurance providers like Liberty National, United American and Family Heritage Life. The company had also been accused of shady financial tactics and business operations by short sellers Fuzzy Panda Research and Viceroy Research, allegations the company has denied. Globe Life Breach Discovery and Containment According to Globe Life's filing with the SEC, the company had conducted a security review on one of its web portals to discover potential vulnerabilities that may have affected its access permissions and user identity management. The investigation was prompted by a legal inquiry from a state insurance regulator on June 13, 2024. The review revealed that an unauthorized party may have accessed the company's web portal, compromising sensitive customer and policyholder data. The company stated that it had immediately revoked external access to the affected portal upon breach discovery. Globe Life said that at this stage, it believes the security issue is isolated to the one web portal. All other company systems remain fully operational. Globe Life added that it expected minimal impact to its business operations after the take down of the affected web portal. The company has activated its cybersecurity incident response plan and engaged external forensics experts to investigate the breach's scope. In its SEC filing, Globe Life disclosed that the investigation remains ongoing. The full impact and nature of the incident are unclear at the moment. Incident Comes After Scrutiny Over Business Tactics The company said it has yet to determine if the breach qualifies as a reportable cybersecurity incident under the SEC's disclosure rules. The disclosure comes amidst increasing scrutiny and financial setbacks suffered by the company. The Texas-based insurer has faced allegations of fraudulent sales tactics and other business and workplace improprieties. The short sellers Fuzzy Panda Research and Viceroy Research had made these allegations public in April 2024. While the company has continued to deny these claims, its share price has dropped by 24% since the publication of the Fuzzy Panda report. The reports claimed that Globe Life and its biggest subsidiary, American Income Life (AIL), had engaged in insurance fraud, framing of policies for dead and fictitious individuals, withdrawal of consumer funds without approval, unfair dismissal, misleading sales tactics and illegal kickbacks. They also alleged that some of AIL's most profitable agents had faced accusations of kidnapping, assault and child grooming from defendants, witnesses and plaintiffs. It remains unclear if the state insurance regulator contact that led to the breach discovery is related to these allegations. Insurers like Globe Life are regulated at the state level rather than federal level. Media Disclaimer: This report is based on internal and external research obtained through various means. The information provided is for reference purposes only, and users bear full responsibility for their reliance on it. The Cyber Express assumes no liability for the accuracy or consequences of using this information.

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 Features

By Siddharth Deshmukh, Chief Operating Officer, Clover Infotech With the advent of digital, large volumes of data flow into the organizations’ systems daily. However, it’s the value of the data that makes it special. This data is often used to generate insights and predictions which are important to enhance   show more ...  

productivity and ROI. But to ensure that the desired results are achieved, the data needs to be stored and organized in databases that enable easy access, modification, and management. In such a scenario, open source database is a wise choice as they offer flexibility, cost savings, and community support. They allow users to access and modify the source code, enabling customization to meet specific needs and fostering innovation. Being free of licensing fees, they reduce financial barriers for organizations of all sizes. While community versions of open-source databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB are popular for their zero-cost entry and extensive community support, enterprise editions often provide a more comprehensive and reliable solution for businesses with critical needs. Superior Features of Enterprise Editions Here’s why enterprise editions are generally considered superior to community versions in an enterprise setting:  Enhanced Support and Reliability - One of the most significant advantages of enterprise editions is the professional support provided by the OEM. Unlike community versions, which rely on community forums and public documentation for troubleshooting, enterprise editions offer dedicated, round-the-clock technical support. This support is crucial for enterprises that require immediate resolutions to any issues that may arise, thereby minimizing downtime, ensuring business continuity, and adherence to compliance mandates. Advanced Security Features - Security is paramount for any enterprise, and enterprise editions of open-source databases typically come with enhanced security features not available in community versions. These may include advanced authentication methods, transparent data encryption, auditing capabilities, and more granular access controls. With cyber threats constantly evolving, having these robust security measures in place helps protect sensitive data from breaches and ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations. Performance Optimization and Scalability - Enterprise editions often include performance optimization tools and features designed to handle large-scale operations efficiently. These enhancements can significantly improve database performance, supporting faster query processing and better resource management. For businesses experiencing rapid growth or those with high transaction volumes, the ability to scale seamlessly is critical. Comprehensive Management Tools - Managing a database effectively requires a suite of tools for monitoring, backup, recovery, and automation. Enterprise editions usually provide a range of advanced management tools that simplify these tasks, reducing the administrative burden on IT teams. Features like automated backups, performance monitoring dashboards, and easy-to-use management interfaces help ensure that databases run smoothly, and potential issues are promptly addressed. Long-Term Stability and Support - Community versions often follow rapid release cycles, which can lead to stability issues as new features are continuously added and older versions quickly become outdated. In contrast, enterprise editions typically offer long-term support (LTS) versions, ensuring stability and ongoing updates without the need for frequent major upgrades. This stability is vital for enterprises that require reliable, long-term operation of their database systems. Tailored Solutions and Customization - Vendors offering enterprise editions frequently provide customized solutions tailored to the specific needs of their clients. This level of customization can include optimizing the database for particular workloads, integrating with existing enterprise systems, and even developing new features upon request. Such tailored solutions ensure that the database aligns perfectly with the business’ operational requirements. To Wrap Up In conclusion, while community versions of open-source databases are an excellent starting point, especially for small to medium-sized businesses or for non-critical applications, enterprise editions offer a suite of enhanced features and services that address the complex needs of larger organizations. With superior support, advanced security, performance optimizations, comprehensive management tools, and tailored solutions, enterprise editions ensure businesses can rely on their database systems to support their operations effectively and securely. Enterprise editions are a prudent choice for enterprises where data integrity, performance, and security are paramount. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Cyber Express. Any content provided by the author is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. 

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 Features

By Mohan Subrahmanya, Country Leader, Insight Enterprises In an era consistently besieged by data breaches and increased cyber threats, blockchain technology is emerging as a key tool for the enhancement of cybersecurity and the protection of data. It is a decentralized and secure way of recording critical data that   show more ...  

brings forth innumerable benefits to many sectors through a sound framework for secure transactions and integrity of data. Understanding Blockchain Technology At its core, blockchain is a decentralized ledger that records transactions across a network of computers, ensuring that data remains transparent, secure, and immutable. Each block in the blockchain contains a timestamp, transaction data, and a cryptographic hash of the previous block, creating a chain of records that is nearly impossible to alter. The exponential growth of blockchain technology is fueled by the need to simplify business processes, increase transparency, improve traceability, and cut costs. According to ReportLinker, the global blockchain market is expected to increase by 80% between 2018 and 2023, from $1.2 billion to $23.3 billion. Key Components of Blockchain That Ensure Data Security Blockchain technology enhances data security by ensuring that data recorded once remains unalterable and undeletable without network consensus, thus maintaining integrity. One of the key features of blockchain technology is decentralization. Unlike traditional centralized databases, blockchain operates on a distributed network. This structure reduces the risk of a single point of failure and makes it much more difficult for malicious entities to compromise the entire system. By distributing data across multiple nodes, blockchain eliminates vulnerabilities associated with centralized servers, thereby enhancing overall security. Another feature is the Cryptographic hash function which plays a crucial role in blockchain security. These mathematical algorithms generate a unique identifier for each block, making it virtually impossible to alter any recorded data without detection. All the altered information on the blockchain is visible and immutable, which not only ensures data integrity but also provides a reliable mechanism to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Blockchain also employs consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) to validate transactions and ensure network consistency. By allowing only authentic transactions to be added to the blockchain, these mechanisms prevent double payments and other fraudulent practices. Digital signatures, which use a private key to sign transactions, further enhance this level of security. This ensures that only authorized individuals can initiate or modify data entries, while anyone with the public key can verify the authenticity of the transaction. Applications Across Sectors The use of blockchain technology could have a significant impact on cybersecurity across various sectors. Many organizations are recognizing the significant business benefits of blockchain technology and are increasingly adopting it across various sectors. Blockchain has a lot to offer, from manufacturing and healthcare to supply chains and beyond. Financial services, for instance, can benefit from blockchain's ability to secure transactions, reduce fraud, and improve transparency. The healthcare sector can utilize blockchain to secure storage and share patient information between authorized personnel, ensuring confidentiality and accuracy. In the manufacturing industry, blockchain is primarily used for the movement and management of digital assets and physical goods, enhancing transparency and traceability. In order to ensure a transparent and immutable record of the origin of products, supply chain management can use blockchain technology to prevent counterfeiting and ensure authenticity. Government services can also use blockchain to increase the security and efficiency of public records, voting systems as well as identity management. Key Challenges and Considerations There are certain challenges to the use of blockchain technology, despite its many benefits. Scalability is an important concern, as the number of transactions increases, the blockchain may become slow and costly to maintain. Furthermore, significant computational power is required for consensus mechanisms such as POW which could result in considerable energy consumption. Regulatory uncertainty is another issue, as the evolving legal landscape can obscure the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the continued growth and adoption of blockchain technology. Global efforts are being made to create scalable blockchain systems and more effective consensus methods. Additionally, regulatory frameworks are also evolving to offer more precise guidelines to implement blockchain technology. Growth of Blockchain Technology in India India is seeing a strong increase in the adoption of blockchain technology in many sectors. This growth is driven by government-backed projects and initiatives, such as the National Blockchain Framework, to improve transparency, security, and efficiency. The technology's potential to enhance data integrity and operational efficiency aligns well with India's digital transformation goals, making blockchain a key component in the nation's technological advancement. The use of blockchain technology has been much more of a game-changer in terms of data security and is supporting cybersecurity. It provides robust security against all cyber threats since it is decentralized, immutable, and fully transparent. Overcoming the challenges of scaling and regulatory uncertainty would enable blockchain's distributed ledger technology to emerge as the key player in secure digital infrastructures that drive innovation across all sectors. The more organizations study its potential applications, the more blockchain will change the face of data security and cybersecurity. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Cyber Express. Any content provided by the author is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. 

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A suspected Pakistan-based threat actor has been linked to a cyber espionage campaign targeting Indian government entities in 2024. Cybersecurity company Volexity is tracking the activity under the moniker UTA0137, noting the adversary's exclusive use of a malware called DISGOMOJI that's written in Golang and is designed to infect Linux systems. "It is a modified version of the public project

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Meta on Friday said it's delaying its efforts to train the company's large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by adult users on Facebook and Instagram in the European Union following a request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC). The company expressed disappointment at having to put its AI plans on pause, stating it had taken into account feedback from regulators and

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Pakistan has become the latest target of a threat actor called the Smishing Triad, marking the first expansion of its footprint beyond the E.U., Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., and the U.S. "The group's latest tactic involves sending malicious messages on behalf of Pakistan Post to customers of mobile carriers via iMessage and SMS," Resecurity said in a report published earlier this week. "The goal is

2024-06
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