Cybersecurity Certification Training and Comprehensive Penetration Testing Solutions.
There is no denying that most people in this world want to avoid feeling uncomfortable as much as possible. The problem with this mindset is that those who fear discomfort and uncertainty are always going to be stuck in the same place. The best way to fail to succeed is to stay in one place for relative comfort. Fear of failure ruins our livesIf you think about it, you will come to the conclusion that our biggest fear is not failure itself. What we truly fear is that other people will see us fail. This is a very common problem and it has no logic behind it. When you fail, you feel like others are going to ridicule you or laugh at you, but no one ever laughs at failure, they may feel bad for you, but they fear failure more than you do, they are completely frozen by fear and they never even try anything new because they would rather stay in their comfort zone. Just imagine how ridiculous it would be for you to give up your goals and dreams because you are afraid of what others will say if you fail. The simple thought of this makes you cringe and it should be more than enough to motivate you to take action. Good things will never happen to youPeople are usually expecting god things to happen to them in life. They say “I’m a good person, I deserve good things, I know things will change” but the problem is that they are just standing on the road of life, while others are standing there with them waiting for good things to come to them. This is a huge problem for many people because they feel entitled to happiness and to success just because they are nice, or because they are honest and decent. Those are not qualities and virtues that give you a free pass to success. The sad truth is that no one has ever achieved success in life by thinking this way. Imagine that you are standing on the road and you see a pot of gold a few miles away, but there are traps and pits all the way through. You are going to be waiting forever if you expect someone else to carry that gold to your location. Anyone that reaches that gold is going to keep it for themselves. They would be willing to share if you also walked towards that gold and took your chances with those traps. The exact same thing happens with everything we want in life. If we don’t start heading in the direction of what we want, there is always going to be someone else willing to take the risk. The point here is that anything you want in like is going to require that you move forward and step out of your comfort zone. Adding value to your journeyThe greatest thing a person can do in life is to add value in their journey to the goals they set for themselves. If your goals include being a competitive and highly valuable asset to any modern business, you will find that cybersecurity training is going to be essential for that purpose. We have classes with official certifications in cybersecurity that will add thousands of dollars of value to your paychecks. Step out of your comfort zone and invest in your future. Take action and move forward on the road to your dreams. Find out how to enroll in our awesome courses to add massive value to your journey to success! via Tumblr The Greatness of Being Uncomfortable
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Cyber crime is not just the plotline of bad TV movies. It’s a $600 billion global business that accounts for 0.8% of the world’s GDP. Anyone on the internet - and there are 3.2 billion of us - is a potential victim. While phishing scams and identity theft are old news, the more serious threats to organizations are ransomware and extortionware. In fact at Europol’s 2018 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment, the European crime prevention agency stated, “In a few short years, ransomware has become a staple attack tool for cybercriminals, rapidly accommodating aspects common to other successful malware such as affiliate programs and as-a-service business models." Ransomware’s sister threats are a different form of cyber crime called cyber blackmail or cyber extortion. Blackmail doesn’t necessarily involve sophisticated technology. But ransomware and cyber extortion typically do. While these two types of malware share common themes, they also differ in key respects. What’s the difference between ransomware and extortionware? And what can you do to prevent your company from becoming a victim of cyber crime? What is ransomware?Ransomware is a type of malware that locks a computer system down until the victim pays the extortioner for the key code to unlock the device. It’s an obvious form of cyber crime. While some internet criminals try to fly below the surface, stealing data without you realizing it, ransomware is overt. The hacker is telling you in plain language, "We’ve encrypted your system. The key is in our lockbox. If you want your data or computer to work again, you’ll pay us.” Usually, the victim has to pay in Bitcoin or through another hard-to-trace method. It’s the most common form of cybercrime and perhaps the most effective. Who wouldn’t pay a few hundred dollars to a criminal instead of a few thousand to a break-fix IT service, which might not be able to unlock the system anyway? The trouble is, there’s nothing to stop the criminal from coming back again … and again. Ransomware can cost a lot more than the initial payment; it also costs time, productivity, and reputation. Examples of ransomwareThe first ransomware appeared in 1989. Hackers mailed floppy disks (remember those?) to unsuspecting victims who inadvertently installed the malware on their computers. To get the key, the victim had to mail either $189 or $378 to Panama. Today’s cyber criminals operate a similar racket but with greater technical prowess. The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which was linked to the North Korean government, infected about 200,000 computers in 150 countries. Bad Rabbit Example Bad Rabbit was a ransomware that affected European and Russian users. Unlike WannaCry, which spread randomly, Bad Rabbit targeted its victims, which included the Odessa airport and Kiev’s mass transit system. A relatively new and irritating form of ransomware is called “police-themed demands.” In this, the criminals claim to be the police who are shutting down your computer due to its use in a terrorist act or a child pornography ring. By paying a few hundred dollars in fines, the “police” claim, you can unlock your computer. Of course, the whole thing is bogus, and you’re the victim of ransomware. What is cyber extortion?Extortion is simply demanding a good, service, or payment to prevent violence or destruction of property. Some cyber criminals get ahead of the competition by demanding money before they hurt you. Much like the mobsters of yore who wanted payment for “security services,” these cyber extortionists basically tell you to pay them or they will lock up your system. According to Insureon, “Cyber extortionists may threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property if you do not comply with their demands. Cyber extortion can take many forms.” For instance, a hacker may send malicious traffic using a bot, overwhelm the site with more requests than it can handle, or simply shut it down. What is cyber blackmail?Blackmailers employ the psychology of fear and shame to motivate victims. In these cases, the cyber criminal will claim that he’s been inside your computer, snapped screenshots of embarrassing photos or searches, and recorded sketchy video using your camera. He will threaten to send the screenshots and pics to everyone in your address book or post them on social media unless you pay up. It’s basically cyber blackmail. “Cyber-blackmail is the act of threatening to share information about a person to the public, their friends or family, unless a demand is met or money is paid,” according to the BBC. It is a particularly insidious kind of crime. In fact, some hackers are even targeting children. Cyber blackmail doesn’t only affect individuals, but it also harms companies. Hackers claim they have stolen sensitive data from a company’s storage and threaten to expose it unless paid off. Many times, the hacker has no evidence at all and is simply bluffing. The really dangerous part is that emails from hackers often reveal they have secured your password, and while that may be all they have, it’s often enough to do some serious damage. ![]() Cyber Extortion Example (click to enlarge) Am I a victim of ransomware, extortionware, or cyber blackmail?Because these are forthright kinds of crime, you’ll likely know if you’re a victim. The hackers will tell you when they demand the ransom, threaten you for money, or want blackmail payoff. One handy way to assess the credibility of an extortion scheme or blackmail threat is at HaveIBeenPwned. This site lets you see what breaches your email address has been associated with, so you can determine if the password that is supposedly compromised and used for the cyber extortion is simply from a previous breach or if the hacker really has broken through your security system. In no case should you pay off a cybercriminal even if you think they have something on you. A qualified managed services provider or IT professional can help protect you against ransomware and can reverse most of it easily. Cyber blackmailers almost never have the goods on you they say they have, and extortionists are probably no match for your IT managed service provider or cybersecurity squad. Report cybercriminals to the police. Your company doesn’t need to be a victim. How penetration testing and training can prevent cyber crimeAt Alpine Security, our penetration testing services and training can help prevent both ransomware and extortionware. We can also help you know what to do if a hacker uses ransomware to lock down your system. Penetration testing can help identify gaps in systems and networks, and our user awareness training, including our phishing services, can identify gaps in user training. To learn more about protecting your organization from ransomware and cyber extortion, contact us today. via Tumblr Cyber Extortion: Ransomware vs Extortionware Cyber crime is not just the plotline of bad TV movies. It’s a $600 billion global business that accounts for 0.8% of the world’s GDP. Anyone on the internet - and there are 3.2 billion of us - is a potential victim. While phishing scams and identity theft are old news, the more serious threats to organizations are ransomware and extortionware. In fact at Europol’s 2018 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment, the European crime prevention agency stated, “In a few short years, ransomware has become a staple attack tool for cybercriminals, rapidly accommodating aspects common to other successful malware such as affiliate programs and as-a-service business models." Ransomware’s sister threats are a different form of cyber crime called cyber blackmail or cyber extortion. Blackmail doesn’t necessarily involve sophisticated technology. But ransomware and cyber extortion typically do. While these two types of malware share common themes, they also differ in key respects. What’s the difference between ransomware and extortionware? And what can you do to prevent your company from becoming a victim of cyber crime? What is ransomware?Ransomware is a type of malware that locks a computer system down until the victim pays the extortioner for the key code to unlock the device. It’s an obvious form of cyber crime. While some internet criminals try to fly below the surface, stealing data without you realizing it, ransomware is overt. The hacker is telling you in plain language, "We’ve encrypted your system. The key is in our lockbox. If you want your data or computer to work again, you’ll pay us.” Usually, the victim has to pay in Bitcoin or through another hard-to-trace method. It’s the most common form of cybercrime and perhaps the most effective. Who wouldn’t pay a few hundred dollars to a criminal instead of a few thousand to a break-fix IT service, which might not be able to unlock the system anyway? The trouble is, there’s nothing to stop the criminal from coming back again … and again. Ransomware can cost a lot more than the initial payment; it also costs time, productivity, and reputation. Examples of ransomwareThe first ransomware appeared in 1989. Hackers mailed floppy disks (remember those?) to unsuspecting victims who inadvertently installed the malware on their computers. To get the key, the victim had to mail either $189 or $378 to Panama. Today’s cyber criminals operate a similar racket but with greater technical prowess. The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which was linked to the North Korean government, infected about 200,000 computers in 150 countries. Bad Rabbit Example Bad Rabbit was a ransomware that affected European and Russian users. Unlike WannaCry, which spread randomly, Bad Rabbit targeted its victims, which included the Odessa airport and Kiev’s mass transit system. A relatively new and irritating form of ransomware is called “police-themed demands.” In this, the criminals claim to be the police who are shutting down your computer due to its use in a terrorist act or a child pornography ring. By paying a few hundred dollars in fines, the “police” claim, you can unlock your computer. Of course, the whole thing is bogus, and you’re the victim of ransomware. What is cyber extortion?Extortion is simply demanding a good, service, or payment to prevent violence or destruction of property. Some cyber criminals get ahead of the competition by demanding money before they hurt you. Much like the mobsters of yore who wanted payment for “security services,” these cyber extortionists basically tell you to pay them or they will lock up your system. According to Insureon, “Cyber extortionists may threaten to harm you, your reputation, or your property if you do not comply with their demands. Cyber extortion can take many forms.” For instance, a hacker may send malicious traffic using a bot, overwhelm the site with more requests than it can handle, or simply shut it down. What is cyber blackmail?Blackmailers employ the psychology of fear and shame to motivate victims. In these cases, the cyber criminal will claim that he’s been inside your computer, snapped screenshots of embarrassing photos or searches, and recorded sketchy video using your camera. He will threaten to send the screenshots and pics to everyone in your address book or post them on social media unless you pay up. It’s basically cyber blackmail. “Cyber-blackmail is the act of threatening to share information about a person to the public, their friends or family, unless a demand is met or money is paid,” according to the BBC. It is a particularly insidious kind of crime. In fact, some hackers are even targeting children. Cyber blackmail doesn’t only affect individuals, but it also harms companies. Hackers claim they have stolen sensitive data from a company’s storage and threaten to expose it unless paid off. Many times, the hacker has no evidence at all and is simply bluffing. The really dangerous part is that emails from hackers often reveal they have secured your password, and while that may be all they have, it’s often enough to do some serious damage. ![]() Cyber Extortion Example (click to enlarge) Am I a victim of ransomware, extortionware, or cyber blackmail?Because these are forthright kinds of crime, you’ll likely know if you’re a victim. The hackers will tell you when they demand the ransom, threaten you for money, or want blackmail payoff. One handy way to assess the credibility of an extortion scheme or blackmail threat is at HaveIBeenPwned. This site lets you see what breaches your email address has been associated with, so you can determine if the password that is supposedly compromised and used for the cyber extortion is simply from a previous breach or if the hacker really has broken through your security system. In no case should you pay off a cybercriminal even if you think they have something on you. A qualified managed services provider or IT professional can help protect you against ransomware and can reverse most of it easily. Cyber blackmailers almost never have the goods on you they say they have, and extortionists are probably no match for your IT managed service provider or cybersecurity squad. Report cybercriminals to the police. Your company doesn’t need to be a victim. How penetration testing and training can prevent cyber crimeAt Alpine Security, our penetration testing services and training can help prevent both ransomware and extortionware. We can also help you know what to do if a hacker uses ransomware to lock down your system. Penetration testing can help identify gaps in systems and networks, and our user awareness training, including our phishing services, can identify gaps in user training. To learn more about protecting your organization from ransomware and cyber extortion, contact us today. via Tumblr Cyber Extortion: Ransomware vs Extortionware A cyber threat map, also known as a cyber attack map, is a real-time map of the computer security attacks that are going on at any given time. One of the most famous was released by the company Norse and went so viral, even among non-hackers, that it got its own story in Newsweek in 2015. The map itself looks like a global game of laser tag. Beams of light, represented by different colors, shoot across a darkened screen showing where an attack comes from and where it is going. When it first caught the public eye, captivated audiences watched hackers wage cyber-war across hundreds and thousands of miles. How Does A Cyber Threat Map Work?If cyber attacks are sneaky mice – or, more appropriately, giant rats – then cyber attack maps work like the mousetrap. Norse, for example, maintained a global threat intelligence network of more than 8 million sensors and “honeypots” in 47 countries across the world. These tools impersonated thousands of applications and devices that are common targets of hackers. When a hacker hits a Norse sensor, the hacker believed that it had breached a system. Instead, Norse collected information about the hacker’s toolkit, including his or her IP address. This information then manifested as data on the cyber attack map. This model has continued past the demise of Norse to power live maps like Cyberthreat, ThreatCloud, and Fortinet. Some companies claim that these are real-time cyber attacks, but most are more like selections of recent attacks. What Are They Good For?First of all, anyone can look at a cyber threat map and understand something about current attacks. For laypeople, it might just be an understanding of how prevalent these attacks are. For pros, a cyber threat map can provide data that can lead to the discovery of a potential new attack. Even though these maps don’t really show cyber attacks in real-time, they give you information, and a cybersecurity pro can never have too much of that. The Best of the Best in Cyber Threat MapsNot all cyber threat maps are created equal. Some are great eye candy for pen test companies, but others do offer good functionality. A few even let you manipulate the map to focus on its most useful information. #1 Cyberthreat by Kaspersky LabKaspersky’s cyber threat map may be the best in the business in terms of interactivity and visual appeal. It’s also mobile optimized so you can show it to clients or colleagues from anywhere. And if you want particular data, the site offers you the option to find it. Narrowing It DownKaspersky’s Cyberthreat also offers useful statistics about current cyber attacks. Through its website, you can learn about:
You can find this data for a specific country or look at it on a worldwide level. The WidgetKaspersky Lab has figured out that cybersecurity professionals often use threat maps to visually represent their work to clients. To make it easier, they have created a Cyberthreat map widget, which you can embed in your website, as shown below, so that clients can see a representation of the latest threats. Fortinet Threat Map (click to enlarge) #2 Fortinet by FortiguardThis one isn’t quite as customizable as Cyberthreat, but it’s informative enough to warrant runner-up honors. The main map color codes its attacks by severity to make it easier to focus on the most critical situations, coded in red. The details of these attacks scroll quickly along the bottom of the map, where the viewer can identify the threat type and location. Fortiguard clients have a bit more freedom in terms of map design. By placing a tool known as the ThreatGate, users can monitor the threats approaching a particular location. Check Point Threatcloud (click to enlarge) The Best of the RestIn addition to Fortinet and Cyberthreat, there are a few other cyber attack maps that repeatedly appear on “Best of” lists. They are:
Each of these maps presents its data in a slightly different format and with a slightly different emphasis. Take a look, try them out, and find out which one will work best for you.
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