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How to Master Open-Source Intelligence: Tips and Tricks

How to Master Open-Source Intelligence: Tips and Tricks Open-Source Intelligence is the practice of gathering and analysing publicly available data to gain actionable information. Even if you are a cyber security professional, journalist, or simply someone curious about investigative techniques, mastering Open-Source Intelligence allows you to uncover comprehensive data and make informed decisions through ethical analysis. This article "How to Master Open-Source Intelligence: Tips and Tricks" will explore the Open-Source Intelligence cycle, compare active and passive techniques, give real-world examples, and offer tips and tricks for staying updated in this dynamic field. What is Open-Source Intelligence? Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to the collection and analysis of publicly available information. This includes data from social media, websites, public records, news articles, and more. By using OSINT techniques and leveraging relevant tools, individuals can uncover a wealth of information about their subject. The Open-Source Intelligence Cycle:       1. Preparation and Planning The journey

By |2024-07-15T14:48:14+00:00July 15th, 2024|Blog|0 Comments

5-Step Attack Surface Management Guide

5-Step Attack Surface Management Guide As cyber criminals develop ever more sophisticated tactics, proactively managing your attack surface has become an essential defence for organisations of all sizes. Attack surface management isn't just about plugging holes; it's a systematic approach to continuously identify every potential entry point - from internet-facing applications to misconfigured devices - that attackers could exploit to infiltrate your network, steal sensitive data, or disrupt critical operations. By taking a proactive stance and prioritising these vulnerabilities, organisations can significantly reduce their cyber risk. This 5-step attack surface management guide empowers you to proactively manage your digital assets. Why is Attack Surface Management (ASM) Important? The digital transformation and interconnected technologies expand your attack surface, creating more potential entry points for attackers. Attack Surface Management helps you: Gain visibility: Achieve comprehensive insight into all your digital assets, including hardware, software, network components, and cloud services. Reduce risk: Identify

By |2024-06-04T08:52:05+00:00June 4th, 2024|Blog|0 Comments

Password Power Up: Your Guide to Online Security

Password Power Up: Your Guide to Online Security Passwords safeguard our social media profiles, financial accounts, and a treasure trove of personal information. A weak password is an open invitation to vulnerability. This following article "Password Power Up: Your Guide to Online Security" will unravel the art of creating robust passwords, the common mistakes to avoid, and the latest strategies in password management that can fortify your cyber defences. Strong Passwords: The Gatekeepers of Your Digital Life Strong passwords are the digital gatekeepers standing guard over our online identities and protecting our sensitive information. Just like a strong lock secures our physical belongings, a robust password safeguards our digital lives. Short on Memory, Long on Security: Passphrases vs. Passwords Struggling to remember all your passwords? Consider a password manager – it stores your complex passphrases securely and fills them in automatically, saving you the hassle. But before diving deeper, let's

By |2024-05-02T13:17:35+00:00May 2nd, 2024|Blog|0 Comments

8 Surefire Shields Against Ransomware

8 Surefire Shields Against Ransomware In our increasingly digital world, data is the cornerstone of our lives. It stores everything from personal photos to financial records, and for organisations, it is the engine that keeps operations running. But with this dependence comes a growing threat: Ransomware. This malicious software acts like a digital kidnapper, encrypting your files and holding them hostage until a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks can be devastating. By scrambling your data, they can grind organisations to a halt, leading to lost revenue and damaged reputations. For individuals, the impact can be just as severe, with cherished memories and important documents locked away. This can be a devastating blow to individuals and organisations alike, resulting in financial losses, operational disruptions, and reputational damage. Read our blog, “8 Surefire Shields Against Ransomware”, to help you keep your data safe. Understanding the Enemy: How Ransomware Operates Before diving into

By |2024-03-22T11:16:00+00:00March 22nd, 2024|Blog|0 Comments

5 Best Practices to Succeed in Attack Surface Management

5 Best Practices to Succeed in Attack Surface Management In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations face an increasing number of cyber threats that can exploit vulnerabilities in their systems. In this article, we will explore five best practices to succeed in attack surface management and safeguard your digital assets. Attack surface management (ASM) is a crucial practice that helps businesses identify and minimise potential attack vectors. By proactively assessing and securing their attack surface, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of successful cyber attacks. Introduction Effectively managing your attack surface is essential to safeguard your organisation's digital assets from cyber threats. By implementing the five best practices discussed in this article—comprehensive asset discovery, continuous vulnerability assessment, patch management, configuration management, and employee awareness and training—you can enhance your security posture and reduce the risk of successful attacks. Attack surface management is an ongoing process that requires continuous vigilance and

By |2023-05-30T08:21:20+00:00May 30th, 2023|Blog|0 Comments

Disaster Recovery, Backup and Your Cyber Security Strategy

Disaster Recovery, Backup and Your Cyber Security Strategy In today's digital landscape, protecting your business from cyber threats is of utmost importance. While preventive measures like firewalls and antivirus software are commonly prioritised, disaster recovery (DR) and backup plans are often overlooked. However, integrating robust disaster recovery and backup solutions into your cyber security strategy is crucial for maintaining business continuity and safeguarding critical data. In this article, we delve into disaster recovery, backup and your cyber security strategy, by exploring the role these elements play in mitigating cyber risks. By understanding the importance of these components, you can fortify your cyber defenses, minimise downtime, and ensure the resilience of your organisation in the face of cyber incidents. The Role of Disaster Recovery Disaster recovery refers to the process of resuming normal operations after a disruptive event, such as a cyber attack, natural disaster, or system failure. It encompasses various

By |2023-05-22T12:08:00+00:00May 22nd, 2023|Blog|0 Comments

A Practical Guide to Attack Surface Management

A Practical Guide to Attack Surface Management A Practical Guide to Attack Surface Management aims to provide practical tips and best practices to help organisations implement a comprehensive and effective attack surface management program. Attack Surface Management is a security practice aimed at identifying, managing, and mitigating potential attack vectors in an organisation’s IT environment. In today’s digital world, where businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on technology, Attack Surface Management is a crucial component of an overall security strategy. As our dependence on technology intensifies, the scope and intricacy of attack surfaces are expanding. This means that there are more devices, applications, and data available, providing an increased number of opportunities for malicious individuals to exploit weaknesses. To address this challenge, we have the emergence of attack surface management 2.0, which represents the next level of managing intricate environments. Although it's nearly impossible for an organisation to eradicate all vulnerabilities,

By |2023-03-30T17:09:12+00:00February 27th, 2023|Blog|Comments Off on A Practical Guide to Attack Surface Management

Swipe Left on Romance Scams This Valentine’s Day

Swipe Left on Romance Scams This Valentine’s Day You might find yourself browsing through profiles on online dating sites in the lead-up to Valentine's Day this year. Can you tell the difference between someone who is simply using a decades-old photo and a lothario scammer trying to swoon their way to every dollar in your bank account? Swipe left on romance scams this Valentine’s Day by reading this handy guide. With Valentine’s Day approaching, many hopeless romantics might be in the mood for love — but romance robbers may also be in the mood to exploit their next victims. Millions of people around the world use online dating sites and apps. And there are many success stories of people finding love and companionship online. But as well as the successes, there are also online dating scams – and these are on the rise. Americans reported losing a heartbreaking $1.3 billion

By |2023-03-30T17:09:13+00:00February 13th, 2023|Blog|Comments Off on Swipe Left on Romance Scams This Valentine’s Day

Quantifying Third Party Cyber Risk

Quantifying Third Party Cyber Risk In today's digital age, quantifying third party cyber risk is critical. Organisations of all sizes rely on third parties to provide a variety of services. From cloud computing and data storage to payment processing and customer support. While these partnerships can bring significant benefits, they also introduce cyber risk to an organisation. A data breach or cyber attack that targets one of your third parties can expose sensitive data or disrupt business operations. Leading to reputational damage, financial losses, and regulatory penalties. Therefore, it is crucial for organisations to effectively quantify and manage third party cyber risk. What is third party cyber risk? Third party cyber risk refers to the potential vulnerabilities and threats that arise from an organisation's use of external service providers and partners. These risks can come in various forms, including: Data breaches Unauthorised access to systems Ransomware attacks, and Supply chain

By |2023-03-30T17:09:13+00:00January 30th, 2023|Blog|Comments Off on Quantifying Third Party Cyber Risk

Creating a WHOIS Template to Register Domains

Creating a WHOIS Template to Register Domains When a domain name is registered, ICANN requires that personal information including your full name, address, phone number, and email address be provided. This information is then made visible to the public via a WHOIS lookup. In fact, it's available to everyone including marketers, spammers, and even identity thieves. Do you want to find out more about the WHOIS database, how to correct register a domain for business purposes so it is instantly reconisable and how not to expose your personal data while doing so? Perhaps you are wondering what measures should be taken to ensure your organisation's privacy on WHOIS? To discover answers to these questions, carry on reading this handy guide on "creating a WHOIS template to register domains." Introduction If you’ve ever registered a domain, you’ve probably felt a pang of anxiety about having to enter your address, phone number,

By |2023-03-30T17:09:13+00:00January 25th, 2023|Blog|Comments Off on Creating a WHOIS Template to Register Domains