Category Archives: Internet Security

‘This is how it was all supposed to work’: The EI-ISAC readies for Election Day – StateScoop

Written by Benjamin Freed Nov 3, 2020 | STATESCOOP

On Tuesday, state and federal agencies and industry groups will staff war rooms focused on monitoring and responding to the latest threats to the administration of an election thats already seen disinformation campaigns, threats from foreign governments, sweeping changes to how people cast ballots and, in just the past few weeks, record-busting early voting.

One of those war rooms is running out of an office park in East Greenbush, New York, home to the Center for Internet Security, which operates the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the federally backed entity that distributes threat intelligence to election administrators and helps state and local governments backstop their voting-related IT systems.

In an interview Monday, the EI-ISACs director, Ben Spear, told StateScoop the organization, which enrolls thousands of state and local election offices, that this years plans build on its work over the last few election cycles. While CIS, which also operates the Multi-State ISAC, maintains a round-the-clock security operations center, its Election Day war room is a much bigger effort.

Were always available for folks, he said. But for Election Day itself, we have a full contingent across all the teams.

That includes members of CISs incident-response, intelligence and engineering teams who will be on site socially distanced and wearing masks, Spear noted monitoring for suspicious activity and issuing updates to EI-ISAC members at least once every four hours.

In addition to the in-person operation, Spear said theres also a heavy virtual presence. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which funds the EI-ISAC, will run a nationwide situational awareness room through which federal officials, vendors and state and local election officials can communicate with each other about any physical or digital threats.

In just the past two weeks, CISA and the FBI have issued multiple alerts about malicious activity targeting election-related systems emanating from Iran and Russia. But Spear said the EI-ISACs members in state and local government are taking the advisories seriously and making the necessary adjustments, like installing software patches andfixing system configurations.

This is how it was all supposed to work, he said. Members are addressing [vulnerabilities]. We along with our federal partners are working to identify gaps so we can point those out. This is the big thing people are keeping an eye out for.

In the months leading up to the election, the Center for Internet Security has also been rolling out new products for its EI-ISAC and MS-ISAC members. In August, it launched a Malicious Domain Blocking and Reporting service to prevent state and local government usersfrom connecting to web domains known to be affiliated with ransomware, other forms of malware, phishing campaigns and other threats. It also runs an endpoint detection and response service.

The MDBR service, Spear said, has been a complement to CISs network-monitoring devices, known as Albert sensors, which have become popular among states and bigger cities and counties, but may be less accessible to smaller local governments.

Albert is something that requires an IT guy to install a piece of equipment, he said. MDBR and EDR can block that activity and officials can have peace of mind.

Beyond monitoring for malicious nation-state and cybercriminal activity, Spear said the EI-ISAC war room will, like the rest of the election-security community, be looking out for misinformation and disinformation, especially if, as expected, it takes some states longer than usual to count their ballots due to the high volume of mail-in voting.

[Its] always a concern, particularly if we see this lengthen out, he said. Theres always opportunity for an adversary to take advantage of an opportunity.

But, Spear said, the war room will run for as long as it needs to, regularly assessing when it might be time to stand down, though the EI-ISAC will still be ready to respond to its members needs.

Were able to provide continuous support, he said. Were always going to be there.

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'This is how it was all supposed to work': The EI-ISAC readies for Election Day - StateScoop

Keeping Yourself Safe on the Internet at University – TechBullion

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Going to a university is such a huge step and a great advancement in your education; you will get lots of useful theories, knowledge, friends, and general experience about life from much the same people as you. But one of the dreadful experiences you should try to avoid is being a victim to cyber-crime/bullying, online theft, or data theft.

While it is somewhat impossible to go through the university without loads of help from the web, you should also be wary of things you do there. Yes, every student has the Internet as a dear friend and helper, seeing that it was developed on university campuses. But recklessness on the web is just as devastating as an Army General leaving his headquarters unguarded in search of feeble victories.

The horrible thing about internet attacks is that it can morph in any form, and hackers continue to seek other ingenious means of wreaking havoc on your device remotely. It will be foolhardy to leave the protection of your online data and health solely to the programmed actions of your device.

Here are the 5 most important actions you should take to ensure your online safety in the university;

When it comes to security (esp. Online) you have to be intentional, especially in a wide, diverse, and free environment like a University campus. You can compare undergraduate courses in different universities if you are not sure about which university to apply to.

Passwords and their Complexity

Using passwords to create an exclusive gateway into your profiles or online data is one of the most popular forms of cybersecurity. When creating passwords, use characters that are in every way unique and not-easily decipherable; this is why most online sites suggest passwords. Most people erroneously use only their names/known letters in the characters in their passwords, which is very risky.

To reduce the risk of these, cyber experts put forth some rules on creating passwords or password complexities. They involve creating passwords that contain characters such as;

It increases the odds/probabilities of a hackers computer to suggest the passwords you use. The more the characters and length, the difficult it becomes to crack.

Speaking to your fellow students

Ever heard the phrase you are only as strong as your weakest member? Many banks have lost millions from a malware attack unknowingly carried by one of their staff.

Your safety tips and cautions will only be useful if your fellow students are also conscious of their safety. It is common to exchange files and connect devices when you are in the university, but what happens when your fellow students device is corrupted/breached with a virus?

The sad thing about your online security is that even those that hang out with you have to be cautious in their use of the web. Therefore, you need to explain to your friends why they have to take their security seriously.

Anti-Virus Software

A popular way for hackers to get access to your files or disrupt your device working is to move malicious software or programs to your device (Virus). Most viruses do not disrupt your computer immediately, often opting for chronic and gradual degradation, plus they can serve as a portal for people to gain access to your device remotely.

Anti-Virus programs are written against such programs to hunt and stop the suspicious programs. Although most devices come with their Anti-Virus software, they are mostly ineffectual against upgraded malware programs. Some types of anti-virus programs are;

Using secure browsers

While Anti-Spywares and other methods mentioned here are mostly reactive measures, using secure browsers count as proactive and safer methods of ensuring your safety online. Secure browsers help to stop third-party tools like cookies, bugs, and malicious links.

Cookies are tools that help in tracking internet data; they contain your browsing history, usernames, passwords, and other activities you perform on the pages you visit. Hackers can easily track your identity and personal data with these cookies when you visit malicious pages without secure browsers. Examples of secure browsers are Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, Tor, etc.

When using secure browsers;

Responsible use of the Social Media

It is now a trend for people to publish their daily activities online through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and so on. And by doing this, they reveal to would-be hackers some of their private data such as their locations, schedule, identity, and personal lives.

While it is not a bad thing to post pictures about a hiking trip with friends or the grand hip-hop concert, you should do them responsibly. Take such precautions like;

Wrapping Up

Of all actions you can take about your security and safety, the most important is being intentional and cautious of your online activity.

You can also use VPNs when browsing; they help you to secure your activities online. When you shop online, remember to clear all your card information and passwords because malware attacks can be two-ways.

Always remember that internet carelessness is just as fatal as handing over the keys of your property to a known Hoodlum.

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Keeping Yourself Safe on the Internet at University - TechBullion

IT Security Spending in Government Market Expected to Flourish By 2025 with Top Key Players- IT Security Spending in Government are: Check Point…

The Global IT Security Spending in Government Market report provides a detailed analysis of global market size, regional and country-level market size, segmentation market growth, market share, competitive Landscape, sales analysis, impact of domestic and Global Market players, value chain optimization, trade regulations, recent developments, opportunities analysis, strategic market growth analysis, product launches, area marketplace expanding, and technological innovations.

Request a sample of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/5303044

The global IT Security Spending in Government market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of xx%% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will expected to reach USD xx million by 2025, from USD xx million in 2019.

The major players covered in IT Security Spending in Government are:The major players covered in IT Security Spending in Government are:Check Point Software TechnologiesF5 NetworksJuniper NetworksCisco SystemsDell SonicWallFortinetPalo Alto NetworksBarracuda NetworksArbor NetworksFireEyeSophosTrend Micro

Browse the complete report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-it-security-spending-in-government-market-2020-by-company-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2025

Market segmentationIT Security Spending in Government market is split by Type and by Application. For the period 2015-2025, the growth among segments provide accurate calculations and forecasts for sales by Type and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets.

Global IT Security Spending in Government Market By Type:By Type, IT Security Spending in Government market has been segmented into:Internet SecurityEndpoint SecurityWireless SecurityCloud Security

Global IT Security Spending in Government Market By Application:By Application, IT Security Spending in Government has been segmented into:GovernmentMilitaryFinancial AuthorityOthers

Regions and Countries Level AnalysisRegional analysis is another highly comprehensive part of the research and analysis study of the Global IT Security Spending in Government Market presented in the report. This section sheds light on the sales growth of different regional and country-level IT Security Spending in Government markets. For the historical and forecast period 2015 to 2025, it provides detailed and accurate country-wise volume analysis and region-wise market size analysis of the global IT Security Spending in Government market.

The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the IT Security Spending in Government market in important countries (regions), including:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Australia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Make an enquiry before buying this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/5303044

Competitive Landscape and Global IT Security Spending in Government Market Share AnalysisGlobal IT Security Spending in Government Market competitive landscape provides details by vendors, including company overview, company total revenue (financials), market potential, global presence, IT Security Spending in Government sales and revenue generated, market share, price, production sites and facilities, SWOT analysis, product launch. For the period 2015-2020, this study provides the IT Security Spending in Government sales, revenue and market share for each player covered in this report.

Major Table of Contents1 IT Security Spending in Government Market Overview2 Company Profiles3 Market Competition, by Players4 Market Size by Regions10 Market Size Segment by Type11 Global IT Security Spending in Government Market Segment by Application12 Global IT Security Spending in Government Market Size Forecast (2021-2025)Continued

About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.

Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (972)-362-8199; +91 895 659 5155

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IT Security Spending in Government Market Expected to Flourish By 2025 with Top Key Players- IT Security Spending in Government are: Check Point...

Arson, water damage: Paper ballots are fragile. But there’s a reason we don’t vote online – CNET

Returning a physical copy of your ballot is the safe option, cybersecurity experts say. The fewer people who return their ballots online, the less tempting of a target it becomes for hackers.

Fire and flood have threatened paper ballots in this election, with a fire set inside a ballot drop boxin Los Angeles County, California, and a broken water pipe dousing a room where ballots were stored in Fulton County, Georgia. The Georgia ballots weren't harmed, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but some of the California ballots were damaged. Still, election security experts say paper ballots are the safest and most secure way to vote.

That's why, despite the high demand for absentee voting this year, the vast majority of people aren't allowed to vote online. Internet-enabled voting is limited to thousands of overseas, military, sick and disabled voters. Each election cycle, some will mail back printouts of their marked, signed ballots, which is the most secure option. Others will return the ballots via email, fax or web portal.

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There's a great big caveat for voters in the second group. They must generally waive their right to a secret ballot. That's because your name is attached to your ballot as it travels to your election agency. Additionally, cybersecurity experts say there's no technology today that can secure online voting. While fraud is part of the cost of doing business with industries like banking, which millions of people access over the internet, fraud isn't an acceptable risk for elections agencies and can't be easily fixed after the fact. To secure online elections, we'd need technology that can stop ballot tampering from happening and detect compromised ballots before they're counted. We're not there yet.

Read more:Elections misinformation: How to separate fact from fiction

Waiving your right to a secret ballot is a big decision. Ever since the US embraced the secret ballot in the late 1800s, voters have viewed it as essential to protecting their choices from external pressure. And running the risk that hackers will tamper with your ballot is a scary prospect that has an impact beyond just your vote.

Still, some uses of the internet are riskier than others when it comes to ballots. Here's everything you need to know about using the internet to vote, and what makes sense for you.

Only a small number of people vote online.

There are two reasons it might make sense for you to ask your local election agency, typically a county clerk, to send you a blank ballot over the internet. If you're out of the country, getting a PDF of a blank ballot cuts out one end of the mail system. That's why federal law requires states to provide ballots electronically to military and overseas voters.

Or, you might have a disability that makes it hard for you to fill out a paper absentee ballot. This includes people with low vision or limited mobility. In that case, getting a PDF lets you mark your ballot on your computer without needing help from a friend or family member. Many states offer this option, including Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Utah, Delaware and West Virginia. You can contact your county clerk or secretary of state to learn what's available to you.

Read more: Voted by mail? Here's how to track your ballot online

This is where security experts will step in and say, it's fine to receive your ballot online. The election agency will either email or fax you a PDF of the ballot, or it might give you a link to a web portal where you can download it. As with paper absentee ballots, these electronic versions come with bar codes and other fraud detection measures. As with any form of voting, you can access a sample ballot from your county and compare it to your blank ballot to reassure yourself everything is correct.

If your election agency lets you mark your ballot on the web portal, that's probably safe too, although it can come with risks. Security researchers from MIT and the University of Michigan found that the Democracy Live web portal, called OmniBallot, sometimes sends data about voters' ballot choices back to the company's servers.

Democracy Live says it doesn't store or access this data, but the researchers say it's an unnecessary risk. If hackers compromised the company's systems, ballots would be vulnerable. States can choose a version of OmniBallot that keeps data about ballot choices on your computer, a more secure option. However, not every state does this. If you're concerned about this risk, you can ask your local election agency how its system for marking ballots electronically works.

Another ballot portal, from Voting Works, also lets voters mark their ballots in a web browser. It always keeps ballot choices on voters' machines, the company says.

Many states allow some combination of military, overseas and disabled voters to return a ballot electronically. Depending on the state or county, voters might be able to return the ballot over a web portal, or they might be asked to email or fax an image of the ballot. Voters who use fax or email typically print and sign their marked ballots before scanning or photographing it to send it back.

Voters who go this route must generally waive their right to a secure ballot, and cybersecurity experts say these options aren't secure, period.

Hackers could infiltrate your computer using malware or compromised websites and change your votes. There's no documented cases of this happening, but there's also no good fraud prevention to detect it. They also have a variety of tools to access faxes and email systems. Finally, hackers could try to compromise the systems of companies such as Democracy Live and steal or alter ballots there.

We're at least 10 years away from having technology that could let voters cast ballots online securely, said Dan Wallach, a computer science professor at Rice University who consults for Voting Works. That includes technology that would keep hackers off your computer, where they could tamper with your vote, as well as systems for stopping voting fraud before it happens.

For now, Wallach said, "We still like the idea of a piece of dead tree going through the mail."

Mailing a physical copy of your ballot back to your election agency is the safest choice for absentee voting. You can typically do this after getting your blank ballot electronically. Usually, voters must sign the printout before putting it in the mail, and it's important to make sure you have enough postage.

Still, some people will be tempted to use an electronic method to avoid mailing their ballot internationally. If the country you live in has unreliable mail, that might be a major concern. And this year, slowdowns in the US mail system may compound the problem.

It's best if only a small percentage of US voters take this route, cybersecurity experts say. The more voters who use it, the more motivated hackers will become to find ways to compromise ballots sent online.

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Arson, water damage: Paper ballots are fragile. But there's a reason we don't vote online - CNET

Live News Streaming Figures for #Election2020 Highlight Misinformation Threat – Infosecurity Magazine

Live news streaming traffic of the US Presidential election was double the peak levels observed during the 2016 election, according to data released by Akamai. The approximately 18 Tbps recorded on Akamais Intelligent Edge platform during coverage of the election on November 3 was around five-times higher than traffic seen on a typical day.

The figures highlight the extent to which people have digested information about this year's election at home via digital and streaming technology as a result of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

It fits with the trends seen throughout the entire pandemic election season, with much more campaigning taking place digitallyandpeople havingbeen increasingly reliant on television and the internet for information. This has provided extra opportunities for malicious actors to spread misinformation about the campaigns and, especially in recent days, about the integrity of the election itself.

In response, social media firms like Twitter and Facebook have taken a strong line on the spread of misinformation on their sites, even leading to the suspension of the Twitter account of the president of the United Stateselection campaign.

Speaking to Infosecurity about these trends, Joseph Carson, chief security scientist and advisory CISO at Thycotic, commented: I dont think that the security of the US election has made much difference since the attackers continued to focus cyber-attacks at the election campaigns and creating disinformation on social media, all focused at generating distrust in the system. Hacking an election is not about influencing the outcome, it is about hacking democracy. It is always important to see the ultimate motive and hacking democracy is about dividing people, creating distrust in both your government and your fellow citizens.

He added: Again, hacking an election is not about changing the outcome, it is a long term election hacking campaign creating distrust in democracy and polarization in the country.A country that is divided will fail to innovate and create a positive society where security is part of the culture.

Tensions surrounding the election have been ramped up as votes continue to be counted across key swing states in what is proving to be a tight race. Current President Donald Trump has repeatedly made claims of fraud in light of the much greater use of postal ballots in this election, and has launched legal actions in several states. Such claims have been widely circulated across social media, sparking fears this could lead to violence at polling stations.

Victoria Mosby, federal mobile security expert at Lookout, said: With the vast majority of the United States stuck at home, campaigns have created elaborate ads, videosand tweets to reach their constituents. The issue is that this also allows for disinformation to spread uncontrollably across these platforms in both simple and complex forms. This could be as simple as a misleading post going viral and reflecting poorly enough on a candidate to swing voter opinions. The more complex actors use deep fake technology, which has come a very long way over the last few years. This technology makes it relatively straightforward to create fake videos of a candidates likeness in questionable scenarios.

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Live News Streaming Figures for #Election2020 Highlight Misinformation Threat - Infosecurity Magazine

Florida Invests in Security Controls Ahead of #Election2020 – Infosecurity Magazine

Florida has invested $14.6min securing its county election offices

Pinellas county supervisor of elections, Julie Marcus, told ABC Action News it is putting resources into detecting, monitoringand responding to cyber-threats, after it was determined by the Mueller investigation that, in 2016, the Russian military intelligence agency sent spear-phishing emails to over 120 email accounts used by Florida county officials.

This led to two Florida counties being attacked, but state officials did not reveal which. Guy Garrett, assistant director of University of West Floridas Center for Cybersecurity, which helped state election officials identify and fix vulnerabilities, said what the bad guys were after at that point was actually the voter database. Fortunately, we were able to get dollars through grants in the legislature to address those problems.

This led to the $14.6minvestment in Floridas 67 counties, althoughelection supervisors were required to sign confidentiality agreements regarding exactly how that money would be spent.

Marcus said the tabulation system, which counts votes, cannot be hacked as the system is unconnected to the internet, and its protected under multiple layers of security.

Jake Moore, cybersecurity specialist at ESET, said: I would be extremely surprised if we go through the election without a security or technical hitch. Even if the system can handle the deluge of information all on one day, there will be multiple attempts to knock it over to even cast the smallest of doubt on the outcome.

At least Florida has learnedfrom its previous mistakes which cannot be said for all organizations after an attack. Proactive defense works as a far better insurance and there is no space for error with this election which will undoubtedly be targeted with an array of different attacks looking for the weakest links.

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Florida Invests in Security Controls Ahead of #Election2020 - Infosecurity Magazine

How to Organize Employees to Cooperate in Threat Mitigation – Infosecurity Magazine

These days, employees seem to think that cybersecurity is entirely the responsibility of the IT staff. Nothing could be more wrong, given the rising rates of insider threats. Such a position reveals the lack of adequate cybersecurity awareness training for employees, and workers must understand that every endpoint is a potential entry point for an attack and must be trained to take preventive actions.

This is especially important in this period of COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions, which has sent many workers home to do their job remotely. Without the direct oversight of the IT staff, WFH employees (and even office staff, with BYOD policies) can inadvertently expose company data and provide an avenue for malware to infect the system. Now more than ever, cooperation is important for mitigating cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity is a company-wide necessity, and it certainly does not help if one employee is undermining the security actions of others.

Develop an internal cybersecurity policy

The IT staff in all companies have protocols set based on different threat scenarios that dictate the precise steps to take in case a threat or a breach is noticed. I believe such protocols should be cut across the entire workforce.

Getting employees to cooperate on threat mitigation begins with letting them know what their roles and limitations are in handling data. Such a policy would regulate different internal security procedures such as authentication, data sharing, emails, software installation, and internet connectivity, among others. The policy must also define the process of carrying out security checks and what employees should do if part of the network has to be quarantined.

The importance of this policy is that it lets employees know precisely what to do when faced with a threat. It also enables them to carry out steps to mitigate that threat without affecting the discharge of their job. Hence, an IT security policy must be clear and detailed, and non-compliance should result in sanctions depending on the degree and risk of the violation.

Make your Employees into Stakeholders

Conduct all the cybersecurity awareness training you want, without addressing nonchalance, your organization would remain exposed to the same insider threat risks. You must make your employees understand the importance of the data and information your organization works with.

This is easier in certain types of industries, such as financial institutions and aviation, which both have stringent government-backed regulations. For many other sectors, the law does not do so much and the importance of cybersecurity can easily be lost on your employees.

One way to get your employees to pay cybersecurity the utmost attention is to create a stakeholder team on cybersecurity that consists of representatives from all the departments in the company and headed by a senior IT executive. This is different from the regular IT department in that the stakeholder team would only perform oversight functions.

The main purpose of the stakeholder team is to ensure that compliance with the cybersecurity protocol/policy is upheld across the ranks of the organization. In addition, it goes a long way in creating a culture of inclusivity among employees.

Particularly, such a stakeholder team, working in tandem with the IT department, would be effective in addressing risks arising from shadow IT, which remains a huge cybersecurity threat. Meetings to review the state of cybersecurity in the company may be held quarterly in order to deeply examine patterns among and roles of employees in a way that the IT department may not.

The Role of the HR Department

Being the department that interfaces between the management team and the rest of the workforce, the HR department plays a critical role in cybersecurity, particularly in shaping the culture of IT security in the workplace.

Creating a threat-resistant workforce begins with the recruitment stage. Cybersecurity awareness training must be integrated into the onboarding process so that the newly employed can understand threat mitigation from the word go. Also, HR should be carried along in setting authentication and privileged access approval procedures. HR also plays a significant role in regulating BYOD policies and remote working.

In addition, former employees also carry potential risks, having had access to company data and sensitive information in the past. Promotions, demotions, exits, transfers, etc. come with potential risks of a security breach. Before the exit of any employee, from the company or from a position, a detailed audit must be carried out to ensure that the person is not inadvertently or intentionally taking any sensitive data with them or accessing any level of information that they shouldnt. It is up to the HR and IT departments to work together to revoke any access to company data that a former employee might retain.

Cybersecurity is much more important than ever. Company heads need to step back and examine their security arrangements to determine if it is inclusive enough of the rest of the employees. Without matching zest for cybersecurity and recognizing threats across the workforce, your organization is definitely exposed to more risks than you think.

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How to Organize Employees to Cooperate in Threat Mitigation - Infosecurity Magazine

The best antivirus protection for Windows 10 in 2020 – CNET

An online security quiver needs plenty of arrows -- apassword managerto keep track of login credentials, aVPN to protect your internet traffic, and anend-to-end encrypted messaging appto stop others from spying on your communications. But for Windows users, that list of tools also needs to include malware protection and antivirus software that monitors downloads and observes your system's activity for suspicious behavior and malicious software.

Here's the first thing to know about searching for the best malware protection and antivirus software: Microsoft Defender Antivirus -- the free internet security software and virus protection program that comes with Windows 10 and until recently was called Windows Defender -- does a good job of providing internet security and protecting your PC. (Amazingly, Microsoft provided no built-in protection for Windows back in the days of Windows 98 and XP.) Using Microsoft Defender should be your starting point for the best antivirus security on Windows, and most people will find they don't need to go any further when it comes to nailing down an antivirus solution.

Stay current on the latest Microsoft news, plus reviews and advice on Windows PCs.

However, keeping your personal data safe and guarding your privacy extends beyond virus protection, and that's where third-party antivirus software shines. A full protection package can monitor your Windows computer as well as MacOS, iOS and Android devices and include a password manager, a VPN, parental control, secure online backup, identity theft protection, protection against phishing and malicious websites and more -- all worthwhile tools that can guard your privacy and keep your data secure.

To help you decide, I've put together a list of the best antivirus products for Windows 10, encompassing both free antivirus programs and subscription options. These picks of the best antivirus programs are a combination of recommendations from independent third-party labs AV-Test, AV-Comparatives and SE Labs, as well as our own hands-on testing. This list is updated periodically.

Now playing: Watch this: Best antivirus apps for Windows 10

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Looking for free antivirus protection, malware protection or virus detection, willing to pay for an antivirus program that offers broad internet security coverage across all your devices, including from ransomware and phishing, or need to remove a computer virus ormalware from your PC right now? Here's where to start.

Free version? Yes, built into Windows 10

Paid version:Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protectionis available to corporate users for a fee

Honestly, if you practice safe computing -- you keep your software up to date, you use strong passwords (with the help of a password manager), you steer clear of unexpected emails and you don't click suspicious links -- you probably can avoid zero-day attacks and ransomware attacks. And with the free Microsoft Defender Antivirus software running on Windows 10, you have a malware protection safety net if you do let your guard down. (Note that Microsoft changed the name of Windows Defender to Microsoft Defender and has expanded the service to other platforms.) This antivirus program is built into Windows and it's turned on by default, so just let it do its thing, and this antivirus solution will cover the basics of internet security. Microsoft pushes new updates frequently. Defender also lets you tune the level of protection you want, giving you control over blocking potentially unwanted apps and protecting folders and files from a ransomware attack.

Note that Windows 10 will automatically disable its own Windows Defender antivirus when you install third-party antivirus. If you uninstall the third-party protection, Windows 10 will turn back on its own antivirus.

Platforms:Windows 10 plus MacOS, Android, iOS

Cost:$150 per year for five devices, on sale for $100

For a long time, Norton Security -- now called NortonLifeLock, and no longer part of Symantec-- has earned high marks from AV-Test, AV Comparatives and SE Labs for virus and malware detection. A five-device subscription for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select is normally $150, but you can sign up for $100 for the first year to get coverage across your PCs, Mac computer, Android devices, and iPhones and iPads. (Note, we don't think antivirus protection is terribly useful outside the Windows realm.) In addition to malware and virus protection for your computer and mobile device, this security suite provides 100GB of backup to the cloud, safe-browsing tools, a VPN, password manager, parental controls and LifeLock identity theft protection and fraud alert. While not all of those services are necessarily best in their respective class, getting them all in one package is a pretty compelling option.

Platforms: Windows 10 plus MacOS, Android, iOS

Free version?Yes

Paid version:$45 per year for five PCs

If you'd like to take a step up in securing your PC without taxing your wallet, it's hard to beat Bitdefender's free antivirus software for Windows 10. The Windows security software offers real-time monitoring for viruses, malware, spyware and ransomware protection. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is easy to set up and stays out of your way until you need it. And the protection this antivirus product offers is solid. Bitdefender antivirus softwareconsistently earns top marks for its antivirus protection and usability from the respected AV-Test independent testing lab. The free antivirus version covers one Windows PC. For broader protection, Bitdefender Total Security 2020 is usually $90 and available at the moment for $45 for the first year. The subscription antivirus suitelets you protect five devices (Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android), set up parental controls on a kid's computer and run a VPN.

Platforms: Windows 10 plus MacOS, Android

Free version? Yes, after 14-day trial expires

Paid version: $30 per year for one device, $80 per year for five devices

Malwarebytes does protect your PC from a virus or malware attack, scoring reasonably wellin recent independent testing for guarding against malware infections. But that's not really what Malwarebytes is known for. If you find yourself in trouble, the go-to disinfectant for many is Malwarebytes. You can get protection and disinfection for one device for $30 a year, regularly $40. To cover five devices -- any combination of Windows, MacOS and Android -- it's $80 for a year. To get the free antivirus version,download this trial version, which "downgrades" to a no-fee on-demand cleaner with fewer features that detects and removes viruses and malware when you run an on-demand scan after 14 days.

In addition to the four antivirus apps we recommend above, a handful of other anti-malware tools are worth considering among the best antivirus protection if you find them at a better price or just prefer to use one over our picks above.

Platforms:Windows 10 plus MacOS, Android, iOS

Cost:$100 per year for five devices, on sale for $35

It feels like McAfee has been around forever, first on its own in the '80s, then as part of Intel starting in 2010, and then again on its own when Intel spun it off in 2017. And it's been around forever because quarter after quarter it creates solid, modern antivirus software that protects your PC. (In recent evaluations by AV-Test, it had high scores on both protection and performance.) McAfee Total Protection guards five devices against viruses and offers ransomware protection, wards off malicious websites and includes a password manager for $35 (usually $100) for the first year. If you agree to auto-renew your subscription, you get access to McAfee ID Theft Protection Essentials, which monitors for ID fraud.

Platforms:Windows 10 plus MacOS, Android, iOS

Cost:$90 per year for 10 devices, on sale for $50

Maybe not as well known to consumers because of its focus on enterprise security, Trend Micro quietly brings its business expertise to the home with its Trend Micro Maximum Security tools. Trend Micro's software earns high marks from AV-Test -- consistently scoring well for detecting zero-day attacks and widespread viruses and malware. And Trend Micro does a good job of not taxing system resources. Trend Micro's 10-device subscription for computers and mobile devices is $90, but discounted currently at $40.

Platform:Windows

Cost:$80 per year for five PCs

If you're looking for something easy to set up and use, ESET NOD32 antivirus may meet your needs. It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. A five-device option is $80 for a year, with a 30-day free trial.

Platform:Windows plus MacOS

Free version?Yes

Paid version: $45 per year for 10 PCs

The free version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs -- using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool -- plus a 30-day trial of the company's malware-removal tool. With a $45 annual subscription, you can cover 10 PCs.

Test after test, Avast's antivirus for Windows performs well for malware detection. And we've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before. But Avast was in the news for several months for its non-antivirus business, so we want to look at the company, specifically the reports at the end of last year that Avast allegedly collected user data with its browser plug-ins and antivirus software and then this year that itsold data it collected through its subsidiary company Jumpshot.

In response to the reports that his company gathered and sold the details of its customers' online activities, Avast's CEO Ondrej Vlcek said in a statementthat he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company. To address that, he said that in January of this year, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection and will wind down Jumpshot's operations because the data collection business is not in line with Avast's privacy priorities.

These newer reports follow another in 2019 from Avast that its internal network was breached, possibly to insert malware into its CCleaner software, similar to an earlier CCleaner hack that occurred prior to Avast's acquiring the Windows utility.

Avast is now saying the right things about taking its customers' privacy seriously, but it only came to that point after reacting to investigative reporting that revealed the Jumpshot practices. (The CCleaner revelations, while concerning, were self-disclosed, which is important to building user trust.) We hope Avast's more privacy-friendly policies mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities. In the meantime, we'd recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm (listed above).

Because the company has been in the news the past few years, let's talk about Kaspersky Lab -- specifically about the federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using Kaspersky products.

Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the best antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers. But in 2017 the US government prohibited Kaspersky software on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.

Notably, the ban does not apply to its consumer products. But, as withChina-based Huawei, the question remains: If the federal government doesn't think the products are safe enough for its own devices, should consumers avoid them as well?

In a statement sent to CNET, the company said, "Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never, nor will ever, engage in cyber offensive activities. Kaspersky Lab maintains that no public evidence of any wrongdoing has been presented by the US government, and that the US government's actions against Kaspersky Lab were unconstitutional."

In Kaspersky's favor, it continues toearn top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint security from independent testing labs. And it's reasonably priced.

In the end, even though no one has ever publicly produced a "smoking gun" linking the company to Russian intrigue, we think any of the options listed above are a safer bet. And, if you are a US government employee or work with the federal government, you'll want to steer clear of Kaspersky.

Picking the best antivirus software for Windows means finding one that keeps your PC safe, doesn't take up a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way till you need it. Here's what to look for.

Effectiveness. Antivirus software scans for known viruses and malware, of course, and can offer real-time protection. And it watches for shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also offer ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new and not-yet-identified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives.

Light on system resources. You don't want antivirus software that taxes your PC's resources. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, apps download or open sluggishly or file copies take longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is, all our picks offer a free trial to let you try out the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you may want to keep looking.

Cost and discounts. Don't just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company's website. Another way to save: The prices we list above are for 10 devices -- if the company offered that package -- but you can trim your cost with antivirus packages if you need to cover just three or five devices. You may also find discounts on an app's Amazon page.

Privacy. To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what's going on with your PC and check in with company servers about unusual behavior. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy. But if you want to know more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share.

Protection for other platforms. Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware. But Android is second, with just under 1% of apps installed on Android devices with Google Play Protect in the potentially harmful app, or PHA, category.

The threat to MacOS and especially iOS is low, in part because of the tight control Apple has over its app stores. While the Macdoes come under attackvia sideloaded apps, it's rare, and if you download apps only from the Mac and iOS app stores and keep your guard up when clicking links and download files, you should be OK without an antivirus app on Apple devices.

Go here to read the rest:
The best antivirus protection for Windows 10 in 2020 - CNET

Internet Security Firewall Market to Reap Excessive Revenues by 2020-2029 – Eurowire

The Internet Security Firewall Industry report provides a basic overview of the market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Internet Security Firewall Market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.

The research report provides a big picture on Internet Security Firewall Market 2027, on a global basis, offering a forecast and statistic in terms of revenue during the forecast period. This report covers detailed segmentation, complete R & D history, and explanatory analysis including the latest news. Furthermore, the study explains the future opportunities and a sketch of key players involved in the Internet Security Firewall hike in terms of revenue.

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The Internet Security Firewall market is primarily driven by the growing awareness among the users regarding leading the heathy lifestyle. The Internet Security Firewall market is highly competitive with a large number of players operating in the market. The companies operating in the market are focusing on offering high quality products to attract more customers.

A factor which can be a restraint for Internet Security Firewall can be some companies do not collaborate with service providers or they dont take advantage of digitization as they dont have awareness for the same. Nevertheless, digitization in services is opting by an online company to know more exactly about consumer behavior plus it makes business policies flexible to adopt changes as per the market condition on which success and growth of an organization depend which will give more growth opportunities in coming years.

The following players are covered in this report:

SAP

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cellusys

Openmind Networks

Tata Communications

ANAM Technologies

AMD Telecom

Adaptive Mobile

Infobip

EVOLVED INTELLIGENCE

MOBILEUM

OMOBIO

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North America and Western Europe have been one of the key regions with technological advancements in Food, chemical and manufacturing sector. Factors like the use of advanced technology and presence of global companies to cater the potential end users are favorable for the growth of Internet Security Firewall market. Also, most of the leading companies have headquarters in these regions.

Growing popularity of soft adventure sports and increasing focus towards fitness are significant factors driving the growth of the Internet Security Firewall market. However, high cost of Internet Security Firewall might hinder the growth of the Internet Security Firewall market. The demand for Internet Security Firewall is high in North America and Europe region and the APAC is expected to grow at high CAGR which is creating lucrative business opportunities for the companies operating in the market.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

Breakdown Data by Type

Cloud-Based

On-Premise

Internet Security Firewall Breakdown Data by Application

Small and Medium Enterprise

Large Enterprise

Based on regional and country-level analysis, the Internet Security Firewall market has been segmented as follows:

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

Germany

France

U.K.

Italy

Russia

Nordic

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

South Korea

Southeast Asia

India

Australia

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Why to buy this Internet Security Firewall Market report?

This report provides a thorough analysis of the Internet Security Firewall market through detailed research on a variety of topics to help players build strong growth strategies and strong presence in the industry. Readers will also be informed of the important sustainability strategies adopted by leading companies when operating in the Internet Security Firewall market. The analyst also thoroughly evaluated the impact of these strategies on market growth and competition.

Chapter Details of Internet Security Firewall Market:

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope of The Report

Part 03: Internet Security Firewall Market Landscape

Part 04: Internet Security Firewall Market Sizing

Part 05: Internet Security Firewall Market Segmentation by Type

Part 06: Five Forces Analysis

Part 07: Customer Landscape

Part 08: Geographic Landscape

Part 09: Decision Framework

Part 10: Drivers and Challenges

Part 11: Market Trends

Part 12: Vendor Landscape

Part 13: Vendor Analysis

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Internet Security Firewall Market to Reap Excessive Revenues by 2020-2029 - Eurowire

Global Internet Security Market Expected to reach highest CAGR in forecast period :HPE, IBM, Intel, Symantec, AlienVault – TechnoWeekly

Regional Development: Detailed Analysis

The latest report presentation on Global Internet Security market portrays a detailed analytical review of the market spectrum across both historical and current timelines, complete with thorough details on prominent events, catastrophic implications as well as segment advancement and technological milestones that tend to have a lingering influence on unperturbed growth prognosis in global Internet Security market.

In-depth research delving into past developments and growth trends, besides significant analysis of current events and developments, suggest that holistic growth in global Internet Security market is touted to reach over xx million USD by the end of 2025, with CAGR amplification of xx% through the forecast span, 2019-25.

The study encompasses profiles of major companies operating in the Internet Security Market. Key players profiled in the report includes:

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The report spans across determining crucial developments for various lucrative growth hotspots such spread over 50 countries during the growth span, 2020-25. A clear analytical review of vital details such as supply and logistics outlook, segment development and investments as well as manufacturer and vendor activities favoring high end returns in a highly competitive landscape.

The report critically assesses the frontline players and their company positioning amidst staggering competition and lingering eventful milestones. Each of the profiled players mentioned in the report has been thoroughly evaluated to include a detailed overview of market segments inclusive of type and applications. The report also includes details in region wise advances and consumer behavior and activities across countries and regions.

Segment Stratification by Product: The report includes details on production, consumption, import and export developments along with sales volume and value-based projections are meticulously ingrained in the report. Developments in CAGR projections are also tagged in the report.

Segment Stratification by Application: The report also ropes in versatile details on end-use applicability user preferences and vendor participation that collectively steer tremendous growth potential in global Internet Security market.

Additionally, this intensive research report has also been deployed to adequately answer the queries of inquisitive report readers and market participants pertaining to COVID-19 pandemic analysis and corresponding recovery.

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One of the most relevant research inputs in global Internet Security market is COVID-19 impact analysis. The pre and post analytical developments in global Internet Security market have also been thoroughly included in the report to ensure reader understanding and subsequent investment discretion. Assessment of the market dynamics across both the timelines is integral to ensure accurate forecast analysis and growth projections.

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North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, Rest of Asia Pacific) Latin America (Brazil, Rest of L.A.) Middle East and Africa (Turkey, GCC, Rest of Middle East)

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Details such as trend analysis, opportunity mapping and barrier analysis have all been thoroughly evaluated in the report to encourage high end growth and long-term sustainability. These report inputs are in complete alignment with growth objectives of the new entrants as well as market veterans holding legacy growth stance in global Internet Security market.

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Global Internet Security Market Expected to reach highest CAGR in forecast period :HPE, IBM, Intel, Symantec, AlienVault - TechnoWeekly