Category Archives: Internet Security
Top Cyber Security Threats to Organizations – CIO Insight
Cyber security threats are a constant for organizations, whether they do business with the public or other organizations. Cyber threats are malicious attempts to gain unauthorized access to an organizations network, and the resources on the network.
Cybercriminals or hackers somewhere in the world are constantly attempting to infiltrate an organizations network, and these criminals pose a constant threat. Cyber threats can easily become cybercrimes if organizational leadership does not champion a cyber security program.
Its imperative that organizational leadership and senior management give the required manpower, training, and tools to mitigate cyber threats. Without support and buy-in from upper and middle management, an organization may expose itself to any number of cyber threats.
In 2020, cyber threats turned into mass data breaches that compromised user accounts, email addresses and credit card information. Some of this information was sold on the dark web.
Organizations must be vigilant in keeping cyber threats from becoming cybercrimes. Cyber threats are only prevalent today because they keep making money for cybercriminals. Cybercriminals value information that can generate immediate revenue, either directly or when sold on the dark web. They especially value the following types of business information:
Cybercriminals are motivated by the potential for stealing financial and intellectual property information; organizations must be equally motivated to eliminate or mitigate any cyber threats.
Cybercrimes are estimated to reach $10.5 trillion in damages annually by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Further, Coalition found that ransomware was responsible for 41% of the cyber insurance claims payouts in the first half of 2020.
Any organization or person can be the target of a cybercriminal, but these criminals tend to favor soft targets with a higher potential payout. The most vulnerable organizations need to ensure management is fully invested in a sound cyber security program. According to CDNetworks, these are the most vulnerable industries:
Whether leadership is managing a financial institution or a small business, management staff must have a working understanding of cyber security risks in order to mitigate cyber threats.
Management personnel can ensure cyber security best practices are implemented by accessing sites like Center for Internet Security (CIS) or National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to compare their current cyber security practices.
Being keenly aware of the most popular cyberattacks should be part of the required annual security training for any organization. Cyber threats can occur internally or externally.
These are the top internal cyber threats, according to Endpoint Protector.
These are the top five external cyber threats.
The best way to mitigate an internal or external cyber threat is to establish a clearly defined cyber security program that is disseminated to every employee within an organization. Whats more, no cyber security program can be successful if the program is not championed by leadership.
Read more: What Is Enterprise Security Management?
An annual or semiannual cyber security training program must be firmly established in the organization. Further, a refresher training session may be required if a new cyber threat is presented, or if repeated risky employee behavior is observed. A robust cyber security program also covers disciplinary actions for infractions committed by an employee.
Cyber security is the responsibility of every member in the organization, especially management. Cyber security assets (e.g., hardware and software) and training for the employees and DevOps staff are all essential to a successful cyber security program.
Organizational leadership and senior management are also essential to the success of a good cyber security program. Threat-conscious behavior must be exhibited daily by leadership.
Read next: Are Your Containers Secure?
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Top Cyber Security Threats to Organizations - CIO Insight
The Right Way to Structure Cyber Diplomacy – War on the Rocks
The modern State Department was forged in an era of global transformation. In the 1930s, the department had fewer than 2,000 personnel and, as one historian emphasized, it was a placid place that was comfortable with lethargic diplomacy. World War II revolutionized the department, which readily transformed itself to handle the demands of planning a new international order. Between 1940 and 1945, the departments domestic staff levels tripled and its budget doubled.
Today, the State Department is once again confronting the challenge of how to organize itself to cope with new international challenges not those of wartime, but ones created by rapid technological change. There are ongoing conversations about how the department should handle cyberspace policy, as well as concerns about emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, next generation telecommunications, hypersonics, biotechnology, space capabilities, autonomous vehicles, and many others.
As Ferial Ara Saeed recently emphasized, the department is not structured in a way that makes sense for addressing these matters. She is not alone in having this view, and others have also offered ideas for reform. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos proposal for a Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies focused too narrowly on security, as Saeed correctly diagnoses. As an alternative, she proposes consolidating all technology policy issues under a new under secretary, who would report to the deputy secretary of state for management and resources.
The State Department should be restructured so that it can conduct effective cyber diplomacy, but establishing one bureau for all things technology-related is not the way to proceed. Conceptually, the core challenges for cyberspace policy are different from those related to emerging technology issues, and creating one all-encompassing bureau would generate multiple practical problems. Instead, the department should establish a Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy, as proposed in the Cyber Diplomacy Act. Consolidating cyberspace policy issues in a single bureau would provide greater coherence to overarching priorities and day-to-day diplomatic activities. Emerging technology issues should remain the responsibility of the appropriate existing bureaus. If they are provided with greater resourcing and if appropriate connective tissue is created, those bureaus will have greater flexibility in crafting individualized strategies for a very diverse array of technologies. At the same time, the department would be able to prioritize and adopt a strategic approach to technology diplomacy.
Cyberspace Matters Are Different from Other Technology Issues
Through our work as staff of the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, we have observed how cyberspace policy will have impacts on U.S. foreign policy and international relations that differ fundamentally from those produced by other technology issues. That is why cyberspace policy warrants a distinct foreign policy approach.
Unlike other technologies, cyberspace has created a new environment for international interaction. As Chris Demchak describes, cyberspace is a substrate that intrudes into, connects at long range, and induces behaviors that transcend boundaries of land, sea, air, institution, nation, and medium. Since the early 2000s, as one brief has put it, states have recognized cyberspace and its undergirding infrastructure as not only strategic assets, but also a domain of potential influence and conflict. At the same time, a lack of international agreement or clarity on key definitions compounds the difficulties of dealing with cyberspace as a new arena of state-to-state interaction.
A U.N. Group of Governmental Experts produced a consensus report outlining norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace that was welcomed by the U.N. General Assembly in 2015. However, U.N. members were by no means agreed on how international law applies to cyberspace. Although that issue was addressed more successfully in 2021, diplomats are still negotiating critical questions like what counts as cybercrime, critical infrastructure, espionage, or many of the other foundational concepts in this area. All of these questions, and many others beyond the negotiations of the United Nations, have long-term implications for the future of the internet, as cyberspace policy experts navigate a path between security and surveillance, and between openness and authoritarianism. To be successful in this diplomacy, the State Department should prioritize these issues and provide its diplomats with organizational structures that will support Americas proactive leadership. In short, the State Department should have a dedicated cyberspace policy bureau.
The focus and activities of such a bureau would be functionally very different from what will be involved in addressing other technology issues. A Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy would be responsible for implementing a relatively established policy for cyber diplomacy. The head of the bureau would be working to ensure an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet, pushing back on authoritarian leanings in internet governance, and advocating for a multi-stakeholder model for the future of cyberspace. Certain details may change, but the core elements of this policy have been consistent across administrations and Congresses. Accordingly, the real added value of a cyberspace policy bureau is not in defining policy, but rather implementing that policy, which will require extensive engagement with non-aligned countries to help sway the balance of opinion toward an open internet, and international capacity-building efforts to help drive progress toward greater global cyber security.
By contrast, the challenge U.S. policymakers confront on emerging technologies is a question of establishing what Americas international policies and diplomatic strategies should be. As the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence observed in relation to the State Department, a lack of clear leadership on emerging technology hinders the Departments ability to make strategic technology policy decisions as part of a larger reorientation toward strategic competition.
Policymakers and officials working on emerging technologies will also face the challenge of adapting overarching policies as technologies emerge, develop, and ideally stabilize over time. Emerging technologies do not remain emerging indefinitely, and so an organizational structure that allows the development of cohesive strategies around these technologies should have the flexibility to shift between topics. Of course, cyberspace policy and the strategic considerations that guide it will also certainly need to adapt to changes, but its basic focus is likely to remain more stable. Much of Americas work in outlining cyberspace policy has already been done, and thus the missions that remain for example working with partners and allies on joint attribution of cyber attacks, rallying votes in the United Nations, and managing capacity building projects are unlikely to change dramatically any time soon.
Undoubtedly, there will be many areas of overlap between the work of those handling emerging technology issues and the responsibilities of a cyberspace policy office. But there will also be overlap between efforts on emerging technologies and matters handled by the Bureau of Economics and Business Affairs, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and many others. The fact that there is overlap between two organizational constructs should not be taken as a justification to merge them, and while technology obviously plays a central role in both cyberspace policy and emerging technologies policy, the actual work required to address them is very different.
It also makes sense to keep some technology issues in their current bureaucratic homes because of their historical legacy and the subsequent development of specialized expertise within those homes. No one would suggest, for example, that emerging issues in nuclear technology should be pulled out of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and made the responsibility of a new emerging technology bureau. And some technologies might only have globally significant implications for a relatively short period of time. Advanced robotics, for example, might have a major impact on manufacturing and broader economic areas, which could require the sustained attention of policymakers as they grapple with the initial implications of such technology. But once advanced robotics become a routine part of industrial operations, it would make less sense to have brought the issue under a new bureau when the pre-existing functional and regional bureaus might be best poised to address the relevant challenges.
Making every technology policy the responsibility of one under secretary would not solve the State Departments current problems. Instead, it would result in unclear prioritization, strained resources, and would leave one leader handling two very different mission sets.
The Importance of Avoiding a Security-Focused Approach to Cyberspace
In creating a Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy, the State Department should also avoid limiting that bureaus focus solely to security-related matters. That was one of the flaws with the previous administrations efforts to create the Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies. While that bureau never materialized, the Government Accountability Office roundly criticized the State Department for failing to provide data or evidence to support its plans and for its lack of consultation with other federal agencies. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized that the proposed office would not have been in a position to coordinate responsibility for the security, economic, and human rights aspects of cyber policy.
Any reorganization of the State Department should ensure that diplomats can take into account all dimensions political, economic, humanitarian, and security of cyberspace policy and elevate them within the department. That would allow a new bureau to lead the way in promoting a free and secure internet. Some of the reform proposals that have been put forward reflect this approach. For example, the Cyber Diplomacy Act, which has already passed in the House, would create an ambassador-at-large position, with rank equal to that of an assistant secretary, to lead a new cyber bureau. That person would report to the under secretary for political affairs or an official of higher rank, which leaves open the possibility that the position would report directly to the secretary of state or one of the departments two deputy secretaries. While some have proposed the deputy secretary for management and resources for this reporting chain, that position has a history of going unfilled, and having a new cyberspace bureau report to it is a recipe for undercutting the fledgling bureau before it can even get off the ground. A better alternative would be to allow the State Department some flexibility in determining a new bureaus reporting structure, which might include the more natural choice of reporting to the other deputy secretary.
An overly narrow focus on security is not the only trap to avoid in creating a new cyber bureau. Orienting it around the idea of strategic competition with China would also be a problem. No doubt China will remain a key driver of U.S. policy for years to come, but global threats and opportunities may look very different in future decades than they do now. Cyber diplomacy should not be oriented around one adversary specifically and the structure and functioning of a new cyberspace policy bureau should stand the test of time.
The Devil Is in the Details, But a Cyberspace Policy Bureau Is the Best Approach
The unfortunate political reality is that reorganizing the State Department is hard. That alone is not a reason to forgo reform, but it does introduce constraints on what may be feasible. Any new office or bureau will need leaders, but current law strictly limits the rank that they can hold. Creating a new under secretary, or even a new assistant secretary, would require significant changes to the State Department Basic Authorities Act, and there is limited political momentum for that particular undertaking. The law currently authorizes the appointment of 24 assistant secretaries and six under secretaries. Although the Cyberspace Solarium Commission initially recommended creating an assistant secretary position to lead a new cyber bureau and although it has been clear for two decades that the State Departments structure should be overhauled making such drastic changes to the necessary legislation may be a nonstarter on Capitol Hill for the foreseeable future. The Cyber Diplomacy Act provides the best available work-around by placing an ambassador-at-large at the head of the new bureau, ensuring that the position has the stature necessary for effective leadership.
The new bureau would also have to contend with the challenges of prioritization. The Cyber Diplomacy Act lists a wide variety of issues including internet access, internet freedom, digital economy, cybercrime, deterrence, and international responses to cyber threats that would become a cyberspace bureaus responsibilities. Even without giving it emerging technology topics to handle, consolidating just cyberspace policy issues will require careful planning to determine which pieces get pulled from existing bureaus. To allow a new bureau to adequately deal with digital economy matters, for example, policymakers would need to decide which aspects of that issue get moved from the purview of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. The new bureau would have a good case for inheriting responsibility for portfolios like investment in information communications technology infrastructure abroad, particularly as it relates to cyber security capacity building, but there is a strong argument for other pieces like e-commerce to remain in their existing homes. The more bearing a particular teams work has on preserving an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet, the more it should be considered a strong candidate for incorporation into a new bureau.
Moving the responsibility for particular policy matters is not the only tool available, however. The Cyber Diplomacy Act creates an avenue for the new bureaus personnel to engage other State Department experts to ensure that concerns like human rights, economic competitiveness, and security have an influence on the development of U.S. cyber policy. The proposed Cyberspace Policy Coordinating Committee would ensure that officials at the assistant secretary level or higher from across the department can weigh in on matters of concern for their respective portfolios.
With a new cyberspace policy bureau, a coordinating committee, and enhancements to emerging technology capacity in its existing regional and functional bureaus, the State Department would be structured to handle the digital age effectively.
Natalie Thompson is a Ph.D. student in political science at Yale University. Previously, she was a research analyst for the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and a research assistant and James C. Gaither junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, working with the Technology and International Affairs Program on projects related to disinformation and cyber security. She tweets at @natalierthom.
Laura Bate is a senior director with the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and a 2021 Next Generation National Security Fellow with the Center for a New American Security. Previously, she was a policy analyst with New Americas Cybersecurity Initiative and remains an International Security Program Fellow. She tweets at @Laura_K_Bate.
Image: State Department (Photo by Freddie Everett)
Excerpt from:
The Right Way to Structure Cyber Diplomacy - War on the Rocks
FBI report looks at the tactics of a ransomware affiliate – Channel Daily News
Infosec pros can now study the tactics of a ransomware affiliate gang that has been attacking U.S. organizations since late last year, information which can help them defend against some attacks.
The intel comes from the FBI, which this week issued a report on a gang calling itself the OnePercent Group.
The name apparently comes from its threat to release one per cent of a victim organizations stolen data if a ransom isnt paid.
Affiliate groups are gangs that take advantage of the ransomware-as-a-service offerings of big ransomware developers like REvil/Sodinokibi, Darkside, Dharma, LockBit and others. For a monthly fee, affiliates get the bulk of a ransom, with the developer getting about 20 to 30 per cent of the payment.
According to the report, like most ransomware attackers the OnePercent Group sends out phishing email with an infected Microsoft Word or Excel attachment, with the payload executing through a macro. This leads to the download of the IcedID banking trojan. According to the Center for Internet Security, IcedID (also known as BokBot) is a modular banking trojan that targets user financial information and is capable of acting as a dropper for other malware.
This gang uses it to download the Cobalt Strike threat emulation software. A legitimate testing tool, it has become a favourite aid for threat actors. According to Malpedia, Cobalt Strike deploys an in-memory agent named Beacon on the victim machine which can be used for command execution, keylogging, file transfer, SOCKS proxying, privilege escalation, mimikatz (for saving authentication credentials), port scanning and lateral movement through and across networks. The FBI report notes this group uses Cobalt Strike in part to move laterally through PowerShell remoting.
For copying and exfiltrating data prior to deploying ransomware this gang uses rclone, a command line program, to manage files on cloud storage.
Once the ransomware is successfully deployed, the report says, the victim will receive phone calls with ransom demands through spoofed phone numbers. Victims are also provided a ProtonMail email address for further communication. The actors will persistently demand to speak with a victim companys designated negotiator or otherwise threaten to publish the stolen data. When a victim company does not respond, the report says, the actors send subsequent threats to publish the victim companys stolen data.
The report also includes indicators of compromise that security teams can watch for, including hashes associated with rclone.
The FBI urges organizations to do the following to reduce the odds of being victimized by ransomware. Its also good advice for fending off any cyber attack:
back-up critical data offline; ensure administrators are not using Admin Approval mode; implement Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution), if possible; ensure copies of critical data are in the cloud or on an external hard drive or storage device. This information should not be accessible from the compromised network; secure your back-ups and ensure data is not accessible for modification or deletion from the system where the original data resides; keep computers, devices, and applications patched and up-to-date; consider adding a coloured email banner that clearly identifies emails received from outside your organization. This helps alert users to malicious email that purport to be from fellow employees; disable unused remote access/Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) ports and monitor remoteaccess/RDP logs; audit user accounts with administrative privileges and configure access controls to give users the least privilege needed for their work; use network segmentation to separate critical data; make users adopt multi-factor authentication with strong passphrases.
Currently a freelance writer, I'm the former editor of ITWorldCanada.com and Computing Canada. An IT journalist since 1997, I've written for several of ITWC's sister publications including ITBusiness.ca and Computer Dealer News. Before that I was a staff reporter at the Calgary Herald and the Brampton (Ont.) Daily Times. I can be reached at hsolomon [@] soloreporter.com
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FBI report looks at the tactics of a ransomware affiliate - Channel Daily News
Internet Security Market to Witness Astonishing Growth by 2027 | HPE, IBM, Intel and more – Research Interviewer – Research Interviewer
The report offers a complete research study of the global Internet Security Market that includes accurate forecasts and analysis at global, regional, and country levels. It provides a comprehensive view of the global Internet Security Market and detailed value chain analysis to help players to closely understand important changes in business activities observed across the industry. It also offers a deep segmental analysis of the global Internet Security market where key product and application segments are shed light upon. Readers are provided with actual market figures related to the size of the global Internet Security market in terms of value and volume for the forecast period 2021-2027.
The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Internet Security Market Research Report are HPE, IBM, Intel, Symantec, AlienVault, BlackStratus, Check Point Software Technologies, Cisco, Cyren, Fortinet, F-Secure, Gemalto, Kaspersky Lab, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, RSA, Sophos, Trend Micro, Trustwave Holdings, Wurldtech Security Technologies.
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North America accounted for the largest share in the Internet Security market in 2020 owing to the increasing collaboration activities by key players over the forecast period
Detailed Segmentation:
Global Internet Security Market, By Product Type: Malicious software, Denial-of-service attacks, Phishing, Application vulnerabilities.
Global Internet Security Market, By End User: Government, Banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), Manufacturing, Information communication and technology (ICT), Retail, Healthcare.
Market Overview of Global Internet Security
Geographically, The Internet Security market report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering: North America, Europe, China, Japan and others.
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Major Players: The report provides company profiling for a decent number of leading players of the global Internet Security market. It brings to light their current and future market growth taking into consideration their price, gross margin, revenue, production, areas served, production sites, and other factors.
Internet Security Market Dynamics: The report shares important information on influence factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, and market trends as part of market dynamics.
Global Internet Security Market Forecast: Readers are provided with production and revenue forecasts for the global Internet Security market, production and consumption forecasts for regional markets, production, revenue, and price forecasts for the global Internet Security market by type, and consumption forecast for the global Internet Security market by application.
Regional Market Analysis: It could be divided into two different sections: one for regional production analysis and the other for regional consumption analysis. Here, the analysts share gross margin, price, revenue, production, CAGR, and other factors that indicate the growth of all regional markets studied in the report.
Internet Security Market Competition: In this section, the report provides information on Competitive situations and trends including merger and acquisition and expansion, market shares of the top three or five players, and market concentration rate. Readers could also be provided with production, revenue, and average price shares by manufacturers.
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Internet Security Market
Major Highlights of Internet Security Market in Covid-19 pandemic covered in report:
Market Competition by key manufacturers in the industry. Discussed Sourcing strategies, industrial chain information and downstream buyers data. Distributors and traders marketing strategy analysis focusing on region wise needs in covid-19 pandemic. Vendors who are providing a wide range of product lines and intensifying the competitive scenario in covid-19 crisis. Also highlights of the key growth sectors of Internet Security market and how they will perform in coming years.
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** The market is evaluated based on the weighted average selling price (WASP) and includes the taxes applicable to the manufacturer. All currency conversions used in the creation of this report were calculated using a certain annual average rate of 2021 currency conversion.
Crucial points encompassed in the report:
Customization Available
With the given market data, Researchers offer customization according to the companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:
Regional and country-level analysis of the Internet Security market, by end-user.
Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.
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Top 10 Best Internet Security Software – ConsumerSearch.com
With the adverse accrescent array of cyber threats, internet security suites have become a necessary tool for safeguarding your devices. It's vital to note that an antivirus (AV) software offers a mere level of protection for your system. On the other hand, an internet security software has multiple programs accessed by a single interface and are thus commonly referred to as suites. They can scan files and software, monitor internet activity, and perform vulnerability searches all by the click of a button. Cyberattacks have made some antivirus-type security solutions useless. There are major antivirus software offering a fitting protection system against malicious attacks like malware but become obsolete when faced with attacks from hackers.
An internet security software is a more superior tool when it comes to safeguarding your devices against phishing, spam, spyware, and phishing. But with tons of alternatives out there, where do you begin? Below are our top 10 best internet security software options for you to try depending on your needs.
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Top 10 Best Internet Security Software - ConsumerSearch.com
Best Internet Security Software 2021 | Top Ten Reviews
The best internet security software is a step above your average antivirus program, offering you complete peace of mind on your devices when youre browsing the web, using internet banking, or doing some online shopping. These programs combine premium security features like antivirus, firewalls, VPN access, identity theft protection and more into a single, easy to manage program that you just pay a single subscription fee for, taking the hassle out of internet security.
So what exactly comes with the best internet security software, and why is it worth the upgrade over the protection you get from the best antivirus software? Well, while an antivirus program offers you protection against one form of online threat, the top internet security programs cover you against almost everything. Viruses, malware, spyware, websites and advertisers snooping into your online activities - these can all be blocked by good security software. They can also help keep your kids safe online with parental controls and social media monitoring.
Most of the top-rated internet security software out there actually comes in several tiers, depending on what level of protection youre looking for. The entry-level tiers have all the protection that most people need, while the premium tiers offer things like bank transaction monitoring and identity theft protection. The higher tiers often come with support for a larger number of devices too, so theyre great for families.
Speaking of devices, these days its not enough to just protect your home computer and laptop. If youre browsing the web or using online banking apps on your smartphone, youll need that covered too. Fortunately, the best internet security software works on mobile devices too, so your phone and even your tablet can be protected.
MalwareMalware is a shortened name for malicious software. Its an overarching term used to describe computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, adware, spyware and any other form of software that can harm your devices or steal your data.
FirewallFirewalls are network security programs designed to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic on your devices, and to block malicious and unauthorized traffic. Most computers come with a built-in firewall these days, but the best internet security software will come with its own more powerful firewall.
VPNVPN is an abbreviation for virtual private network. Using a VPN, you can encrypt your network signal and bounce it off a server anywhere in the world. This means that websites and other software cant tell where your actual location is. This stops advertisers from targeting you with specific ads, but also stops hackers from getting into your network. You can also use a VPN to access region-locked content.
Bitdefender offers total online protection
Excellent malware detection
Tons of options
Includes a VPN
Some packages offer poor value compared to others
One of the big hitters when it comes to the best internet security software, Bitdefender lives up to the company's sterling reputation by providing an excellent selection of software for you to choose from.
Bitdefender Internet Security is what wed call the basic package and it comes with everything youd expect, but it only covers PCs. If you want to cover all your devices, youll want Bitdefender Total Security.
With Bitdefender youre protected from viruses, malware, ransomware and spyware, and theres a built-in firewall to keep cyber-intruders out of your system. When tested by the experts at AV Test and AV Comparatives, Bitdefender performed very well, blocking almost all of the viruses and malware tests programs that were set against it.
Alongside this standard protection theres also a suite of parental controls to keep your kids safe and away from the more unsavory parts of the internet. Theres also a VPN to let you stay anonymous or access geo-restricted content online, though usage is limited unless you go for the top package, Bitdefender Premium Security.
There are a ton of pricing options available, letting you choose which program you want, how many devices to cover and for how long.
Powerful and versatile, Norton's 360 range gets our top prize
Range of tiers for all needs
Excellent antivirus and malware protection
Easy to use
Multi-device coverage locked in more expensive tiers
Norton is one of the biggest names in town when it comes to antivirus protection and internet security, so it should be no surprise to see it at the top end of our list. Norton 360 offers several tiers of internet security software for users to consider, with each successive tier adding on extra layers of protection.
For the average user, Norton 360 Standard will more than suffice. It offers access to Nortons exceptional antivirus program, which covers you against viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. Theres also a firewall to keep hackers and other invaders out of your network when youre online and a VPN to keep your identity and location hidden when youre browsing and shopping online.
Later tiers bring in additional layers of defense including identity theft protection and financial coverage should you become the victim of identity fraud, while the top package offers coverage for unlimited devices and 401k monitoring to keep your retirement investments safe.
Most importantly, Norton 360s performance is second to none, with our antivirus experts finding that it blocked 100% of attacks sent against it in recent tests, while also having a negligible effect on your devices performance.
Kaspersky doesn't put a foot wrong, surpassing our already high expectations
Flawless antivirus protection
Flexible price options
Good range of extra features
Parental controls locked to premium option
Most of the antivirus and internet security software that we tested had excellent performance when it comes to blocking malware, but Kaspersky stands above the rest in this regard with a perfect score - not a single piece of malicious software made it through Kasperskys defenses during the expert testing from AV Test and AV Comparatives.
It really is hard to argue with those kinds of results, especially when you pair it up with Kasperskys flexible pricing model and great range of extra features. With annual prices for Kaspersky Internet Security starting as low as $39.99, it offers highly competitive costs without cutting corners on its offerings.
You get antivirus protection and a firewall that youd expect, alongside VPN access and an ad blocker to keep those pesky pop-ups and auto playing videos at bay. The only real mark against it is that a lot of the parental controls are locked behind the more pricey option, Kaspersky Total Security, but even this is very reasonably priced.
Avast's free offerings are second to none, but it struggles to justify the costs
Great antivirus capabilities
Decent range of extras
Heavy performance impact
Better offerings elsewhere
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We love Avast because it makes us feel like pirates whenever we say it, but beyond that it also offers a compelling choice for those looking for free antivirus software. Sadly the premium internet security software that Avast offers, called Avast Premium Security, doesnt quite measure up to the rest of the competition.
You get the standard antivirus and firewall protection along with a nifty tool that lets you run suspicious apps and programs in a walled-off sandbox to test it before letting it loose on your computer, but the features set is a little anemic beyond that. VPN access is walled off behind Avast Ultimate, the most expensive option.
Theres a password manager, webcam protection, and file shredder, but thats about it. Parental controls are nowhere to be found, locked away in Avast Omni, a home internet security solution that requires the installation of a specific device.
McAfee's single program solution is great, but it falls short of its rivals
Single program eliminates confusion over product features
Great antivirus performance
Good range of extra features
Outdone by the competition
If youve been looking at the other options on this list and your eyes have started to glaze over at all the choices, then McAfee has a non nonsense, one-size-fits-all solution for you. McAfee Total Protection is the only internet security software that it offers and while there are a few pricing options depending on the number of devices you need to cover, the core software is the same.
McAfee performed well in recent tests of its antivirus and malware protection capabilities, blocking over 97% of attacks levied against it. Those are good numbers, but they do lag behind other options on the market.
The other issue is that some of the extra features that McAfee Total Protection offers are locked behind an auto-renewal paywall, so youll have to commit to McAfee long term if you want things like VPN access or identity theft protection. Considering none of the competition has this limitation, McAfee is a difficult sell. Not bad, but unless you really dont want the hassle of choosing between various options, wed say that there are better picks out there.
F-Secure Antivirus SAFE is a powerful solution from a big name that's got lots of experience with security online. As such you get a very powerful antivirus program at the heart of this package. That means protection from malware, spyware, phishing schemes and more.
Beyond that you also get multi-device coverage including support for iOS and Android. This even lets you remotely control your device so as to secure your data should you misplace your phone or have it stolen.
F-Secure SAFE is a light running system which means it's good for older machines too, since it can be fast to operate and won't put a strain on system processing resources.
A very powerful anti malware setup
Superb malware detection
Affordable pricing
Simple usability
Could be resource intensive
Trend Micro Antivirus Plus offers very powerful protection from its excellent antivirus software. This specializes in malware protection with anti spam, anti ransomware and anti phishing protection that stands out. The addition of a folder shield, to specifically protect certain folders, is a really nice touch.
Everything is very easy to use making this a good option for those that either want it simple or are new to this type of software. Either way protection is strong and the inclusion of a 30-day free trial makes it a great way to try out this type of cover.
Some cases of this offering false positives and being a little resource intensive have been reported but they weren't issues found in our testing experience.
A light build that's gentle on resources
Minimal system drag
Great protection
Flexible pricing
Lacks smartphone support
Lower tier doesn't offer extras
VIPRE Advanced Security is a very easy to use system that's not only easy to install and run but also treads lightly. By this we mean it doesn't use many system resources. This means it won't slow down your machine noticeably so you can run scans in the background without any sacrifice required to what you're doing.
Protection is strong with a powerful antivirus that offers great malware cover, spyware stopping and removal of any threats that are found. It even scans programs in use so that it can find any attacks the instant they arise.
While this is great for newbs, thanks to a simple interface, it also offers a depth of controls that make it useful for more seasoned security aficionados alike.
Very lightweight in a unique way
Very light on system resources
Extremely fast
Advanced features
No data from top labs
Webroot Secureanywhere may be at the bottom of the list but that's largely owing to its rather unique way of working. Unlike the others, this does all the thinking in the cloud, using an advanced AI brain. As such, threats are detected but only dealt with when that cloud brain decides it is a real threat. Then it can be removed and the system rolled back to adjust any changes the threat may have made.
While this novel way of working means there is very little strain on your system, taking up less than 2MB (compared to 700MB on most), it also makes it difficult to assess. As such the results from testing are mixed with some very impressive scores but also a few discrepancies which can't go unnoticed.
All that said, the company is confident it works and will be liked and so offers an impressive 70-day 100 percent money-back guarantee.
More than half of the programs we tested earned a malware protection score of 98 percent or higher. In general, the applications had the most trouble with completely blocking malicious sites. For example, some programs recognized and blocked a webpage with a virus download or phishing scheme on it but still allowed us to access other pages on the site. The best programs blocked the whole site, even the unaffected pages, so there was no chance of accidental infection.
After we have researched each program, we analyse results from several third-party testing labs, including AV-Comparatives and AV-Test, to see how well they perform over time in terms of virus protection and loss of computer resources. This lets us study long term trends in performance, rather then just how it handles a limited number of tests that we could throw at it during out review.
The biggest difference between basic antivirus software and an internet security suite is the number of extra protection tools included with the program. For example, Kaspersky Antivirus doesnt include a personal firewall or parental controls, but the more expensive Kaspersky Internet Securitydoes.
Typically, internet security programs build on the same engine used in the developers antivirus software, so the level of protection doesnt change with the more expensive internet security program.
One other difference between basic antivirus software and internet security suites is the number of user licenses you get. Most antivirus solutions come with a single license to protect one computer. Internet security suites, however, usually come with at least three licenses, and are sometimes compatible with mobile phones and tablets so you can protect multiple web-enabled devices at once.
Because internet security programs are a step up from basic antivirus software, they should include several additional malware protection and privacy tools typically a personal firewall, a password manager and a system vulnerability scanner. These tools give you added protection against hackers and identity thieves who try to sneak into your system by swiping passwords, piggybacking on your internet connection or exploiting out-of-date software.
We spoke with Mitch Stephens, a security consultant with Emagined Security. He suggests that keeping your system and program patches up to date is a good way to stay secure from online threats. Programs, such as ESET and Avast, use vulnerability detection scans to make sure the most recent software versions are installed on your computer, and if not, they provide you with a legitimate link to where you can download the latest updates. Without these patches, hackers and ransomware can take advantage of these weak points and use them to attack your computer.
Parental controls are also good to have. These tools allow you to limit the time your child is online as well as block inappropriate content. They are also good for blocking cyberbullies and predators. Kaspersky Internet Security includes internet filter categories that make it easy to quickly block harmful content, including vulgarity, profanity and violence.
The best internet security software comes with multiple licenses or a single license that can be used to protect multiple computers or mobile devices at once. Sometimes, the only difference between a top-rated security program and the best premium security suite is the number of licenses you get.
Internet security software costs about $80-$120 for a year subscription, though this varies wildly depending on who you choose and what tier you go for.. You can usually find deals that make the first year cheaper though. These programs are a step up from basic antivirus software, which costs less but typically doesnt include advanced tools like a firewall, safe banking features or a password manager.
Premium-grade software typically goes one step further to include all the security tools a developer has to offer. For example, Kaspersky Internet Security doesnt include a parental controls, but Kaspersky Total Security does. Because premium security solutions have more tools than internet security software and include additional user licenses, they typically cost more.
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Best Internet Security Software 2021 | Top Ten Reviews
2021 Best Free Internet Security Suites For Windows PC
There are hundreds of free antivirus software around, but a free Internet Security Suite is a rare find.
Antivirus vs. Internet Security Suite An antivirus software offers the basic security essential for your Windows PC. Whereas, an Internet Security Suite not only offers protection but is enhanced by a number of other useful tools that make your digital life comfortable.
How We Tested? We evaluated each free Internet Security software for ease of use, performance, and reliability on our test system running Windows 10. We then sourced the data from popular antivirus testing labs like AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs to come up with the top free Internet Security software list.
OS Compatibility Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Important! Most free security suites pester you to upgrade to their paid software, while some of them try getting you to install free toolbars or browser extensions. So, keep an eye out when youre downloading and installing these antivirus applications and avoid the unwanted toolbars and extensions.
With the ever-growing variety of threats out there, both in number and complexity, running a comprehensive Internet security suite on any computer is mandatory.
Do you prefer just a simple antivirus or a complete security suite? Let us know in the constructive comments below.
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2021 Best Free Internet Security Suites For Windows PC
Cybersecurity Risks In The USA – Security Insider Access Online – Security Insider Access Online
Cybersecurity has always been a concern for those with devices, but it is ever-growing and becoming increasingly difficult to combat. It seems as though new threats are popping up every day with the widespread use of technology today. With malware being an issue since the inception of internet usage, security risks will continue to be so long as we rely on connectivity in our world, whether by individual or business entities alike!
As scary as it sounds, there are common types of security risks that are preventable and identifiable. In this article, we are going to put the magnifying glass on these threats and how you can stop them before they get out of hand!
Malware is a common form of security threat that can be devastating. It has been around since the internets inception. It continues to remain persistent in todays digital world, with malware ranging from stealing information, denying access to programs, deleting files, and spreading itself on other systems.
Ive been hacked! When you log in to an account, a common conclusion is only to find your password changed and your details are lost. The reality is that a very talented third party managed to guess or steal your password and has since run amok with the information. It is far worse for businesses that could lose sensitive data due to this type of hack attack on their network infrastructure.
Eavesdropping is a type of third-party interference in which one party listens to information sent between another user and the host. The kind of data stolen varies based on the traffic but often includes logins or valuable personal information.
Phishing scams are outdated or old attack methods and rely on social engineering to achieve their goal. Typically, the target receives a message or email which requests sensitive data such as passwords. Sometimes, these phishing messages appear official with legitimate appearing addresses and media content that compels individuals to click links where they can accidentally give away their most intimate information.
Distributed Denial of Service is a method of attacking in which malicious parties target servers and overload them with user traffic. When a server cannot handle incoming requests, its host website shuts down or slows to unusable performance.
An XSS attack is when a third party targets a vulnerable website and injects dangerous code. These websites typically lack encryption, which makes them easy to target. When users access these sites, they are targeted with a payload that either disrupts standard services or steals their information (depending on what the attacker wants).
Zero-day vulnerabilities are a real danger that governments and businesses need to be aware of. These exploits can cause major damage in the form of lost data, ruined information systems, or financial losses by stealing sensitive information if theyre not dealt with quickly.
What are some cybersecurity risks?
Data breaches are a common cyber-attack that can lead to disastrous repercussions, such as decreased business success and increased risk of outside attacks. With global connectivity on the rise and cloud services being used increasingly often with poor security parameters, your company is at greater risk for this attack than ever before.
What is the biggest cybersecurity threat to the United States?
Nation-state hackers are the most serious in terms of the threats the U.S. faces.
Top 10 Cybersecurity Risks for Businesses
Are cookies a security risk?
Cookies are not harmful because they cannot infect computers with viruses or other malware. Cyberattacks enable access and then hijack your browsing sessions. Well, the danger lies in their ability to track the browsing history f the user.
Why are cyber attacks so dangerous?
Cyberattacks can cause needless military equipment failures, electrical blackouts, and about every national security secret, you could imagine. Theyll result in the theft of valuable, sensitive data like your medical records too-and if they succeed at all, thats been disruptive for phone networks or computer systems, making it unavailable to be able to access any information whatsoever!
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Cybersecurity Risks In The USA - Security Insider Access Online - Security Insider Access Online
Cyberspace and outer space are new frontiers for national security, according to an expert report – Space.com
This article was originally published atThe Conversation.The publication contributed the article to Space.com'sExpert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
What do cyberspace and outer space have in common? As we make clear in a newreportto the Department of Defence, both are new frontiers for national security that blur traditional ideas about borders,sovereigntyand defense strategy.
These "areas" are important elements of Australia's critical infrastructure and are vital to our ability to defend our nation and keep it secure. They also have a "dual use" character: both areas (and often even individual pieces of equipment) are used for both military and civilian purposes.
Related: Why satellites need cybersecurity just like you
Sovereignty is a legal and political concept. It generally refers to the authority of a country (nation state) to exercise control over matters within its jurisdiction including by passing laws and enforcing them.
Historically, this jurisdiction was based primarily on geography. However, cyberspace and outer space are not limited by borders in the same way as territorial spaces.
Sovereignty also includes the power to give up certain sovereign rights, such as when countries agree to limit their own actions so as to cooperate internationally on human rights and national security.
Read more:Star laws: what happens if you commit a crime in space?
Cyberspace and outer space enhance our defence and national security capabilities, but our increasing dependence on continuous access to both also makes us vulnerable. These domains can be a source of unity and vision for humanity, but they can also be a source of tension and discord and could easily be misused in the conduct of war.
The world's dependence on the internet has outpaced efforts at effective cybersecurity. For every "solution," another threat arises. This can create serious vulnerabilities for defense and national security.
There is a general understanding thatinternational law applies to cyber activities. However, the details of preciselyhoware not agreed. The debate generally concerns what military cyber activities are "acceptable" or "peaceful," and which are prohibited or might be considered acts of war.
For example, during peacetime, international law is largely silent on espionage. Nation-states can generally engage in cyber espionage without clearly violating their legal obligations to other countries.
However, it can be hard to tell the difference between a simple espionage cyber operation (which might be permitted) and one carried out to prepare for a more disruptive operation (which might count as an "attack"). Both involve unauthorized access to computer systems and networks within another nation-state, but working out who is responsible for such intrusions and their intentions can be an imprecise art.
Different countries have suggested various approaches to the problem.FranceandIransay any unauthorized penetration of their cyber systems "automatically" constitutes a violation of sovereignty, irrespective of the reason.
Others, such as theUnited KingdomandNew Zealand, say a cyber operation must be sufficiently disruptive or destructive to count as a violation of sovereignty principles. These might seem like legal niceties, but they matter they can determine how the impacted country might retaliate.
Outer space is no less challenging. The "militarization" and possible "weaponization" of space represent a significant defense and national security challenge for all countries.
Outer space, like the high seas, is often seen as a global commons: it belongs to everyone and is governed by international law. A key tenet of international space law is that space may not be appropriated, which would prevent plans such ascolonizingthe Moon or Mars.
The1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by almost every spacefaring country, provides that the Moon and other celestial bodies are to be used "exclusively for peaceful purposes." It also forbids the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and the militarisation of celestial bodies.
The treaty also imposes international responsibilities and liabilities on the countries themselves even for transgressions carried out by a private entity. Everything revolves around the imperative to promote responsible behavior in space and minimize the possibility of conflict.
Read more:Giant leap for corporations? The Trump administration wants to mine resources in space, but is it legal?
Initially, there were different views as to whether the peaceful use of space meant that only "non-military" rather than "non-aggressive" activities were permissible. However, the reality is that outer space has been and continues to be used for terrestrial military activities.
The 1991 Gulf War is often referred to as thefirst "space war." The use of satellite technology undeniably represents an integral part of modern military strategy and armed conflict for Australia and many other countries.
The situation is made more complex by the increasing interest in possible futuremining in spaceand the potential rise ofspace tourism. There is also no clear international agreement about where to draw the line between sovereign airspace and outer space, or about what (and whose)criminal law applies in space.
At present, some 70-80 countries have some degree of sovereign space capability, including an ability to independently launch or operate their own satellites.
On the other hand, this means nearly two-thirds of the world's countries do not have any national space capability. They are completely dependent on others for access to space infrastructure and to space itself. Their ability to enjoy the benefits of space technology for development and well-being relies on strategic and geopolitical networks and understandings.
Even Australia, which is a sophisticated space participant, currently has relatively limited sovereign capability for space launches, Earth observation, GPS and other critical space activities.
However, it is not economically feasible for Australia to be wholly independent in every aspect of space. For this reason, Australia's twin policy of ensuring access to space through strategic alliances with selected spacefaring nations, while also developing further sovereign space capability in specific areas, is essential to Australia's defense and national security interests.
Addressing the intersection between cyberspace and outer space is vital for Australia's defense and national security policies. Both civilian and military actors participate in these domains, and the range of possible activities is rapidly developing.
We will need to understand the increasingly close intersection between cyberspace and outer space technologies to be in the best possible position to develop effective and integrated defense and national security strategies to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
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Cyberspace and outer space are new frontiers for national security, according to an expert report - Space.com
Cybersecurity Breaches Must Be Reported to Attorney General; New CT Law Helps Businesses Connecticut by the Numbers – Connecticut by the Numbers
The Privacy and Data Security Department within the Attorney Generals Office handles matters related to the protection of Connecticut residents' personal information and data. The Department enforces state laws governing notification of data breaches, safeguarding of personal information, and protection of social security numbers and other sensitive information.
In addition, this Department provides the Attorney General with advice and counsel on proposed legislation and other matters regarding privacy and data security, and it engages in extensive outreach to citizens and businesses on matters relating to data protection and privacy, according to the Attorney Generals Office.
Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation this summer, approved by the 2021 state legislature and supported by the states business community, that would protect businesses from punitive damages if personal or restricted information is improperly accessed, maintained, communicated, or processed, so long as such businesses have adopted and adhered to appropriate cybersecurity measures. It does not diminish other important legal rights and actions that individuals and businesses can take after a cyber breach, according to the Governors office.
The legislation is Public Act 21-119, An Act Incentivizing the Adoption of Cybersecurity Standards for Businesses goes into effect on October 1, 2021.
Trust and security are at the heart of the relationship between businesses, residents, and their digital government, Mark Raymond, Connecticuts chief information officer, said when the legislation was signed into law.
Investing in cybersecurity is an expensive decision that requires a company to dedicate time, staffing, and financial resources to be successful, added Eric Gjede, vice president of government affairs for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). This legislation is critical for protecting our most vulnerable industries from the increasing threat of cyberattacks.
According to a 2018 CBIA survey, nearly one-quarter of Connecticut businesses experienced a data breach or cyberattack in the previous two years. And 90% of those were small businesses with less than 100 employees.
Testifying in support of the legislation earlier this year, Curtis W. Dukes, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Security Best Practices of the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, Inc., described Connecticuts approach as a creative way to protect its citizens and organizations from cyber attacks.
He added: Cybersecurity is, largely, unregulated today. There is no national statutory minimum standard of information security. This condition makes it difficult to improve cybersecurity on a wholesale basis. Until there is a national legal standard, we are in a period where organizations must voluntarily adopt cyber best practices--the Wild, Wild, West. The result: We are not as safe as we could be.
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Cybersecurity Breaches Must Be Reported to Attorney General; New CT Law Helps Businesses Connecticut by the Numbers - Connecticut by the Numbers