Category: Computer Security Service

Just as advancements in technology have improved our lives, they have also opened the door to new types of threats – those that occur in cyberspace. These are cyber attacks, often orchestrated by criminals with ill intent. It’s important to understand what these are, how they occur, and what steps we can take to shield ourselves from them.

What Are Cyber Attacks?

A cyber attack is an assault launched by cybercriminals using one or more computers against another computer, multiple computers, or networks. Cyber attacks can lead to loss of data, theft of sensitive information, and serious damage to private individuals, corporations, or even government infrastructure. The perpetrators can range from individual hackers to organized crime groups or state-sponsored entities.

Cyber attacks utilise deceptive tactics to bypass security measures and infiltrate target systems. They employ a variety of methods, including malware, phishing, ransomware, and denial of service (DoS) attacks. Each of these has different impacts and consequences, but all come with the same malevolent intent – to harm or exploit the target.

Types of Cyber Attacks

Malware: It is a harmful software designed to perform activities on a computer system without the user’s consent. This includes viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and more. It can cause data loss, computer damage, or allow unauthorized access to the system.

Phishing: This involves sending fraudulent emails that likeness to come from reputable sources to incite individuals into revealing sensitive information, like passwords and credit card numbers.

Ransomware: It is a form of malware that encrypts the victim’s files, which can only be decrypted after a ransom has been paid. This could be extremely damaging to businesses or individuals who may lose access to critical data.

Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: This kind of attack overloads a network system, website, or online service with more data than it can handle, rendering it unavailable to the users. The goal of DoS attacks is usually disruption, rather than theft of information.

Protecting Yourself from Cyber Attacks

The first step in protecting yourself or your business from cyber attacks is understanding the risks and recognising the methods utilised by cybercriminals. Implementing reliable cybersecurity measures is another crucial step. This includes using strong, unique passwords, keeping software and systems updated, employing a reliable antivirus solution, and regularly backing up important data.

Another vital measure is educating employees or family members about the risks and signs of a cyber attack, thus reducing the chance of user-based security breaches, such as falling for a phishing attack.

In a world where cyber threats are a persistent hazard, ensuring your privacy and data safety should be top priorities. This is where cybersecurity firms come in, companies that offer comprehensive solutions to keep cyber attacks at bay.

Cyber security solutions Perth

And for Perth-based businesses or individuals, quality cybersecurity is readily accessible. Cyber security solutions Perth offer robust protection for your systems, ensuring that your data remains safe. Ranging from vulnerability assessments to data encryption and secure backup solutions, these services can provide you with the peace of mind that you’re shielded against cyber attacks.

Conclusion

In a world that relies increasingly on digital processes, cyber attacks pose a real and constant threat. Protections against cyber attacks should be an integral part of individual or business risk management strategies. And whether you’re an individual or a business entity, there’s no shortage of quality cyber security solutions Perth to keep your data safe and secured.

The internet connects hardware, software, and sensitive data. In recent years, this connectivity became indispensable and ubiquitous. A wide variety of businesses now rely on cutting edge technologies to earn profits. As a result, the demand for data analysts and security specialists experiences a very steep increase.

Cybersecurity has become a major concern for individuals and companies. Cybersecurity is a set of tools and practices that help to safeguard information during use, storage, and communication through various devices. An entity requires cybersecurity specialists to keep the data safe. How desperate are the companies? Between Jan 2019 and July 2019, around 4.1 billion records got exposed due to various types of data breaches (source). A company’s data is its asset and liability.

Career Options In Cybersecurity Sector

People assume a white hat hacker is the only cybersecurity job in the market. Security experts have to prevent and remedy various online threats. They analyze malicious email and phone calls. They also takedown phishing websites and clean up the internet. These professionals also handle unauthorized data access, viruses, malware, and identity theft.

The security consultants understand computers, software, operating systems, and networks. They are also good at programming, Cyber Piracy, security audits, and visualization software. One can also find jobs for security analysts, cyber breach investigators, researchers, and so on. In general, the job falls under two categories – pure cybersecurity and hybrid titles. The demand for pure cybersecurity professionals is very high, as it requires industry-specific skills.

Secure Career

But is a career in cybersecurity itself well-paid and secure? Let us look at a few statistics to assess the market demand and need of employers:

• In the last six years, job postings related to cybersecurity grew by 94%.
• These jobs now constitute more than 13% of all the IT jobs in the market (source)
• In India, there are close to 67,000 jobs for security professionals.
• Australian experts predict 21% growth in demand until May 2023.
• Also, there are more than 11,000 cybersecurity vacancies open, as of today.
• Every month more than 50,000 new cyber threats occur (Source)

Why The High Demand?

Almost all businesses operate web stores and professional sites to offer data, goods, and services. Start-ups and small companies are flourishing on the internet too. Cloud computing services are turning to be one of the basic requirements of any business.

All these advances created an expansive internet landscape. And digital information transmits at a rapid pace in this cyberspace. Every individual creates 1.7MB of information every second, according to a study in 2020 (source). This data is not only voluminous but also sensitive and valuable. It includes personal information, business contacts, bank transaction, financial data, etc.

The unethical hackers target businesses and individuals to steal data, shut down sites, or extract ransom money. On the other hand, you can find scammers on almost all internet platforms. The cost of falling victim to such fraud was $1.7 billion worldwide in 2018 (source). Thus, every business chooses to hire security experts to avoid such pitfalls.

Is it a secure field to set a career?

There are numerous niche business areas that bloomed and died within a decade. Is cybersecurity one such mushroom area? Well, experts have a different opinion. Here are the reasons why a career in this genre is safe and financially stable.

Job Designations

There is a job vacancy for all levels of expertise and experience. Technicians handle viruses, malware, while analysts look for bugs, defects, and breaches. Ethical hackers test code and detect weaknesses. The architects, specialists, and administrators handle AI, cloud security, and software safety. Other job titles are cryptographer, security officer, freelance/bounty hunter, software, and hardware engineers.

Career Mobility

Cybersecurity is vital for all industries. If you are tired of being a security analyst for a financial institute, you can move over to a corporate establishment. This mobility is available only in a handful of career lines. The skills and expertise you gain in one industry are applicable across the market. Thus, the opportunities for growth are very high. Since the opportunity for a candidate to switch jobs is high, employers tend to try and make the talent stick with the company.

High Salaries

A single data breach can cost up to $3.29 million in terms of money, time, resources, goodwill, and lost businesses. The cost of a breach is 14% more in 2020 than it was in 2014. Thus, companies try to retain their talents with high salaries, as the security team is the main asset. The highest level in this genre (varies from company to company) is the information security manager or head of cybersecurity, whose average salary is between $125,000 and $215,000 per year. Freshers start as an analyst or a trainee and can easily move up the ladder. An analyst’s average salary is $90,000 per annum, which is higher than most of the jobs with similar skill requirements (source).

As mentioned above, job vacancies are huge and growing. So, the attrition rate for the next few decades is close to zero or negative. So, a cybersecurity job is profitable, secure, and long-lasting.

Submitted by: David Chandler

Help, I was sitting in front my computer and it starting acting strange! Pop-ups were on my screen and I was not even surfing the web. My home page was changed somehow and so did other web settings. My programs are at a crawl and overall my computer is just not working the way it should be.

If this sounds like your computer, chances are you have been infected with some type of malicious software. Several types of software can infect your computer; some of these are spyware, a virus, a Trojan, and a worm. That is why you need security software.

Below is a brief and simple description of the software that can infect your computer and cause poor performance.

Spyware is a program that gathers information about the user through the internet without their knowledge. It monitors your web activity and passes this information to another party without your knowledge. Spyware is designed for commercial gain, thus when it is installed in your computer you will probably receive unsolicited pop-up advertisements. It can also gather your email addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers stored on your computer.

A virus is programming code or a piece of code that loads onto your computer without your consent. A virus is also self-replicating by inserting copies into an executable code or documents. Any virus is dangerous as it uses up memory and brings your system to a halt.

A worm is much like a virus in the fact that it is self-replicating but differs in the fact that it does not need another program to do so. A worm can spread itself without any action from the user. A worm can attach itself to you address book and send a copy to everyone in it, then attaches itself to the receivers address book in addition, send it out to everyone in that address book. Worms are dangerous and in the end can cause networks to crash.

Trojans are designed as legitimate software that you can download onto your computer. Once installed though, they can be annoying and/or malicious. Annoying activities of a Trojan would be changing your desktop around or silly icons appearing. Malicious damage from a Trojan is capable of deleting files on your computer and allowing personal and confidential information to be collected without you being aware.

Preventing spyware and other malicious software from infecting your computer through security software is lots easier going online and finding a reputable online scanning site after the fact. Sometimes if your computer is infected, you may not even be able to get online. Therefore, prevention is better than fixing.

You can protect your computer from malicious programs in many ways. Here are a few tips to consider.

Always have the latest version of anti virus and anti spyware technology on your computer. You will also need to keep the program files up to date in order to protect against newest threats.

Only download files from a trusted source. If you are not sure, run a virus scan on the file before downloading it or saving to your computer.

There are limitless resources on the internet offering anti spyware and antivirus programs. Many sites offer free online scans, and provide instructions for removal of any malicious programs on your computer. Once you have selected a well known, (well-known being the optimal word) follow the instructions for installation carefully to ensure that the scan will work properly. Below are the most common and well-known virus and spyware removal programs.

McAfee (mcafee.com) virus remover features up-to-date protection from the latest viruses and web activity threats for the user. They have three main anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that you can choose perfect for home and business uses.

Microsoft has an anti spyware (microsoft.com) removal tool that you can use to scan your computer. This functions mainly by reviewing and checking your files for unwanted software contents, and once found can be selected and removed depending on the procedures indicated on the program. Just follow the tools and guides on how you can remove the infected files.

Ad Ware Personal provided by Lavasoft.com features scanning and fixing infected files and drives, detection of known and unknown but potentially damaging software with its Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology. This program also has a spyware removal and capabilities of removing other damaging programs in your system.

The above sites are just a few of anti spyware and anti virus removal programs that are available on the web. Take the time and do the research and you will find the right security software for your needs. Once again, it is imperative that the site you select for your computer security is credible.

About the Author: For more information about security software, visit

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Submitted by: William Piker

You may think that your home computer internet network is as safe as a bug in a rug . After all your Linksys or D-Link brand or another popular brand offers state of the art security features. Perhaps you have the standard WEP 64, or the safe as the banks WEP 128 encryption format. Perhaps you have even gone one step further to the ultra newer safe WPA router data security formats or even to greater security heights.

Your computer network is ultra secure. Or so you think and have beer reassured. Perhaps you have even had a computer security professional do the setup and maintenance,

And yet your personal data or banking information may be stolen. Your children may be directed to bad internet sites or worse. Your windows security updates may be compromised leaving your computer and network open to wide and wider scale attacks on your computer. Your confidential passwords whether they are for email, medical, airline or even banking may be compromised or stolen. Finally your computer may be utilized as a zombie in large scale denial of service attacks on the internet. Your computer and many thousands of other may be set, waiting patiently for long periods of time, to be activated as a sleeper agent. Which along with many thousand of other remote computers are set on secret activation to altogether overwhelm some target whether it be government computers, the CNN online news network or whatever?

How are all of these threats possible? Computer security is always a case of cat and mouse with human ingenuity always at the root of the game. The hackers do this.

The computer security network react to fix the security hole it issue whether it be Microsoft, Apple Computer or the Computer Hardware of Computer Hardware accessories manufacturers . And then the computer hackers think of an alternate means of attack.

In this case, even though it apparently seems that even though your wireless or simple cabled non wireless computer network has another gaping security hole. Home routers are at risk of being compromised by remote hackers. As a result of innocently or inadvertently visiting web pages malicious standard java script type software can access the controls of your home router and reset the controls inside the router to cause you big trouble.

Your router can be set to visit certain sites instead of where you wish to go. This may be simply to redirect you to sites containing advertising of the villain s daily choice. You may be taken inadvertently to websites which in a flash download further viscous and mean software, on a regular basis. Or even worse you may be taken to fake sites which are not what they represent. For example you may well type in the bank of America http://bankofamerica.com website. You may even have searched the name by Google. You will think you are being directed to this banking website where you enter your account name and password only to discover you cannot access your account because you are a bogus copy of the front page of that website whose purpose is to steal your banking account and passwords.

The answer to this security problem is simple. Simply change the administration password in your router from the default out of the box, out of the manual and factory to anything else.

As a result the malicious java script will not be able to unlock and enter your router and do its damage. The simple answer to these router security issues and securing your router firmly is to easily and simply change the administration password on your router whether it is wireless or a wired router. Now your home computer network and router will be safe from this threat.

About the Author: Max A. Rubin

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Submitted by: K. Purdenn

Navigation has played an important role in the sport of golf. Golfers need to identify the distance of a course, wind direction, and the hazards that must be avoided to execute shots needed to fulfill the objective of the game, which is knocking the ball into the hole of a golf course. Since the rules against the use of caddies for navigational purposes have been implemented, golfers, both amateur and professional, must find ways to identify the yardage and wind direction to select the correct clubs to use for making shots that can send the ball into the green or luckily, into the hole. How do golf professionals like Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods score birdies and eagles in their professional golf careers? They had been in training sessions to enhance their swinging skills and their skills to determine wind direction and the distance of the targeting area desired. As for amateur golfers and golf enthusiasts, determining the factors that can help them hit the ball into the hole has been a tough challenge for them. However, thanks to the global positioning system (GPS) technology, anyone can be able to know the distance of a golf course at a fast pace.

Skygolf has utilized the GPS technology to provide golfers of all skill levels guidance in terms of distance and yardage. The company has achieved it through its creation, the SkyCaddie Rangefinder. The product has several varieties although the company s best navigation product, the SkyCaddie SG5, is known to be a user-friendly and reliable tool to speed up games for golfers. What makes the SkyCaddie SG5 stand out over other commercially available navigational tools is the precise yardage given by its GPS system, wherein you will be able to know the exact yards between the bunkers and the green. Another feature of the product is the digital scoreboard, which provides the golfers with convenience to jot down their scores through the use of the buttons. Since a recent study discovered that SkyCaddie products cut a golf game by 25 minutes, caused by lessening the time spent on measuring the distance and writing golf scores. You don t have to bring your pen and a scorecard to slow you down.

The SkyCaddie SG5 can eliminate problems caused by satellite-based images in identifying distances through its software, the SkyCaddie Desktop. This program connects the device to the SkyGolf website for downloading course data. The device has a USB cable so that you can connect it to your computer for effective data gathering of each golf course you re competing in. Like all SkyCaddie Rangefinders, the SG5 also has an LED that can identify the sign when the rechargeable lithium battery needs to be powered through a battery charger, which is also included in the device s package. The SG5 has a heavy-duty belt clip that can keep the device to the user in a secure and convenient fashion.

With all of these impressive features, you can be ensured that your golf game will be fast and great. After all, SkyCaddie has proven itself as the #1 rangefinder in golf.

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SkyCaddie SG5

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Technological innovations have hands down taken the world by storm. The hottest of them is AI and Blockchain.

Before these sensational buzz words invade our lives completely, which they already have to a large extent, don’t you think we should know a little more about them?

Without further ado, let’s delve into the world of AI-

For starters, AI or Artificial Intelligence is nothing new. It has been around us for more than 60 years now. Coined by McCarthy, back in 1955, it was described as – “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.”

Now, Intelligence here refers to generalized learning wherein a learner (machine)-

• performs effectively in situations it hasn’t encountered before.

• possesses the ability to reason wherein it can draw inferences and conclusions.

• solves problems that mean it finds x when such and such data is given.

• starts perceiving.

Artificial intelligence is doing most of them, if not all.

The most interesting part? You’re using AI day in and day out without even realizing it.

If today, you asked Alexa to order a pizza for you or browsed Netflix movie suggestions, then you did use AI.

Yes, we are that into it.

How else do you think your SIRI gives you a list of the nearby grocery stores or the closest restaurants for that matter?

It converts your voice into text format, feeds it into the search engine, the search engine then reads back the answers to you in human syntax. Amazing? It is!

There’s also yang to the yin of AI. It can make AI- a little less artificial and a lot more intelligent.

We call it Blockchain.

We all have heard of it, today let us know what it actually is.

In a world where data has become our biggest asset, its security has become crucial than ever before.

That is precisely what blockchain takes care of.

Blockchain is a distributed ledger that is open to everyone. It was originally invented to timestamp digital documents so that their tampering becomes impossible. It has been around for many years but rose to prominence only in 2009 when Satoshi Nakamoto founded Bitcoin- a digital cryptocurrency.

Speaking of structure, it is a chain of blocks that contain information, hence the name – Blockchain. Each block contains – data, hash, and hash of the previous block.

It works on a peer-to-peer network and isn’t managed by a single entity. All this adds to its security.

Now, to tamper the data in the blockchain,

• one needs to tamper all the blocks,
• take control of more than 50% of peer to peer networks.

And that is quite impossible to achieve.

To make it simpler, what it essentially does is-

It removes the third party from the picture and decentralizes the power of data management.

Hence, the power is distributed among the peer-to-peer network and the transactions become absolutely transparent and secure.

AI and Blockchain convergence – what can you expect?

Individually, AI and Blockchain have garnered much interest in the technological sphere.

Let’s look at their differences first-

ASPECT

AI

BLOCKCHAIN

Nature

Centralized

Decentralized

Access

Closed

Open

Transparency

Black box

Transparent

Approach

Probabilistic

Deterministic

The two technologies are quite opposite in nature and integration is sure to be intense!

A lot of data is being generated and AI makes use of it. But with this massive amount of data, there’s a continuous threat to its security. Blockchain comes to play here! It cannot analyze the data but provides it a decentralized base, and makes the transactions transparent thereby lending a highly secured system.

How do they complement each other?

• AI, being a black box, and by the courtesy of its probabilistic approach might make a mistake in case of faulty data input. And that can cause havoc! Therefore, a secure and transparent way is needed to overcome this. That’s how Blockchain compliments AI.

• Coming to Blockchain, consists of multiple miners that verify the data at every stage thereby leading to wastage of energy. AI can streamline this process and can decrease the mining cost.

• AI can also compliment Blockchain by making smarter decisions about data storage and maintenance.

How will they change the MOBILE INDUSTRY?

I want you to imagine 24 hours without your mobile phone. Difficult? Quite impossible, actually. We live in a world where every aspect of our life heavily relies on our mobiles.

Therefore, it’s only wise to understand how the attractive convergence of AI and Blockchain will affect the mobile industry.

Here are 6 ways in which the game will be changed forever-

1. Security- Well, this has to be the first on this list. We have practically lost the count of the number of applications that have our data. With AI and Blockchain, we can be sure that it won’t be mishandled or tampered by hackers.
2. Increased transparency- The data that we give out, in numerous ways, is processed by AI. Blockchain can monitor and control this data so that no interference is caused by third parties.
3. Decentralized marketplace- Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, etc are AI giants that have the centralized power to manage our data. This data, however, cannot be shared among the AI’s. With Blockchain in the picture, not only the security and privacy of data will be ensured, but also the merger and interaction of the data will be made possible.
4. No fraudulent transactions- In today’s time, we are heavily dependant on e-transactions, and thus securing them is of utmost importance. With AI and Blockchain, these transactions will become entirely transparent to the data owner and any fraud or breach will be reported in real-time.
5. Highly personalized experiences- AI will no more fail to serve the customers with personalized experiences due to the tampering of data at some stage, as blockchain will make sure that data remains immutable and secure. That simply means more privacy in terms of experience on platforms like Amazon and Netflix.
6. Self- auditing- Yes, the user will be able to monitor how his sensitive data is managed and employed.