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Google email changes impact small businesses

As of 1st February 2024 Google will put in place several new requirements of those sending emails to Google based email accounts. In effect all businesses that send emails to Google based email accounts will have to implement these changes to ensure their emails will get through and will not either be deleted or put Read more about Google email changes impact small businesses[…]

Cyber Security

Cybersecurity Expert

In an era where digital vulnerabilities pose an ever-increasing threat to businesses worldwide, the significance of cybersecurity expertise cannot be overstated. With sophisticated cyber-attacks on the rise, the role of a cybersecurity expert has evolved from merely safeguarding digital assets to actively predicting and mitigating potential risks. To fortify your organization’s resilience against these imminent Read more about Cybersecurity Expert[…]

PII Hacking

Whose Face is it anyway? The ClearView AI Ruling

Recently (9th November 2021) the Australian Information Commissioner produced a ruling against Clearview AI Inc for its usage of the images of Australians scrapped from Social Media sites and found them to have failed to comply with the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principle and hence interfered with the privacy of Australian individuals, as follows: Read more about Whose Face is it anyway? The ClearView AI Ruling[…]

Security Questionnaires online, are they safe?

Those who have been following my posts know I have an evolving love/hate relationship with online security questionnaires. Done well, they can speed up the process for the client and service provider and establish a properly shared understanding of where risks lie and how those can be managed over time. Done badly, they can be Read more about Security Questionnaires online, are they safe?[…]

Protecting against the biggest security vulnerability

First off, do you know what the biggest single cause of security vulnerabilities and successful attacks against computer systems is? A lot of people think of insufficient access controls, a lack of process, SQL injection, etc but there is something more fundamental sitting behind a lot of these that often gets overlooked. I’m talking about Read more about Protecting against the biggest security vulnerability[…]

Cyber Security

Web site scanning without prior permission is very likely illegal, here’s why

It appears that there is a growing wave of SaaS utilities that will either scan websites and internet-based services for you or provide you with access to historical information on sites and services they have already scanned, often for a fee. Unfortunately, using such services can result in your seriously falling foul of the law Read more about Web site scanning without prior permission is very likely illegal, here’s why[…]

The Defence in Depth Security Model Explained

The Defence in Depth Security Model is one of those security concepts I often see incorrectly implemented or not used to its full potential to protect services or systems. There is way more to it than first meets the eye. In this article you will learn: What is the Defence in Depth Security Model? The Read more about The Defence in Depth Security Model Explained[…]

robots.txt Pen Test extension

Given that I’m seeing an increase in unauthorised, and essentially illegal, Pen Tests against business production instances, which only serve to: Test the firewalls around your production instance (rather than testing the application code directly), Put at serious risk the availability of the web service under ‘test’ by consuming resources that should be only used Read more about robots.txt Pen Test extension[…]

Continuous Pen Testing – Pros and Cons

It seems quite a few businesses are resorting to using 3rd parties to implement continuous pen testing for not only their own products but also for online services they also consume – this can be a very bad idea and lead to a false sense of security. In the face of it regularly scanning an Read more about Continuous Pen Testing – Pros and Cons[…]

Singapore’s TraceTogether Token

Singapore has developed a physical token to enable elderly and vulnerable people to easily be contact traced without the need of having the TraceTogether app. The device also overcomes some of the issues that are being faced with the mobile app, including battery drainage and issues when the app is running in the background or Read more about Singapore’s TraceTogether Token[…]

Security Event Logging, why it is so important

Every once in awhile I get asked why detailed event logging is so important when setting up cybersecurity controls at a business. In this article will attempt to explain why this is critically important. To log or not to log, that is question… When it comes to logging security events and being able to make Read more about Security Event Logging, why it is so important[…]

Cyber Security

How much should you spend on an external PenTest?

External Penetration Tests today come in all shapes and sizes, from the rudimentary highly automated scanning to the more detailed and human-driven PenTests, with often widely ranging costs to boot (3 to 4 times difference is not unusual for essentially the same thing). Sometimes it’s difficult to work out what form of external PenTest is Read more about How much should you spend on an external PenTest?[…]