Letting an employee stay an employee just because you would feel bad firing him is a bad idea. Not changing your password to all your website’s areas of access after firing someone is a worse idea. But ignoring basic PCI compliance regulations could be the worst idea of all. With more than 510 million records […]
Common Traits of Trolls and Hackers
Trolls and hackers are similar to each other in several ways. Both species are annoying and enjoy causing problems. I’m not talking about the trolls that try to upset everyone in online forums with rude and obnoxious posts. Although, who’s to say that that’s not how hackers spend their free time. Here are five ways […]
Websites are Like Banks with Unlocked Windows
Even in today’s world of secure video technology, there are still banks that get robbed every so often. But usually, it’s not because of carelessness. In addition to other security precautions, for example, banks usually lock their windows. E-commerce websites need to be just as secure as offline banks. The problem is, many online business […]
Hackers Are Bullies!
There has been a ton of emphasis on bullying lately. Many good-hearted people are attempting to remove it permanently from the schools. With so much focus, it’s a wonder we haven’t discussed the role that hackers play as bullies. We often hear about the abuses they’ve performed on big, strong companies like Yahoo, Google, Best […]
The Top Three PCI Compliance Mistakes
The truth is that most business owners misunderstand PCI compliance and website security in general. That’s why mistakes – avoidable mistakes – are made. The result is significant economic, legal and reputational problems. Some online businesses get hacked just when they start producing revenue. Others have their websites compromised when they’re making millions. Regardless, it’s […]
Online Consumers are Tired of Security Warnings
According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), online security threats are still an issue. Security fatigue, or simply being tired of online security warnings has made some people feel indifferent towards potential risks. The paper found that people feel “overwhelmed” with having to be on constant alert from cyber […]
New Book Says “The Hackers are Coming!”
Learn how to improve your online security skills by reading Ronald Nutter’s new book “The Hackers Are Coming.” This online security expert will help you choose the best password management and two-factor authentication tools. These tools won’t keep breaches like the one at Yahoo from happening, you’ll need daily vulnerability scanning to even have a […]
Successful Businesses Create a Secure Culture
According to a blog post on the PCI DSS website, building a secure culture in your online business is essential. “As long as there’s money to be made, we can expect criminals to continue their attacks on businesses worldwide,” wrote Lindsay Goodspeed. She is a communications specialist for the Payment Card Industry (PCI). That’s the organization that […]
500 Million Yahoo! Accounts Were Compromised
Yahoo! has admitted to a 2014 hack that left data of 500 million users exposed and compromised. The company blamed an unnamed nation for the hack. Based on an ongoing investigation, Yahoo! believes that the information associated with 500 million user accounts was stolen. However, the investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor […]
Understanding the DoC’s NIST Cyber Security Framework
The Department of Commerce Provides Website Owners with High-Level Security Guidelines The DoC issued the NIST Cyber Security Framework in February 2014. NIST stands for National Institute of Standards and Technology. Its framework organizes security around five functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These represent the high-level activities that help organizations make sound decisions around risk/threat […]