Zero-Day Attacks- How Safe Are You?

This is a guest post by Meenakshi Nagri.

In the past couple of years, there has been a rise in cyber-attacks which has eventually pushed for more reliable and better security capabilities such as protection, code security, encryption, authorization, so on and so forth. Moreover, it is imperative to protect global business and critical infrastructure from such cyber-attacks.

An average user or even a web-savvy user has a little knowledge about which application has better security standards. It is imperative to evaluate the safety of applications. There are some security protocols which should be maintained without deviating from the end goal.

Both organisations and individuals should strive to meet all the necessary security protocols and most importantly evaluate and meet all the security requirements and be assured that they meet the baseline for data security.

Vulnerability Timeline

A study reveals that about 20% of the global organisations rank cyber espionage as the most pressing concern, therefore, making it a significant threat to their business. The number of zero days is continually rising and with each attack being more severe. The primary targets under the radar have been government institutions, organisations from various sectors, individuals and so on.

The basic fundamental of cyber espionage is to expose the private information of the concerned person or company. Cyber espionage tops the list of security concerns as it repercussions can be felt even after eliminating the threat as it damages trade and creates a dent in the global economy.

Ransomware, malware attack, phishing, etc. are some common cyber-attacks. In particular, as recent has been the case with WannaCry ransomware attack. It was reported that it had infected more than 230,000 computers worldwide. Many organisations were hit in over 150 countries. The common tactic is to take advantage of the gaps left in the networks that have businesses partnerships and government agencies. Simply put, through these networks, these entities share valuable information that hackers can penetrate into thus easily getting access to useful information.

The question that arises next is why these entities get affected by cyber-attacks? The reason being, the lack of proper security implementation of protocols. Organizations, enterprises, individuals need to be informed of cyber-attack activities, so they better recognize the risk of exposure before it is unsolicited exposed.

Threats are Constantly Evolving

While recently catching up with news, you may have heard terms like ‘zero day’ and ‘cyber conflict’ over and over again. The technology has bestowed us with new exciting security protocols. This implies that with each advancement, we are better at adding an extra layer of security; however, as these approaches become obsolete, they can be bypassed quickly thus leaving a void for the cyber-attacks.

A zero-day vulnerability refers to such voids left in software which is unknown to the developers. This flaw is then exploited by the attackers with malicious intent even before the developers become aware of it. To counter the vulnerabilities, a software patch is released to fix the issue. Once such example is of Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday i.e. Microsoft releases security patches on every second or fourth Tuesday of each month for its products.

One of the reasons of the cyber espionage is the lack of applying these tactics i.e. to update their system with recently security updates. Systems running under unsupported operating systems or older versions were substantially exposed.

Simply put, developers create software that contains some voids and attackers spot the vulnerability before developers can act and exploits it. Once the patches are released, the exploits are no longer a threat.

The Role of Security Standard

As attackers look for advanced ways to exploit the vulnerabilities, new procedures and techniques are being adopted by them. They use hacking methods such as watering hole attacks, spear phishing attack, Whaling, Port scanning, to name a few.

Cyber security is a bigger challenge as one needs to implement advanced protocols and meet safety standards when required. Even though organizations may fulfill all the criteria or the developers checklist everything on the standards of security, there’s always room for enhancing the basic security capabilities. The fast evolving tactics and unpredictable threats used by cyber criminals have pushed for advanced evaluation and monitoring of services.

As the attackers adopt the latest technology, the security community is pushing for other defensive stances as well. They have started putting steps in place to guard against cyber- attack. Struggling to keep up with the security standards means to put the critical information and infrastructure at risk.

Adopting techniques to protect the cyber environment is the need of the hour. The primary objective is to mitigate and prevent any potential for cyber-attacks and for that, more and more companies are implementing various security safeguards, risk management approaches, guidelines, policies, technologies, investing in data recovery services, so on and so forth.

A Helping Hand

Zero-day, cyber conflict and cyber espionage all are a broader picture of cyber-attack, and nonetheless, make up for most of the cyber security challenge. The users need not be security experts to protect themselves against the attacks.

1. Use a top antivirus that will ensure that you are protected against both known & unknown vulnerability.
2. Time again IT experts ask users to update their software’s, the Update may include protection from a recently discovered bug.
3. Upgrade the browsers, push out an automatic update of the browsers regularly.

Stellar Data Recovery is one such name which is capable of countering such cyber-attacks; thereby, it presents itself as a reliable partner when it comes to data security.

The Final Word

We will always be wooed by the latest technological advancement which also means that the old ones will become obsolete; thereby, adopting new security approaches is equally essential. Cyber-attacks expose valuable assets gaining unauthorized access; therefore, businesses need to defend themselves against it and incorporate security protocols to mitigate the risk.

Making Things Uncomplicated In Hacking World With ChatWing Chat Software

This is a guest post by Aaron Kong.

Putting up a site intended to inform people of things they need to know like an online encyclopedia and such is a very good idea of sharing your knowledge to the people who needs it. As such, it is also important that you describe thoroughly these bits of information so these people would easily come to understand it. But sometimes, doing so just won’t cut it since there will always be terms and methods that are totally unheard of to these people. In these cases, you’ll need a tool that can let you engage with your visitors in a more direct manner so you can express your thoughts and ideas to them more clearly – and to do that you need Chatwing chat app.

This chatting tool is very effective in connecting you and your online readers through live chat. It’s easy enough to be embedded into you site in seconds and stable enough to hold out a large number of web traffic chatting simultaneously within the chat room. You don’t have to worry about your chat box not being able to handle large volumes of traffic as it is built specifically for that purpose.

Another good thing about this chat widget is that it’s very lenient in letting your readers gaining access to chat. With its socially integrated log-in mechanism, they are able to log-in using their social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Yahoo accounts. They can also use their Chatwing accounts (provided they have one) or log-in as guests, if they want chat with you anonymously.

Having your readers join your chatroom with ease is one of the upbringings of this nifty chat widget. But what separates ChatWing from the others is its ability to comply with its lenience in logging methods. Since it is very easy for other people to join in on your conversations, it can’t be helped that your chat room will fall prey to spammers and other people that post messages which can be damaging to your site’s reputation. But as the admin user, you can prevent all that by using ChatWing’s very effective yet easy-to-use security features.

By simply watching over your chat room, you can easily ban people out of it with a simple click of the mouse and at the same time erase their messages. Or you can use the blacklist tab on the Dashboard to do so or unban people if you think otherwise. Using the word filter can block out profanity in the chat room and you also have the choice of putting moderators who can also watch over the chat room for you.

By properly managing the security for your site you can ensure your chatters that the information they’re receiving is totally credible and legit. And with you explaining the things hard for them to understand like different codes or how to crack games and such, it will be much easier for them to understand those. Having a managed and secured chat room will provide you and your chatters a more fulfilling conversation which will benefit you both.

About the author:

Aaron Kong is an active web developer and technology enthusiast who believes in the power of free speech and open communication. These are the driving principles behind his Chatwing chat software. In his spare time he enjoys playing with new gadgets and testing various open source technology.

Essential Security Steps For iPhone Fanatics

This is a guest post by Claudia.

For being an iPhone owner, chances are quite bright that you may be obsessed with the same. You will also never be bored from the same, given a range of cool apps that are available on iPhone.

However, attractive as they seem, iPhone are a big threat too and the chances of these getting stolen are very high. However, taking some security measures will ensure that the iPhone is safe and secure.

1. Have an Auto Lock and a Password: One of the basic security measure that can be taken is to have an auto lock for the iPhone. Though this may not prevent the phone from being stolen, having an auto lock and a password will ensure that all the important data within the iPhone will never fall in wrong hands. In an incident that took place in 2012, an iPhone belonging to a top political leader in India was stolen while he was travelling by a train. However, as per the information given by the leader in media, no vital data was lost as the iPhone had auto lock mode on. Having this basic security measure ensures that your iPhone will never fall in wrong hands, as the data will be secure all the while.
   
   
   Real Life Example: Recently the media in India was abuzz with speculations that iPhone belonging to a senior political leader was stolen when he was away on a tour of his home constituency in Rai Barelly in the state of Uttar Pradesh. However, much loss was prevented as the iPhone had auto lock feature that prevented data loss.
2. Using Wi- Fi Wisely: Wi-Fi is the most important feature on an iPhone and most iPhone users relish having this feature on the phone. However, unmindful to your knowledge, the Wi-Fi facility on your iPhone can be a security concern too.
   
   
   
   
   
   If you are using Wi-Fi facility on your iPhone, ensure that your home network is encrypted so that the iPhone cannot be used without your knowledge. Though, this feature might not be limited to iPhone only but using the iPhone on non encrypted network can have security concerns and you should avoid the same.
   
   
   Real Life Example: Wi- Fi facility needs to be used wisely, else the same can lead to data theft too. Top ranking IT companies as Wipro and IBM have caught some mischievous employees who were in the habit of proliferating data on a regular basis causing numerous losses to the establishment.
3. Have an Insurance Package for your iPhone: One of the biggest security concerns for your iPhone is the risk of it being stolen. Though you might be able to protect the data in your iPhone by enabling the auto lock feature, the physical loss of the iPhone can cost a lot. The best and viable method of getting your iPhone protected is to get an insurance for the same.
   
   
   A range of iPhone insurance services are available. Use your instinct and choose a compatible insurance plan for the iPhone that covers iPhone loss due to theft, fire or data damage.
   
   
   Real Life Example: Having an insurance package for the iPhone can help recover losses, in case the phone is stolen. Leading insurance companies as Bajaj and HDFC have some plans that have been specially prepared for iPhone users who wish to have insurance for their prized possession.
4. Data Wiping: You can ensure an additional protection layer for the iPhone by having data wiping facility for the iPhone. This feature is especially useful if someone accesses the passcode of your iPhone. All the data gets wiped off automatically ensuring that no vital information stored in the iPhone lands in wrong hands.
   
   
   However, this has risks associated too. Small children in your home might access the iPhone and lay seize to vital data in the iPhone. This will lead to wiping of the data in the iPhone and you might end up in unnecessary trouble.
   
   
   Real Life Example: Data wiping is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. A range of software are available online that will help you recover the data in case it is wiped unintentionally. This facility is of special use to intelligence agencies who usually need to crack codes and recover data that might help them solve a case.

Technology comes with its flaws too and safety of your iPhone is one such concern. Pay attention to the above listed facts and your iPhone will be safe.

About the author:

Claudia is a writer/blogger. She loves writing, travelling and reading books. She contributes to Dr. Keith Ostrosky.

Most Friendly Tricks For Your iPhone

This is a guest post by Claudia.

Survey Says There are a Lot More iPhone Users Now in India: The latest gadget to strike human race is iPhones. IPhones are common mobile phones to be used by even the labour class people outside India and is a fast catching device in India. The sales strategies of combined offer of the phone with a sim card seem to be working in their favour and more and more people are using their smart phones as their own peers. These iPhones are believed to have a brain of their own, and are not called smart phones just like that; the features are bound to be user friendly. And so if you are planning to buy an iPhone the following list of tricks is sure to help you get accustomed with the phone.

You Might Lose Track of Your Relationships, your iPhone Will Not:There is a list of user friendly applications or apps as you put it in mobile language. One of them Siri, keeps a track of your relationships. For example you save it beforehand that so and so are your wife and mother. Therefore when you voice command your phone, “call my wife” it has enough intelligence to not mix it up between your mother and wife and dial your wife’s number. This is not the only useful part of Siri, it even stores your home and office address so that it can distinguish between the reminders that you put on your phone and remind you every time before you leave a certain place. Siri even can take quick dictations and reply to a certain email.

Saving you From Tacky Situations - iPhone Dictation:IPhone is getting forever upgraded with newer and newer versions.

• The latest is the iPhone5 but the software of taking dictation was developed in iPhone4 itself. The microphone button is present in the keypad itself that saves you in a situation where it is easier to dictate a quick reply to an email or text.
• Whereas iPhone5 launched the panorama concept of photography. In this mode you can take a long picture as soon as you press star and move the camera in the direction of the picture without the resolution creating a difference.

iPhone Made Web Browsing a Hobby For Everyone:Emailing is made easy with iPhone where if you just touch and hold the compose button you can edit the last saved draft item. And refreshing your inbox is always ready with a download swipe that is quick enough to save your precious time. While switching to landscape full screen mode gives a totally different and realistic view of the website. Touching and holding a picture in the web browser easily saves the image in your own gallery.

Conclusion:IPhone is also very handy for all those messaging fingers. The customized keyboard offers you an option of saving your very own short forms so that later you don’t have to type the whole thing while replying to a text. And the oh-so-delightful app iCloud easily tracks your iPhone after you have lost it by simply activating the “find my iPhone” option in the app itself. If you just zeroed in another model of mobile phone think again about all the features and don’t forget to compare them with those of the iPhone. This is sure to change your decision for good. This one time investment has a long way to go.

About the author:

Claudia is a blogger by profession. She loves writing, reading and traveling. Beside this she is fond of luxury cars and wishes to own one day Lexus GS 450h Sedan.

The Grinch And His Data Theft Antics 2012

This is a guest post by Jane Andrew.

Check list for this Christmas:

• Gifts for loved ones
• Menu for Christmas dinner
• Christmas tree
• Shopping
• Data protection…?

You must be surprised to see the last chore in your Christmas checklist. Prevention is better than cure. With rise in data breach incidents, it is better that you keep a backup of your data, so that it is not lost forever. You can also install an anti-virus or anti-spyware in your gadget to prevent attack of malware, hackers and thieves.

About the author:

Written by Jane Andrew. "The Grinch who stole data" has been created to keep you in the loop about Data Theft trends 2012. Mobistealth, the firm that developed the infographic, deals in keylogger software.

Why These Days Hacking Is Easy And Everyone Is Hacked?

This is a guest post by Claudia.

This is among the most common questions which seem to be troubling the modern day generation. People with even some basic computer and internet knowledge can understand the severity of this issue.

However, hacking is not an easy nut to crack; it requires lots of skills and efforts and is considered among the tougher tasks. Yet, these days, hackers have created whole lot of mess by simply cracking passwords of emails, bank accounts, and other similar things. This has emerged as a serious threat in the present context especially when you transfer money online, and carry out countless things on the web. The following are few possible reasons why hacking is becoming a rampant phenomenon where so many people are getting hacked.

The Password Habits of Users are Getting Worse

Any average internet user maintains around 25 different accounts but simply uses merely 6.5 passwords to secure them. The fact is maintaining this much of accounts is not an easy job as you need lots of brain space to remember complex code combos which is actually a difficult task. This simply ends up creating common passwords for a number of accounts.


Further, the password people select are often very simple and even stupid which are easy to crack. According to different studies, it takes hardly ten minutes to crack any lower case six character based passwords. The best way to avert this issue is to use dumb passwords.

Cracking Passwords Have Become Easy

Earlier cracking passwords was really a tough nut to crack, however, these days with so many tools, graphic processors, and password cracking programs doing this job has become faster and easy. In fact, there is a drastic advancement seen in the hacking world which has made cracking password a simple exercise. The most classic example is the LinkedIn breach of how things have changed in hacking domain. This has therefore proved that modern passwords are no more secure as they were in the past.

Growth in Hacking Network Effect

With every successful password hacking effort, the hackers and cyber thieves learn a lot about these crimes. The fast growing list of a wide range of leaked passwords has enabled the programmers to device rules which make the cracking algorithms more accurate and fast. This has therefore made the password attacks a cut and paste job, which even the script kiddies are able to carry out without much efforts. Still, you would see many web users having a password like ‘123456’ or words like ‘password’ despite being cautioned several times to use difficult and unique passwords.

Websites Have Now Turned Worst in Protecting the Users

The best example is again the case of LinkedIn breach where the company confessed that it simply occurred due to some poor protective measures. There are other examples of such hacking over a number of big and small websites. Most of these sites simply do not have sufficient amount of ‘cryptographic salt’ to their password protection. This renders opportunities to cyber criminals to hack such sites. A number of popular sites are seen ignoring this cryptographic salt element in their password security system.

Conclusion

Checking the above reasons confirms a fact that we have now reached to end of these password security systems. However, let’s keep our fingers crossed and see technology fixing these issues for the millions of users. Or, we need to simply embark with our own solutions to shield us from different hackers attack.

About the author:

Claudia is a writer/blogger. She loves writing, travelling and content marketing. These days she is busy to write an article on content marketing. Recently she did an article on viral marketing.