Social media platforms have become non-negotiables in our daily lives. We always find ourselves online at our favorite social media sites to connect with loved ones, share our thoughts, and discover interesting content. While social media has become central to our routines, its vast reach and anonymity provide certain risks—they’ve become a breeding ground for scammers. Awareness is key to...

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and the most recent evolution of phishing scams is proving particularly effective. Boasting a gruesome name, pig butchering is a cyber threat that reels in victims and steals thousands, sometimes millions of dollars. Pig butchering has quickly become one of the most lucrative scams thanks to a mix of post-pandemic loneliness and inadequate technological...

Passwords have become a cornerstone of the Internet. These strings of letters and numbers allow us to validate access to various communities, online tools, healthcare, banking, and more. As more and more information is stored behind passwords, efforts to steal and crack them have vastly increased. These new cyber threats led to the creation of tools called password managers, to which hackers...

The participation of women in the cybersecurity field is on a notable rise. According to projections by CyberCrime Magazine, they are set to represent 30% of the global cybersecurity workforce by 2025, with this percentage increasing to 35% by 2031. There is also an increasing number of women filling leadership positions within the industry, with 17% of women in CISO roles at Fortune 500 companies...

With roughly 5 billion people —a whopping 65% of the global population—sending and receiving SMS messages, it’s no wonder that hackers have taken to SMS as a new way to lead cyber attacks. In 2022, 68.4 million Americans fell victim to a phone scam. And only 65% of Americans say they would delete a text if it came from an unknown sender. With these kinds of numbers, the odds are in hackers’ favor...

For those of a certain age, you may remember the old gag where you would call up a business and ask if they had “Prince Albert in a can.” This happened way back in the days when you could purchase loose tobacco in a tin can. Prince Albert was one such product. Now, if the person on the phone answered yes, you could say, “Well, let him out!” Yes, this is what pranks looked like in the 1960s. Fast...

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day for romance. It’s a time of year when cyber criminals and scammers launch attacks such as phishing , vishing , smishing , and social engineering . Australia has begun issuing warnings to singles, informing them of the “pig butchering” or “romance baiting” scam that’s prominent on Valentine’s Day. It starts with the attacker assuming the identity of an attractive...

QR codes have come a long way since being invented in 1994 by a subsidiary of Toyota. Initially introduced to address some limitations of barcodes during the car manufacturing process, QR codes have since become staples in people’s day-to-day lives. The introduction of high-powered cameras to most modern smartphones is what allowed these codes to gain new uses. QR codes, easily generated and cost...

On February 6, 2024, we will celebrate Safer Internet Day with learning events dedicated to inspiring change and highlighting the importance of online safety. This year, we can expect activities from organizational and industry supporters, schools and government agencies, community groups, and business leaders. With cyber security risks rising, Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to raise...

Cyber security awareness is an everyday job, and it’s easy to fall into a false sense of security once you have a solid plan in place. Every year, statistics are a reminder that hackers and scammers never sleep. New trends and attack types pop up daily, making it difficult to keep track. This list is a rundown of the most important statistics of the year, allowing you to get a good overview of...

E-commerce growth is expected to grow by 9.4% by 2024; by 2027, it’s forecasted to hit a whopping $8 trillion for the first time. More people shopping online means more opportunities for cyber criminals to strike. In fact, there’s a growing trend of cyber scams taking place during the holiday shopping spree. As we all get busy with our holiday shopping and preparations, keeping security in mind is...

Retail stores are one of the oldest ways humans exchange goods and services. As they evolve, one of the most significant shifts they have undergone is the dramatic increase in technology integration within their operations. From tools to check stock to staffing management and cash registers, retail stores rely heavily on technology for almost every aspect of their business. Unfortunately, all...

Between 2022 and 2023, business email compromise (BEC) attacks rose by 55% . Furthermore, organizations that manage over 5,000 email accounts are 90% likely to receive at least one BEC attack weekly. Email is one of the most frequently used tools for both personal and professional communication. But with its convenience and accessibility also comes an onslaught of malicious threats that deliver...

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are excellent opportunities for consumers to get hold of some great deals, they are also ideal for cyber criminals to execute cyber crimes and scams. Research shows that global e-commerce fraud is increasing, causing losses amounting to $41 billion in 2022. Later this year, the predicted losses are expected to exceed $48 billion. The retail industry is the most...

“On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” Cartoon by Peter Steiner There’s a reason this cartoon gained popularity in 1993 and has now become an iconic representation of how the internet works. The internet provides a way for people to hide their real identities, which can unfortunately lead to dishonest activities. Nowadays, scammers take advantage of this to deceive people who either trust...

Phishing has always been a prominent attack vector, skyrocketing as traditional hacks became more complicated. Even worse, hackers have begun perfecting their tactics to make them more reliable and damaging. One of the most dangerous variants is social engineering, and with the help of AI, it's now becoming increasingly sophisticated. Let's discuss how AI is changing social engineering's playbook...

This year is seeing more phishing attacks in more places, having more detrimental impacts. One security messaging provider noted a 61% increase in phishing attacks between April and October 2022 compared to the same period the previous year. Another report observed that when phishing attacks were successful in 2022, financial losses from those incidents increased by 76%. In another trend, phishing...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are getting more capable and creative every day. Generative AI is writing human-like prose and creating lifelike photography. 3D animation software is making those images come alive. Voice generation tools are replicating people’s voices with just a smattering of input. And it’s not coming out of Hollywood studios. Much of the excitement is due to the fact that...

Education and technology used to operate on separate tracks, but they have become increasingly interconnected in recent years. Adding software and connected devices to the classroom has given teachers more flexibility in their teaching styles and makes their job easier. However, these new tools came with essential responsibilities that took a moment to get embraced by teachers and school...

Less of a cyber security threat and closer to a scam, Vishing refers to attempts to steal information or money over the phone by convincing the victim. These calls often use personal data acquired through previous cyber attacks to gain their victim’s trust. This type of threat is definitely on the rise—especially with the help of AI . Like many other hacks and scams, Vishing is a popular attack...