This sounds like a nightmare that could never happen.
US soldiers have been putting sensitive information online in non-secure third party websites. It defies belief, yet we’re reading that it happened. The story popped up on ‘Gizmodo’ .
It is alleged that US Soldiers were saving sensitive information on a couple of common flashcard sites, presumably of things they were trying to memorise and learn. It seems these are common learning tools used in universities to help students memorise facts. That works well so long as the facts aren’t top secret! Even worse, their settings were on ‘public’ not ‘private’!
It is a classic warning about the risk of people, however well intentioned, saving critical data online in places the organisation is unaware of, and can’t control. That’s why our KARE FOUNDATION proactive cyber-security plan helps identify use of these sites in your organisation.
For more detail : Why you need to know all the cloud services that your organisation uses – part 2 – (US DoD Nuclear Secrets!) – IT Solutions and Managed Services (kinetics.co.nz)
Shadow IT is part of our 10-point cyber-security check list
While there is no single layer of technology that can guarantee you will be safe from hackers, you can reduce your risk by adding layers of protection. How many of our 10-point check list are in place for you?
The Implications of Using ChatGPT (free gen-AI tools): An instructive Case Study from Australia
Recent news from Australia In a recent investigation, the privacy regulator in the state of Victoria has imposed a ban on the use of ChatGPT within a government department. This case highlights the dual nature of Generative AI (GenAI) tools, which offer significant...
Oh no, the worst has happened! Now what?
When we talk to people about the different risks that their organisation might face, one of the events that has the highest likelihood, and would have the biggest impact, is a significant cyber-event. The worst-case scenario would be a ransomware event, where the bad...
What is Malvertising?
Malvertising is appearing more frequently on search engines. More people are starting to experience frustration with search engines, partly due to occasional inaccuracies in AI-driven overlays and an excess of advertisements. Another emerging concern is “malvertising”...
Check out the NZ 2024 SME Cyber Behaviour Tracker
As cyber threats proliferate, small businesses find themselves not just in the crosshairs but also facing the daunting financial repercussions of a breach. There is an urgent need for robust cyber security measures. With the staggering average cost of $173,000 per...
Webinar Replay – Lessons from the recent “Largest Global IT outage in history”
Free Webinar Replay - What lessons can we learn from the recent outage?What lessons can we learn from the recent outage? How can we prevent these situations from happening to us? Join Kinetics CTO Bill Lunam and ConnectWsie's Leon Friend as they unpack what happened,...
Urgent Security Advisory (from Microsoft)
We have been alerted to an issue with some Microsoft Office products. The vulnerability is reported to be actively exploited and we expect Microsoft will expedite the release of fixes. Zero-day means that this is an immediate high risk and we are advised that it is...
Free resource: Business Cloud Security Checklist
Essential Business Cloud Security Checklist for 2024 In today’s digital age, securing your business’s cloud environment is more critical than ever. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, it’s essential to have a robust cloud security strategy. Here’s a checklist to help...
When not being able to access a website is a good thing.
We know it can be incredibly frustrating when you can’t access a website that you need. That happened for a number of a number of our clients last week, (and, counter-intuitively, it’s a good thing) Many websites are built on common components. One of those is...
TeamViewer Compromise
TeamViewer is a common piece for software that allows IT businesses to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices – from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Many software vendors include it to allow them to remotely support...
Cert NZ Business online security assessment tool
A Personal Encounter with Cert NZ's Assessment Tool. Have you recently received an email about cyber-security that set off your system's alarms? It's ironic isn't it? That was my recent experience with an email from Cert NZ. Despite the initial warning, the email...