People are the weakest link
This sounds like a nightmare too impossible to happen. US soldiers 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. Even worse, their settings were on ‘public’ not ‘private’
It’s 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 new KARE for Security S2 plan helps identify use of these sites in your organisation.
US Soldiers Accidentally Leaked Nuclear Weapons Secrets: Report (gizmodo.com)
Shadow IT
Shadow IT is one of the largest threats to data privacy in organisations today.
It’s not necessarily because these sites are going to be hacked, although that’s always possible, but just because if you don’t know the tools are in use, then there is no way that you can manage them!
The first step to maintaining this data is to identify it! That’s why you need new tools that are cloud focused. If you’re still using the same old security tools that you used to use prior to the cloud, then you are not keeping up and we need to talk!
Who’s been paying attention?
We’re really proud of our clients! Last week, these little pieces of ill-intentioned mischief popped up for a couple of the businesses we look after.They were smart enough to evade anti-spam software but not the cyber-training. Although the emails look legitimate,...
Don’t let these common security gaps take your business down.
We’re only a few months into 2025, and already we’ve seen businesses hit hard by cyberattacks they could have prevented. Every time we conduct IT security checkups, we find the same critical vulnerabilities—gaps that could lead to serious downtime, data loss, or...
NCSC warns law firms
It’s not surprising that legal practices are targeted by cyber-criminals.By their very nature, they hold considerable amounts of private “PII” data (personally identifiable information). On top of that, law firms are typically busy, pressured environments where it is...
Webinar Replay – What are the NZ Government recommendations for SME Business cyber-security?
What are the NZ Government recommendations for SME Business cyber-security? How does your business match up?CertNZ has been rolled into the new National Cyber Security Centre. They've released the 10 Critical Controls and a Cyber-Security Framework? What do they mean...
That day when a Kinetics client DIDN’T get hacked.
We’ve just wrapped up a security investigation for one of our amazing clients. All of our clients are amazing, but as you read this story, you’ll see why we’re especially proud of this client. We’ve anonymised it out of respect, although this story reflects really...
The Hidden Dangers of Oversharing Family Photos on Social Media
In today's online age, sharing family photos on social media has become a common way to stay connected with loved ones and document precious moments. But beware of ‘Oversharing’ There is a huge danger that this seemingly harmless activity can expose you and your...
TEN things the government says you need to know about your cyber-security defence
Regular readers will be a little tired of hearing us talk about cyber-risk and the threat of hackers. You'll forgive us a little because we see the impact when events happen, and we spend our days protecting our clients to keep them safe. But we're just a tiny cog...
What do Microsoft’s Upcoming 2025 Security Enhancements for Windows mean for you?
In response to the significant CrowdStrike meltdown last summer, which exposed some critical vulnerabilities in the Windows platform, Microsoft is set to introduce a series of further security updates in 2025. The meltdown, caused by a flawed update, led to widespread...
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...