Profile of Steve Zurier

Contributing Writer

News & Commentary Posts: 230

Steve Zurier has more than 30 years of journalism and publishing experience and has covered networking, security, and IT as a writer and editor since 1992. Steve is based in Columbia, Md.

Articles by Steve Zurier

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Privacy Teams Helped Navigate the Pivot to Work-from-Home

1/26/2021
Annual Cisco privacy study also reports that 90% of organizations say their customers won't buy from them if they are not clear about data policy practices.
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7 Steps to Secure a WordPress Site

1/21/2021
Many companies operate under the assumption that their WordPress sites are secure -- and that couldn't be anything further from the truth.
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Virtual Pen-Testing Competition Tasks College Students With Running a Red Team Operation

1/13/2021
Aimed at developing offensive cyber talent, last weekend's sixth annual Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition brought out some of the brightest from RIT and Stanford, among other universities.
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Microsoft, McAfee, Rapid7, and Others Form New Ransomware Task Force

12/23/2020
Industry group wants to get a framework in the hands of the new administration's cybersecurity officials by early spring 2021.
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Senior Managers Twice as Likely to Share Work Devices With Outsiders

12/16/2020
New survey finds top C-suite managers are much shakier on security than their junior counterparts.
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7 Security Tips for Gamers

12/11/2020
Gamers can expect to be prime targets over the holidays as COVID-19 rages on. Here's some advice on how to keep hackers at bay.
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Free Mobile App Measures Your Personal Cyber Risk

12/2/2020
New app for Android and Apple iOS uses an algorithm co-developed with MIT to gauge security posture on an ongoing basis.
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Unpatched Browsers Abound, Study Shows

11/19/2020
Google Chrome users don't always take time to relaunch browser updates, and some legacy applications don't support new versions of Chrome, Menlo Security says.
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NSF-Funded Research Aims to Help Disrupt Cybercrime Supply Chains

11/11/2020
The National Science Foundation awarded a grant to Georgia State University (GSU) to come up with innovative ways to thwart the supply chains for counterfeiting, loan- and unemployment fraud.
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7 Online Shopping Tips for the Holidays

11/9/2020
The holidays are right around the corner, and that means plenty of online shopping. These tips will help keep you safe.
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Cybercriminals Aim BEC Attacks at Education Industry

10/29/2020
Heightened vulnerability comes at a time when the sector has been focusing on setting up a remote workforce and online learning amid the pandemic.
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Microsoft Tops Q3 List of Most-Impersonated Brands

10/19/2020
The technology sector was also the most likely targeted industry for brand phishing attacks, according to Check Point's latest report on brand phishing.
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A 7-Step Cybersecurity Plan for Healthcare Organizations

10/12/2020
With National Cybersecurity Awareness Month shining a spotlight on the healthcare industry, security pros share best practices for those charged with protecting these essential organizations.
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US Election-Related Websites Vulnerable to Fraud, Abuse

10/8/2020
New research finds the vast majority of reputable news, political, and donor-oriented sites don't use registry locks.
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Nearly 70% of IT & Security Pros Hone Their Cyber Skills Outside of Work

9/22/2020
New research shows how security skills are lacking across multiple IT disciplines as well - including network engineers, sys admins, and cloud developers.
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A Hacker's Playlist

9/18/2020
Nine security researchers share their favorite songs and genres.
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Most Organizations Plan to Make COVID-19 Changes Permanent

9/16/2020
After the pandemic, companies will continue to invest in improving IT infrastructure and security as well as automate tasks to reduce errors and improve network resiliency.
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The Hidden Costs of Losing Security Talent

9/2/2020
One person's exit can set off a chain of costly events.
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Ransomware Red Flags: 7 Signs You're About to Get Hit

8/28/2020
Caught off guard by a ransomware attack? Security experts say the warning signs were there all along.
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Newly Patched Alexa Flaws a Red Flag for Home Workers

8/19/2020
Alexa could serve as an entry point to home and corporate networks. Security experts point to the need for manufacturers to work closely with enterprise security teams to spot and shut down IoT device flaws.
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7 Ways to Keep Your Remote Workforce Safe

8/14/2020
These tips will help you chart a course for a security strategy that just may become part of the normal way organizations will function over the next several years.
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Less Than Half of Security Pros Can Identify Their Organization's Level of Risk

8/5/2020
Just 51% work with the business side of the house on risk reduction objectives, new study shows.
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Researchers Foil Phishing Attempt on Netflix Customers

7/28/2020
Hackers use two stolen domains to steal credentials from Netflix users and then send them to the real Netflix site.
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7 Summer Travel Security Tips

7/25/2020
With staying safe during the pandemic high priority, it's easy to let your guard down about the security of the devices you take along your travels.
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99% of Websites at Risk of Attack Via JavaScript Plug-ins

7/14/2020
The average website includes content from 32 different third-party JavaScript programs, new study finds.
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7 IoT Tips for Home Users

7/2/2020
Whether for business or pleasure, you're on your own once you walk into the house with a new Internet of Things device. Here's how to keep everyone secure.
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Chinese Software Company Aisino Uninstalls GoldenSpy Malware

7/1/2020
Follow-up sandbox research confirms Aisino knew about the malware in its tax software, though it's still unclear whether it was culpable.
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'GoldenSpy' Malware Hidden in Tax Software Spies on Companies Doing Business in China

6/25/2020
Advanced persistent threat (APT) campaign aims to steal intelligence secrets from foreign companies operating in China.
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BEC Attacks on the C-Suite Dropped 37% in Q1

6/17/2020
New research shows attackers are targeting and establishing relationships with accounts payable departments.
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7 Must-Haves for a Rockin' Red Team

6/12/2020
Follow these tips for running red-team exercises that will deliver added insight into your operations.
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Google, Microsoft Brands Impersonated the Most in Form-Based Attacks

5/28/2020
Attackers are preying on users' inclination to click on familiar-looking websites, but instead trick them into sharing usernames and passwords.
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6 Steps Consumers Should Take Following a Hack

5/27/2020
Without the luxury of an IT security team to help them after a breach or credit card compromise, consumers will want to keep these tips in mind.
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Pandemic Could Accelerate Passwordless Authentication

5/7/2020
As we celebrate another World Password Day, security pros are hopeful that when we move out of the stay-at-home period, companies will continue to focus on digital technologies – and ditching passwords.
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7 Ways Parents Can Better Protect Their Online-Gamer Offspring

5/7/2020
It's 11 a.m. Are your kids locked in their rooms playing games online?
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It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Remembering the ILoveYou Virus

5/5/2020
The worm infected some 50 million systems worldwide, often rendering them unusable, and cost more than $15 billion to repair.
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Cybercrime Group Steals $1.3M from Banks

4/24/2020
A look at how the so-called Florentine Banker Group lurked for two months in a sophisticated business email compromise attack on Israeli and UK financial companies.
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Could Return of Ghost Squad Hackers Signal Rise in COVID-19-Related Hactivism?

4/16/2020
New research suggests GSH is active in Southeast Asia following a couple of quiet years.
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7 Ways COVID-19 Has Changed Our Online Lives

4/14/2020
The pandemic has driven more of our personal and work lives online – and for the bad guys, business is booming. Here's how you can protect yourself.
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10 Security Services Options for SMBs

3/26/2020
Outsourcing security remains one of the best ways for small to midsize businesses to protect themselves from cyberthreats.
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7 Tax Season Security Tips

2/13/2020
Security pros need be on high alert from now until Tax Day on April 15. Here are seven ways to help keep your company safe.
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7 Ways SMBs Can Secure Their Websites

2/4/2020
Here's what small and midsize businesses should consider when they decide it's time to up their website security.
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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Penetration Test

1/17/2020
You'll get the best results when you’re clear on what you want to accomplish from a pen test.
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7 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe Online Over the Holidays

12/17/2019
Security experts offer key cyber advice for family members.
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Mega Breaches Are Forcing Us to a Passwordless World. Are We Finally Ready?

12/6/2019
Passwordless authentication advocates see 2020 as a potential turning point year for the technology. But can the industry get off the dime?
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7 Ways to Hang Up on Voice Fraud

11/27/2019
Criminals are coming at us from all direction, including our phones. Don't answer that next call without reading this tips first.
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8 Holiday Security Tips for Retailers

11/1/2019
Here's how retailers can protect their businesses from attackers and scammers hoping to wreak havoc during the most wonderful time of the year.
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7 SMB Security Tips That Will Keep Your Company Safe

10/11/2019
With National Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a backdrop, industry leaders weigh in on how SMBs can more effectively protect themselves from cyberattacks.
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7 Considerations Before Adopting Security Standards

10/8/2019
Here's what to think through as you prepare your organization for standards compliance.
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6 Questions to Ask Once You’ve Learned of a Breach

9/13/2019
With GDPR enacted and the California Consumer Privacy Act on the near horizon, companies have to sharpen up their responses. Start by asking these six questions.
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7 Steps to Web App Security

9/3/2019
Emerging technologies are introducing entirely new ways to reach, act, and interact with people. That makes app security more important than ever.
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6 Ways Airlines and Hotels Can Keep Their Networks Secure

8/27/2019
As recent news can attest, travel and hospitality companies are prime targets for cybercriminals. Here are six privacy and security tips that can help lock down privacy and security.
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Visa Adds New Fraud Disruption Measures

8/20/2019
Payment card giant creates a 'cyber fraud system' to thwart transaction abuse.
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7 Online Safety Tips for College Students

8/9/2019
Heading back to campus soon? Here are seven tips that will get your digital house in order and keep you safe online this semester.
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Mimecast Rejected Over 67 Billion Emails. Here's What It Learned

8/6/2019
New research warns that security pros must guard against updates to older malware and more manipulative social-engineering techniques.
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8 Head-Turning Ransomware Attacks to Hit City Governments

8/5/2019
Hackers know vulnerable systems when they see them, and they also know this: Many government systems are decades old, running Windows 7 and even Windows XP.
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More Companies Don't Rely on Passwords Alone Anymore

7/31/2019
New research shows how enterprises are adding additional layers of authentication.
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6 Actions That Made GDPR Real in 2019

7/22/2019
In the wake of recent fines levied against British Airways, Marriott, and Facebook, companies are starting to take data privacy and security more seriously.
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Persistent Threats Can Last Inside SMB Networks for Years

7/11/2019
The average dwell time for riskware can be as much as 869 days.
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More Than Half of SMB Devices Run Outdated Operating Systems

7/3/2019
66% of devices in small-to midsized businesses are based on expired or about-to-expire Microsoft OS versions, Alert Logic study found.
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FIDO Alliance to Tackle Identity Verification and IoT Authentication

6/26/2019
Standards group forms two new working groups to develop new open specifications.
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6 Security Tips That'll Keep the Summer Fun

6/19/2019
Taking some time off this summer? Before you head out on vacation, make sure your devices and apps are also ready.
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ADT Teams Up with SonicWall for SMB Security Services

6/6/2019
More than half of all SMBs plan to rely on third party providers for their security tools and services, according to IDC.
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8 Ways to Authenticate Without Passwords

5/28/2019
Passwordless authentication has a shot at becoming more ubiquitous in the next few years. We take a look at where things stand at the moment.
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97% of Americans Can’t Ace a Basic Security Test

5/20/2019
Still, a new Google study uncovers a bit of good news, too.
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78% of Consumers Say Online Companies Must Protect Their Info

5/13/2019
Yet 68% agree they also must do more to protect their own information.
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Why Are We Still Celebrating World Password Day?

5/2/2019
Calls to eliminate the password abound on this World Password Day – and the technology to change is ready. So why can't we get off our password habit?
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Study Exposes Breadth of Cyber Risk

5/1/2019
New study shows SMBs face greater security exposure, but large companies still support vulnerable systems as well.
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7 Types of Experiences Every Security Pro Should Have

4/29/2019
As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. It'll also make you a better and more well-rounded security pro.
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1 in 4 Workers Are Aware Of Security Guidelines – but Ignore Them

4/23/2019
Even more are knowingly connecting to unsecure networks and sharing confidential information through collaboration platforms, according to Symphony Communication Services.
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8 'SOC-as-a-Service' Offerings

4/12/2019
These new cloud services seek to help companies figure out what their traditional SIEM alerts mean, plus how they can prioritize responses and improve their security operations.
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Phishing Campaign Targeting Verizon Mobile Users

4/5/2019
Lookout Phishing AI, which discovered the attack, says it has been going on since late November.
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40% of Organizations Not Doing Enough to Protect Office 365 Data

3/28/2019
Companies could be leaving themselves vulnerable by not using third-party data backup tools, a new report finds.
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Small Businesses Turn to Managed Service Providers for Security

3/26/2019
The average cost of a cyberattack at an SMB is $54,650, a new study shows.
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10 Movies All Security Pros Should Watch

3/26/2019
Don't expect to read about any of the classics, like 'War Games' or 'Sneakers,' which have appeared on so many lists before. Rather, we've broadened our horizons with this great mix of documentaries, hacker movies, and flicks based on short stories.
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Less Than 3% of Recycled Computing Devices Properly Wiped

3/20/2019
Researchers find that companies that refurbish or accept old equipment as donations don't necessarily clean them of data as promised.
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Three in Five Politicians’ Websites Don’t Use HTTPS

3/13/2019
Comparitech assessed the websites of more than 7,500 politicians in 37 countries and found 60.8% did not use valid SSL certificates.
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Cybercriminals Target Young Gamers

3/5/2019
Deceptive and inappropriate tactics are prevalent in free gaming apps, according to a new report to be released at the RSA Conference.
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6 Questions to Ask While Buying a Connected Car

3/5/2019
Here are six questions to keep in mind when you walk into the showroom to buy a networked car.
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Bots Plague Ticketing Industry

2/28/2019
Bots now account for 39.9% of all ticketing traffic, mostly originating in North America.
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Human Negligence to Blame for the Majority of Insider Threats

2/21/2019
In 98% of the assessments conducted for its research, Dtex found employees exposed proprietary company information on the Web – a 20% jump from 2018.
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6 Tax Season Tips for Security Pros

2/19/2019
Here are some practical ways to keep your company safe as Uncle Sam comes calling.
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70% of Consumers Want Biometrics in the Workplace

2/13/2019
Speed, simplicity, and security underscore their desire, a new study shows.
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New Chrome Extension Takes Aim at Password Security

2/6/2019
Google adds 'Password Checkup' feature that alerts users if their online credentials have been compromised.
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6 Security Tips Before You Put a Digital Assistant to Work

2/4/2019
If you absolutely have to have Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant in your home, heed the following advice.
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Internet Society to Issue Privacy Code of Conduct

1/25/2019
In time for Data Privacy Day, on Monday, the nine-point guidance will offer insights into how companies can more effectively manage personal data.
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Cybercriminals Home in on Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals

1/23/2019
Research shows that better corporate security has resulted in some hackers shifting their sights to the estates and businesses of wealthy families.
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7 Privacy Mistakes That Keep Security Pros on Their Toes

1/15/2019
When it comes to privacy, it's the little things that can lead to big mishaps.
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NCSC Launches Nation-State Cyber Threat Protection Program for Businesses

1/9/2019
National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) released free online security awareness materials for businesses to defend against nation-state hackers.
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6 Ways to Beat Back BEC Attacks

1/9/2019
Don't assume your employees know how to spot business email compromises – they need some strong training and guidance on how to respond in the event of an attack.
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8 Security Tips to Gift Your Loved Ones For the Holidays

12/18/2018
Before the wrapping paper starts flying, here's some welcome cybersecurity advice to share with friends and family.
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Cyber Readiness Institute Launches New Program for SMBs

12/17/2018
Program seeks to raise employees' cyber awareness and give small and midsize business owners the tools to make a difference.
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Mac Malware Cracks WatchGuard’s Top 10 List

12/12/2018
Hundreds of sites also still support insecure versions of the SSL encryption protocol, the security vendor reports.
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6 Ways to Strengthen Your GDPR Compliance Efforts

12/5/2018
Companies have some mistaken notions about how to comply with the new data protection and privacy regulation – and that could cost them.
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Retailers Make Big Strides In Offering Clear Unsubscribe Links

11/30/2018
They're also honoring unsubscribe requests as soon as they're made, according to the Online Trust Alliance.
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Consumers Are Forgiving After a Data Breach, but Companies Need To Respond Well

11/20/2018
A solid response and reputation management program will go a long way in surviving a major breach.
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7 Holiday Security Tips for Retailers

11/19/2018
It's the most wonderful time of the year – and hackers are ready to pounce. Here's how to prevent them from wreaking holiday havoc.
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Why Password Management and Security Strategies Fall Short

11/7/2018
Researchers say companies need to rethink their password training and take a more holistic approach to security.
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7 Non-Computer Hacks That Should Never Happen

11/5/2018
From paper to IoT, security researchers offer tips for protecting common attack surfaces that you're probably overlooking.
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8 Threats That Could Sink Your Company

10/24/2018
Security researchers warn of both new and re-emerging threats that can cause serious harm.
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IoT Bot Landscape Expands, Attacks Vary by Country

10/23/2018
New report finds 1,005 new user names and passwords beyond Mirai’s original default list two years ago.
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Profile of Steve Zurier