
from SweetTech https://www.wired.com/2017/03/gadget-lab-podcast-310/





protect yourself against ransomwareRansomware has quickly become one of the most damaging and powerful malicious software that is responsible for downtime in systems of a business. Ransomware is so dangerous that if you become a victim of it, there is no way out of it until you have paid the ransom.
The only way to save your system from ransomware is to backup your data. Here are a couple of ways how you can secure your system from getting infected with ransomware in the first place:
You have to make sure that you have backup administrator accounts made on every system in your business or home. This is because hackers are aware that people are backing up their data and they are now mostly targeting backups first before going for the actual data. This can only be done if they get access to administrative rights on the system.
You need to have some sort of cloud service to help upload and manage different versions of your backup data. You should ideally back up your important data one file at a time because it takes time to get data file by file. If a folder is uploaded, anyone can simply get access and quickly download all the files.
To fully prevent your system from getting ransomware infection, you must be able to put up preventative methods in place. This includes as mentioned above, regular backups of your data on different systems and administrative accounts. Also, back up your data off the system on an external drive to double up your preventative measures.
With these security measures in place, even if ransomware somehow locks your data, you’ll always have a backup to restore.
Moreover, most ransomware makes their way into your system through the internet. If you regularly browse random websites on the internet, make sure you never click on things that you are not familiar with.
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how to gain experience in cyber security when you finish your first security program
Have you just finished a cyber security program and wondering what to do next? Well if you are someone who is completely new to the field, you’re going to have to work a little harder than just getting a cyber security certification.
The thing is cybersecurity professionals are in high demand but companies are reluctant on hiring inexperienced professionals. So if you really want to step into the world of internet and network security, the first thing is to get experience in the field. But how do you do that? We’re here to help.
If you aren’t already working for in a beginner cyber security position, try to find ways to implement your knowledge within your current organization. After all, nearly all small businesses, companies and organizations have some sort of network available that needs protection. Start experimenting there if your peers haven’t already used the help of cyber security professionals.
Try to find various ways to protect the current network and computer systems installed in your company. Even if your company is already using someone for security, you can always sit with them and look for advice. Why not spend some extra hours at work sitting with the IT security guy and learning what he does to protect the network?
If that isn’t enough, you can always start a home lab using virtual machines and install tools on them to experiment.
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super easy ways to bump your computer security at home
Protecting your computer or smartphone should come naturally because of the rising trend of cyber threats across the world. Over the internet, you’ll come across numerous ways to safeguard your digital life, but most of them talk about advanced methods to protect your computer that is only fit for a company or organization. What do you do when you are just an everyday user?
We have collected a list of super easy ways you can protect your computer if you are an everyday user of the internet.
Your anti-virus is not enough to defend against threats on the internet. There’s a malicious entity known as malware that can easily bypass any anti-virus. Only a good anti-malware can protect you against these. Remember, hackers these days usually use malware to breach security, so make sure you have one installed on your computer or smartphone.
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Why small businesses require cyber security
A recent survey conducted by Cyber Security Alliance revealed that one out of every five small business is a victim of cyber crimes. And those businesses that are victims go out of business within six months after the attack.
Several big name organizations have been a victim of big data breaches in the past. Which means that as a small business, you’re also on the target list of cyber criminals. Here are the top reasons why you should consider adding cyber security to your business starting today.
If you are a small business owner and you think hackers only target big organizations, this should be a wake-up call for you.
Large organizations are well protected and hence un-experienced cyber criminals avoid trying to breach them. But the same cannot be said for small businesses whose security budgets are very limited. That is why they are actively looking for businesses that do not implement enough security measures.
Don’t ignore cyber security just because you’re a small business. You are the number one target for criminals.
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So… you want to get a job in the IT world? You’ve heard the buzz about Cyber Security or becoming a network administrator and how much money these jobs are paying!
The BIG question is… how do you get the job! More so how do you get the training for the job?
That ends up being the big issue. With some many areas of focus where do you start?
Regardless of what area in the Info Tech world you want to go into, the below suggestions will get you ready for all of them! You just need to put in the time.
It is the classic CATCH22… you can’t get the job because you don’t have the experience, but how can you get the experience if you don’t get the job! Aghhhh very frustrating.
After I was in the work force and got my hands dirty, troubleshooted live problems etc… I knew that I knew more than anybody coming in off the street that had certain certifications or degrees and no real on the job experience. But on the flip side getting the certifications shows that you have the knowledge and the understanding to figure out specific certification oriented issues. Employers want to see those certs and hear those BUZZ worlds!
Regardless of what certifications you may have, is someone going to hire you to run an 500 user Exchange Server or become a Network Admin for a 100+ user company? Most likely no!
You also can’t expect to get a big job like that coming right out of school or after getting some certs, so keep that in mind. Now don’t get depressed here! It will all come together for you.
Here are a handful of things you can do that will put you in a better position you for a job in the long run whether you are in school or thinking of a career change.
If you are just deciding your career and have not been to college, then you are better off going to some sort of technical school that will be focusing solely on your career path. I went to a 4 year college because I had the opportunity and got my BA in Communication, which had nothing to do with my current career…. because honestly I had no idea what I wanted to do. Sure I am glad I went, but I literally graduated college, then went to CHUBB institute of Technology full time for 5 months and learned more there then I did in college… because I actually paid attention 😉
Ah the tough one! Again you need to remember that the first job you get might not be that Network Admin or Security Admin job…. in fact I pretty much guarantee it won’t! This is where you have to think outside the box and create opportunities… don’t wait for them!
Below I talk about how to put this altogether in your resume, but first here is a quick story about my journey. Maybe it can give you some ideas or at least motivation…
So I graduated from CHUBB and of course I expected to get some job making you know like 50K + job a year… “this was 2001” by the way, but that did not happen.
Now all of the above stuff I wrote about… I pretty much did, I was running my own LLC, I had a few clients… I never did start a website “it was harder back then ;-)”, and I was always just learning. I had my first job interview with a company that was more or less a computer rental company. So a company would need 30 laptops or 30 desktops all with the same set up delivered to them for training or some temp project etc… we would set them up and them deliver them. Well the head guy would set them up… I would deliver them and set them up. So it was 80% delivery and 20% tech, but it was cool. I learned along the way and a lot of times we ran into issues getting them set up and functioning on the networks and I was able to use the skills I learned to solve the problem. Good times…
It wasn’t the dream job, but it was a job! It was better then sitting at home crying about not getting hired like a lot of other people from my class were doing. They were turning down jobs like that! Don’t do that! Go for the interviews for practice, take the job if nothing else is happening, and if another opportunity arrives then take it!
As luck would have it I had a friend who was working for Bed Bath & Beyond in their tech support and got me an interview. I also had a chance to interview for a Fortune 500 company that my mother worked for. She knew the woman who managed the IT department and they had a summer time help desk position available. So… the BBB job was full time, benefits etc… all that good stuff. Mainly learning how to work with their company software and support things BBB specific. The summer time gig was supporting 500+ users with 3 other guys dealing with all sorts of technologies. They also had network admins, sys admins, and exchange admins working there. I was offered both jobs!
Which do you think I took? The full time, more money/benefits job or the 3 month summer help desk gig?
I took the help desk gig of course! It was the best decision of my life! I was surrounded by 3 other guys in the help desk that taught me a ton!! I was around all the other admin guys that were really cool and I got to help them out here and there and pick up a few things. I learned a lot of skills in a lot of different areas. It really helped me see what I wanted to do!
I never got offered a full time job, because there wasn’t a need for one at the time, but I took those skills I learned and made some great connections/references and was able to add to my resume that I worked at a Fortune 500 company.
After that I took a quick gig at a “learning center” actually teaching people computers lol… it was horrible, but it was a job and I literally quit 3 weeks in. I went back to doing my own thing and helping out another guy I knew who ran his own IT company. I was able to help him here and there and in particular with one company. That company decided they wanted to hire a full time IT guy so I jumped at the opportunity.
I was intimidated because I felt I did not have the experience to be the HEAD IT DUDE for about a 30 employee company that had its own exchange server, blackberry server, firewall, and all the other things companies need to run! I would have to be the guy to run it all! It was full time, full benefits etc… Of course I got the job!! 😉
I still remember during the interview I was asked about the position I had at the help desk and what I did. The answers I was able to give them from that experience pretty much locked up the job for me!
So I was there for a long time, did a lot of cool things, streamlined a lot of things, and saw a lot of things change over the years… blackberry server… what?? lol 😉
Anyways I hope that just paints a picture for you and you can see how a potential career in the industry can develop.
So I have not written a resume in probably 10 years! Yes seriously so as far as formatting and all that fun stuff I have no idea! I have been lucky enough to take my knowledge and not worry about keeping my resume up to date, but here are some things to remember.
Well.. I know I can be long winded, but there is a lot of good information here and it is all 100% true! I loved those times when I was learning. I hope it helps you.
If you have any questions or more tips to add please leave them below in the comments section! I would love to hear them and also help you out in anyway I can! Heck I could even add you as an author on the blog if you were interested in writing…. Now you can add Author @cybersecurityportal.com to the resume 😉
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popular cyber security practices that aren’t protecting you at all… sort of…
Standard protective and defensive measures are extremely important for a small business or organization due to cyber criminals increasingly targeting these entities. But are your standard security measures really working for you?
You’ll be surprised to know that some of the most common and popular standard measures aren’t really doing anything for you. We have compiled a short list of protective measures that people think are effective, but in reality, they’re really just not protecting them.
Another big misconception these days is setting up a strong firewall is enough to protect your network against cyber criminals. Most malware nowadays can easily pass through firewalls to breach your system. Without a cybersecurity professional constantly protecting your systems using various security methods, even the strongest firewall can’t stop a breach.
Take this with a grain of sand sometimes because you do need the above, but just because you install these products does not guarantee safety. It is always good to have a site audit or penetration tester evaluate your configuration.
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