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What went wrong with Dole – A Cyber attack story.

Time and again, TSAROLABS has been updating you on taking precautions in terms of cyber security! However, slight negligence can cost billions to any attacked organization! 

Food giant Dole was hit by a cyberattack, temporarily forcing the company to shut down its North American production. The attack affected Dole’s computer systems and disrupted its operations.

Dole, one of the world’s largest producers of fruits and vegetables, has not disclosed the nature of the cyberattack or the extent of the damage. However, the company has stated that it is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and to restore its systems as quickly as possible.

The cyberattack has forced Dole to halt its production across North America, causing disruptions in the supply chain and potentially affecting the availability of fresh produce in the region. However, the company has assured its customers that it is doing everything possible to minimize the impact of the attack and resume operations as soon as it is safe.

This incident is the latest in a series of high-profile cyberattacks that have targeted significant corporations and organizations worldwide. Cybersecurity experts warn that such attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated and that companies must take steps to protect themselves against the growing threat.

Dole has advised its customers and partners to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in their systems. The company has also urged other organizations to protect their networks and data from cyber threats proactively.

The post-attack measures that Dole is taking now are very much required. But it is equally essential for organizations to consider taking cyber security measures to avoid such ‘worst-case’ and ‘what-if’ scenarios.

TSAROLABS is aware of the specifications needed for such cyberattacks. TSAROLABS is aware of what went wrong and works to fix it.

Through our best-in-class and industry-recognized cyber solutions, TSAROLABS offers the most promising and guaranteed ROI-based model.

Contact TSAROLABS for a quick demo session followed by a questions and answers round where we can address all your doubts and queries. 

The decision is all yours! 

Related tags: Cyberattack, Dole, NorthAmerica, ProductionShutdown, Cybersecurity, SupplyChain, , FreshProduce, LawEnforcement, Investigation, DataBreach, RiskManagement, DataSecurity, BusinessContinuity, ITSecurity, IncidentResponse, Resilience, ThreatIntelligence, VulnerabilityManagement, CyberAwareness, DataProtection, InformationSecurity, BusinessImpact, CrisisManagement, CyberInsurance, SecurityAwareness, DisasterRecovery

Edtech & cybercrime trends

Remote learning is becoming increasingly popular due to the ongoing pandemic. Schools and universities are investing heavily in new technology and online platforms to facilitate this transition. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is also gaining traction in the education sector. These technologies can help personalize learning, improve student engagement, and provide real-time feedback.

Edtech startups are on the rise, with new companies emerging to meet the growing demand for digital learning solutions. Investors are pouring money into this space, with the global edtech market projected to reach $252 billion by 2025. The future of work is changing, and educators are taking note. Schools and universities are increasingly focusing on teaching students the skills they need to succeed in a digital and automated workforce.

Cybercrime is on the rise, with hackers becoming more sophisticated and targeting individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Ransomware attacks are a particular concern, with hackers using this technique to encrypt files and demand payment to release them. These attacks can have devastating consequences for both individuals and organizations.

Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important area of investment for businesses, with companies of all sizes dedicating more resources to protecting their systems and data.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is also being explored in the fight against cybercrime. These technologies can help detect and respond to threats more quickly and accurately than traditional methods.

Edtech companies and educational institutions are collecting and storing more personal data than ever before, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. As such, it is crucial for the edtech sector to prioritize cybersecurity and take steps to protect their systems and data. 

Here are some ways in which TSAROLABS helps edtech companies and educational institutions to address cybersecurity:

Conduct regular security assessments: 

Edtech companies and educational institutions should conduct regular security assessments to identify vulnerabilities and areas of weakness. This can help them take a proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity issues.

Use secure technology: 

Edtech companies and educational institutions should use secure technology solutions, such as encryption and two-factor authentication, to protect sensitive data.

Provide cybersecurity training:

It is important for edtech companies and educational institutions to provide cybersecurity training to staff and students, as they are often the first line of defense against cyberattacks.

Monitor user behavior: 

Edtech companies and educational institutions should monitor user behavior to identify any suspicious activity, such as attempts to access sensitive data or unauthorized login attempts.

Have a cybersecurity incident response plan: 

Edtech companies and educational institutions should have a plan in place to respond to cybersecurity incidents, such as data breaches or ransomware attacks. This can help them minimize the damage caused by an attack and get back to normal operations as quickly as possible.

By prioritizing cybersecurity, edtech companies and educational institutions can help protect their sensitive data and ensure that students and staff can use technology solutions safely and securely.

Related Tags :  Edtech, Crime, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime, Trends, Remote Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Personalized Learning, IT Technologies, Data Breaches, Ransomware, Attack, Unauthorized login, Cyber Solutions.

The importance of web penetration testing for your organization

Web penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, simulates a cyber attack on a website or web application to identify vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could exploit. By uncovering these vulnerabilities, organizations can take steps to fix them before they can be used to compromise the security of their systems and sensitive data.

Why web penetration testing is essential for every organization?

Identify and fix vulnerabilities: By simulating a real-world attack, web penetration testing can help organizations to identify and fix vulnerabilities in their web applications and infrastructure that a hacker could exploit.

Improve security: Web penetration testing can help organizations improve their web-based systems’ overall safety and protect against cyber attacks by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities.

Compliance: Many regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR, require regular penetration testing to ensure the security of sensitive data.

Protect against data breaches: Web penetration testing can help organizations prevent data breaches by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities in their web-based systems before hackers can exploit them.

Maintaining trust: By showing customers and stakeholders that an organization takes security seriously and is proactive in identifying and fixing vulnerabilities, web penetration testing can help keep the organization’s trust.

In summary, web penetration testing is an essential aspect of maintaining the security of your organization’s web-based systems and protecting against cyber attacks.

Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with industry regulations is crucial like never before, Get it done today!

Write to us at connect@tsarolabs.com for any assistance.

Related tags: Cybersecurity, Ethical hacking, Web application security, Vulnerability assessment, Compliance (e.g. PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR), Data breaches, Trust and reputation management, Penetration testing best practices, Web security trends, Network security, Security testing, IT security, Web security audits, Security remediation, Secure coding,
Secure development life cycle (SDLC)

Cybersecurity issues to worry about in 2023

Cybersecurity issues we face today still need to be fixed, and we are heading towards another year with evolving technologies, and a fast-changing world also means new challenges.

Indeed, there are some constants. For example, ransomware has significantly affected the cyber industry for years and is still prevalent. In addition, cybercriminals persist in maturing their invasions. Considerable numbers of enterprise networks remain vulnerable, often due to security flaws for which updates have long been available.
If you think you have mastered the software vulnerability in your network at any point, the future holds some significant dangers to worry about.
Look at the Log4j flaw: a year ago, it was utterly unfamiliar, creeping within the code. When it got its existence in Dec, it was conveyed by the head of CISA as one of the most severe flaws.
Even in late 2022, it is still considered an often unmediated security defect hidden within many organizations’ codes that’ll continue in the coming years.

Security skills shortages
Whatever the most delinquent cyberpunk gimmick or safety gap found by people, researchers, and not technology. They are always at the core of cybersecurity, for good and for ill.

That focus starts at the primary level, where the employees can recognize phishing links or a business email compromise scam, and managers utilize the proper data security team that can assist and monitor corporate defenses.
But cybersecurity skills are in high demand, so there need to be more attendants to look at approximately.

“As cyber threats evolve more sophisticated, we need the resources and the right skill sets to battle them. Because without specialized skill, communities are really at stake,” says Kelly Rozumalski, senior vice president and lead for the national cyber defense at Booz Allen Hamilton.

“We need to encourage people from various backgrounds, from computer engineering and coding to psychology, to explore more about cybersecurity. Because for us to win the war on aptitude, we need to be dedicated to not just employing but to building, retaining, and investing in our talent,” she says.
Organizations must have the people and processes to prevent or detect cyberattacks. In addition, there is the resumed day-to-day threat of malware attacks, phishing or ransomware campaigns from cyber-criminal gangs, and the threat from hackers and hostile nation-states.

New and more significant supply chain threats
While cyberspace has been a colosseum for international intelligence and other movements for some time, the contemporary multinational geopolitical surroundings are constructing supplemental dangers.

Matt Gorham, cyber and privacy invention institute manager, stated, “We’re going back to a geopolitical paradigm that features great strength competition, a place we haven’t been in several decades.”

He adds, “And we’re doing that when there’s no true agreement, red lines, or norms in cyberspace.”

For example, Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has targeted the technology involved in running critical infrastructure.

In the hours running up to the beginning of the invasion, satellite transmissions provider Viasat was influenced by an outage that disrupted broadband connections in Ukraine and across other European countries, an event that Western intelligence agents have attributed to Russia. Elon Musk mentioned that Russia has tried to hack the systems of Starlink, the satellite communications network run by his SpaceX rocket firm supplying internet access to Ukraine.

Security has to have a seat at the table, which is very necessary. But you need to consider strategically how to mitigate those threats because these devices are essential,” Rozumalski says – and she thinks that improvement is being made, with boardrooms becoming more aware of cybersecurity issues. However, there’s still much work to do.

“I think we’ve taken many steps over the past year that will start to put us in a better and a better light and be able to combat some of these threats in the future.”

And she’s not the only one who thinks that, while cybersecurity and cybersecurity budgets still need more attention, things are generally moving in the right direction.

“There’s an increasing realization that it’s a significant and broad threat, and there is significant risk out there – that makes me have some optimism,” says PwC’s Gorham. However, he’s aware that cybersecurity isn’t suddenly going to be perfect. As the world moves into 2023, there will still be plenty of challenges.

He adds, “The threat’s not going away – it’s significant and only going to become more significant as we transform digitally. But coming to terms with it today is a good sign for the future.”

Related Tags

Cybersecurity, Evolving Technologies, New Challenges, CISA, digital transformation, Software Vulnerability, Log4j, cyberpunks, phishing links, ransomware, Kelly Rozumalaski, Matt Gorham, Russia, Ukraine, Elon Musk, SpaceX.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) defines the network of physical objects “things” embedded with software, sensors, and other technologies to connect and trade data with different gadgets and systems over the internet. These devices vary from standard household objects to sophisticated industrial tools. More than 7 billion are connected to IoT devices today, and specialists expect this number to expand upto 22 billion by 2025. We can combine everyday objects, thermostats, kitchen appliances, cars, baby monitors to the internet via entrenched devices; seamless communication is feasible between people, processes, and things.

By Utilizing low-cost computing, big data, the cloud, analytics, and mobile technologies, material things can transfer and compile data with the tiniest human intervention. In this hyperconnected world, digital systems record, monitor, and adjust each interaction between related items. The physical world encounters the digital world and they cooperate.

IOT APPLICATIONS

Business-ready, SaaS IoT Applications
I0T Intelligent Applications are prebuilt software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications that analyze and showcase seized IoT sensor data to business users via dashboards. We have a complete set of IoT Intelligent Applications.

IoT applications employ machine learning algorithms to examine enormous portions of corresponding sensor data in the cloud. As a result, we can use real-time IoT dashboards and alerts to gain visibility into statistics between failures, key performance indicators, and other information. In addition, machine learning–based algorithms can identify equipment anomalies, transmit signals to users, and trigger automated fixes or proactive countermeasures.

Cloud-based IoT applications help business users quickly improve the process of existing customer service, supply chains, financial services, and human resources.

IoT provides sensor information and enables device-to-device communication, driving a broad set of applications.

What technologies have made IoT possible?

While IoT has existed for a long time, recent advances in several different technologies have made it valuable.

Access to low-cost, low-power sensor technology

IoT technology is possible for more manufacturers because it is affordable and reliable.

Connectivity

It is easy to link sensors to the cloud and other “things” for efficient data transfer with the help of an innholder of Network protocols for the internet.

Cloud computing platforms

The increase in cloud platform availability enables businesses and consumers to access the infrastructure they need to scale up without managing it all.

Machine learning and analytics

With access to a large amount of data stored in the cloud and advancements in Machine learning and analytics, businesses can gather insights faster and more efficiently. The emergence of these associated technologies persists in forcing the peripheries of IoT, and the data assembled by IoT also feed these technologies.

Conversational artificial intelligence (AI)

Advances in neural networks have fetched natural-language processing (NLP) to IoT devices (such as Cortana, Siri, and digital personal assistants Alexa) and made them appealing, affordable, and viable for home use.

Related Tags

Internet of Things, Software, SaaS, Intelligent Applications, CyberSecurity, Connectivity, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning and Analytics.

HealthCare Sector at CyberAttack Risk

Digital technologies are making Patient care easy and efficient and are providing better outcomes. Regardless, the upgrade of digital technologies and the increasing interconnectedness between different healthcare systems come with advancing cybersecurity dangers.

The advantages of healthcare technology advancement are undeniable. For example, electronic health records (EHRs) have evolved critically to enhance Patient outcomes and diagnostics, with 75% of healthcare providers conveying that EHRs help them supply adequate patient supervision.

Providers are rapidly relying on technological advances that have raised healthcare cybersecurity threats. For example, the cybersecurity company Emsisoft reports that the U.S. had over 560 Cyberattacks against healthcare facilities in 2020.
What can healthcare organizations do to manage cyber Attacks? Following are some strategies to follow:

  • Enforcing Technical and technological cybersecurity measures
  • Constructing a group of skilled professionals to ensure cybersecurity in the healthcare department.
  • Designing a healthcare cybersecurity strategy focused on patient privacy protection
  • Addressing vulnerabilities in legacy systems in healthcare
  • Keeping tabs on new consequences to comprehend information technology (IT) challenges

These measures can strengthen an association’sassociation’s cybersecurity protection, underrate security breaches in healthcare, and ensure that critical systems remain active to reduce the impact on patient supervision.

Healthcare Cyber Security: Critical Issue

It is an area of information technology that focuses on safeguarding healthcare systems. These systems contain EHRs, health tracking devices, medical equipment, and healthcare delivery and management software. Healthcare cybersecurity concentrates on controlling attacks by protecting systems from unauthorized credentials and exposing patient information. The primary purpose is to assure the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of crucial patient data, which, if compromised, could put patient lives at stake.

Hospitals board hundreds and even thousands of patients, and as a result, they become excellent targets for hackers and make healthcare cybersecurity a critical consideration for hospital administrators.

Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, Indiana, experienced an attack in 2018 and revealed how a ransomware attack could affect cybersecurity in hospitals. Cyberpunks accessed backup system data and eternally corrupted files, including EHRs.

Yet, the hospital stayed functional even after the IT team closed down the network.
However, the attack did affect the hospital financially, and it had to settle for a ransom of Four Bitcoins, i.e., $55,000, in exchange for its leaked data.

Cyberattacks come in numerous constitutions, from ransomware to theft of personal information. However, four issues are common throughout healthcare:

  • Patient privacy protection
  • The vulnerabilities of legacy systems
  • The challenges of IT in healthcare
  • Security breaches in healthcare

Patient privacy protection

As the healthcare industry is becoming more technologically associated, the risk of cyber theft also increases. The two types of robbery are outside theft and insider misuse.

External theft: Hackers outside a healthcare organization infiltrate Healthcare System and steal the Patient’sPatient’s Data for financial gains. For example, they use patients’ information to submit fraudulent claims to health insurers. External theft can also retain cyberpunks pushing healthcare organizations to settle a ransom amount in recovery for restoring patient data systems.

Insider misuse: Insider misuse often comes from stealing patients’ information for financial benefits or malicious intent. Other types of insider mishandling include curiosity (unwarranted access to data unrelated to care delivery) and comfort (overriding security protocols to make a job more accessible). Involuntary activities, such as human mistakes, mistyping, opening, or clicking phishing emails, make up the rest of insider misuse cases.

Vulnerabilities of legacy systems in healthcare

Despite various benefits, digitization offers many healthcare systems that keep outdated legacy systems for the following reasons:

Strict Budget: Shifting to a further system includes the expenses of purchasing the latest technology and paying technicians. It may also mean downtime, which facilitates possibilities for a healthcare structure to generate revenue.

Compliance guarantee: New equipment and technology can be tedious, therefore, organizations already gone through the process once, may surely prefer to avoid undertaking it again.

Upskilling costs: Training staff on new methods is time-consuming and expensive but essential to underrate mistakes. Jointly with training from technology agents, can aid supervisors in incorporating teamwork principles into contemporary healthcare strategies.

Complacency: Healthcare associations may restore an issue only after a system collapse. A bold strategy for substituting legacy systems can help avoid future problems.

Challenges of IT in healthcare

The advanced use of IT in healthcare has delivered advantages such as finer communication between doctors and patients, mechanization of manual duties, and improved contact between physicians caring for the same patients. In addition, IT and digitization have entrusted patients to make sounder judgments about their supervision, as patients have greater access to data about their fitness.

Benefits of IT and digitization in healthcare:

  • Easing inefficiencies
  • Enhancing healthcare access
  • Reducing healthcare expenses
  • Improving maintenance grade
  • Delivering personalized treatment for patients

To accomplish the advantages, related technologies are essential, although they are also prey for cyberattacks and data breaches. Despite external violations exceeding inner misuse as the predominant source of security risk, internal abuse is typical in the healthcare industry compared with other sectors, according to Verizon.

Security breaches in healthcare

In 2020, the healthcare industry witnessed hackers seizing the benefit of COVID-19 apprehensions. One example concerned an email about a presumed “coronavirus map” to track COVID-19 cases, and on clicking the link, it triggered information stealer malware that stole passwords and credit card information.
Some of the most significant data violations of 2020 came from vulnerabilities in healthcare vendor systems, phishing attacks, and fraud schemes.

Related Tag- phishing attack, cyberrisk, cyberattack, healthcare risk, breaches, security, patient privacy protection, healthsector cyberrisk, cybersecurity

Shoulder Surfing at cafes and offices – An underestimated threat

Are you safe working at cafes, offices, and co-working spaces?

Well, the answer is No. It’s laughably low-tech, but shoulder surfing, or snooping over people’s shoulders to pry at the information displayed, is increasing – and there’s a good chance it’s happening to you.

Shoulder surfing is one of the most undervalued threats that is rapidly advancing. It is a type of social engineering that is aimed at obtaining personal information through interpersonal connection. There are two types of shoulder surfing.

The first type of attack is when direct observation is used to obtain access to data. For example, a person looks directly over the victim’s shoulder to observe when they enter data, such as their PIN, at a checkout terminal.

In the second type, the victim’s actions are first recorded on video. Criminals can then analyze these videos in detail and obtain the desired information later. Nowadays, it is possible to use video recordings to determine the PIN for unlocking mobile devices, even if the display cannot be seen in the video. The movements of a user’s fingers are enough to determine the access code.

Shoulder surfing can happen anywhere at any given point in time. So one must be aware of their surroundings while working on mobiles/desktops/laptops/ATMs/Filling necessary forms at banks, offices, etc.

The person can be a little far away, e.g., sitting some rows behind you on a train and using their mobile phone to video or take pictures of what they can see on your screen. Which they later use to retrieve information or access your account.

While using an ATM, someone positioned themselves in such a way that allowed them to watch you enter your PIN. In a rush, you leave the ATM with your card and money without ensuring it exited entirely out of your account. If the ATM doesn’t require the card to be inserted for the entire transaction, other transactions are permitted if you don’t confirm that you have any other trades to make as long as the attacker knows the PIN.

Crowded public transit makes it easy for attackers to see the device screens of others or hear the conversations of others. In these cases, they’re looking over the victim’s shoulder.

The victim accidentally leaves their device unattended in a public place. Having watched the victim enter his password into their computer moments before, the attacker can unlock the device with this information, putting any sensitive data on the computer at risk.

Some quick tips to avoid shoulder surfing

  • Eliminate passwords: The ONLY way to prevent password-based attacks is by eliminating passwords. Learn more about passwordless authentication today and keep your most critical applications secure.
  • Add a privacy screen to your devices: Using attached privacy screens dramatically lessens the risk of data disclosure. Some glass protector manufacturers have versions with a privacy screen, which protects your phone’s glass and the information on your phone, too.
  • Always be aware of your surroundings: Don’t let your guard down in public places. Attackers gravitate to those that they see as the easiest. If you’re distracted, you may not notice someone is watching you and what you’re entering into the device or the ATM.
  • Use biometric authentication instead: Biometric authentication, either using your fingerprint or face, can offer additional security that a PIN cannot. Since the attacker never sees you enter a physical PIN, they can’t log into the device.

 

Related Tags: cyberattack, hacking, security, cyberrisk, financesecurity, data, authentication, cybersecurity

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