Petronella Cybersecurity News

In the modern digital landscape, security threats lurk around every corner. Whether it’s ransomware, phishing schemes, or account hijacking attempts, individuals and organizations alike are constantly seeking more robust ways to safeguard their sensitive data. One proven method for leveling up security is the use of a hardware security key—particularly, the YubiKey. YubiKey is developed […]

Navigating FTC Compliance and Cybersecurity Mandates: A Comprehensive Guide for Real Estate Firms, CPA Firms, Automotive Dealerships, and Financial Institutions The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has long championed consumer protection in the United States. This mission includes promoting fair competition, ensuring consumer privacy, and cracking down on deceptive or unfair business practices. In the modern […]

Introduction In the healthcare and cybersecurity worlds, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) stands out as one of the most significant regulatory frameworks in the United States. HIPAA’s role is to ensure the protection and confidential handling of medical information, known formally as protected health information (PHI). Organizations that manage healthcare data—ranging from […]

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a framework established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance the cybersecurity posture of organizations within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). A fundamental component of this framework is the requirement for organizations to conduct comprehensive risk assessments. For a CMMC auditor, reviewing a successfully completed risk […]

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Safeguards Rule, established under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), plays a pivotal role in ensuring the security and confidentiality of consumer financial information. This comprehensive regulation mandates that financial institutions develop, implement, and maintain robust information security programs to protect customer data from unauthorized access and potential breaches. Understanding the Gramm-Leach-Bliley […]

The Next Generation of Online Security In the ever-evolving landscape of digital security, passwords have long been the standard method of authentication. From early email systems to modern online banking and social media accounts, passwords have served as the gatekeepers of our digital identities. However, as cyber threats become more sophisticated, the limitations of passwords […]

Overview of BEC Risks and Consequences Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a cybercrime that uses fraudulent emails to manipulate employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive data. The FBI reports that BEC has impacted over 22,000 companies with losses exceeding $3 billion, and incidents rose 1300% between 2015 and 2017. Yet many organizations lack adequate […]

Hackers Are Bypassing MFA To Breach Accounts and Cause Business Email Compromise This week, the FBI issued a new warning, alerting users of popular email platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Gmail, Outlook, AOL, and Yahoo that cybercriminals are gaining unauthorized access to accounts, even those protected by multifactor authentication (MFA). These attacks often start with […]

In the increasingly digital landscape of today’s world, organizations face a variety of cyber threats. With the rise of ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and other forms of cybercrime, it’s no longer a question of if an organization will be targeted, but when. An Incident Response (IR) tabletop exercise is a structured scenario-based activity that enables […]

In a world where digital transformation and interconnectivity are at the forefront of business operations, the potential for a major disruption is ever-present. From natural disasters and cyber-attacks to hardware failures and human errors, businesses are vulnerable to a wide range of risks that could lead to downtime, data loss, and operational disruption. To combat […]

1. Use Strong MFA Methods 2. Enable Conditional Access Policies 3. Implement Number Matching in Microsoft Authenticator 4. Enable Anti-Phishing Techniques like FIDO2/WebAuthn Authentication 5. Use Session Management Policies 6. Monitor and Respond to Unusual MFA Activity 7. Educate Users About MFA Security Practices 8. Enforce Device Compliance By combining these practices, you can significantly […]

Introduction Microsoft 365 (M365) is one of the most widely used cloud-based productivity suites, offering powerful tools for communication, collaboration, and data storage. However, as organizations increasingly rely on Microsoft 365, they become more attractive targets for cyberattacks. Securing your M365 environment is essential to protect sensitive information, maintain productivity, and ensure compliance. In this […]

Introduction As cyber threats evolve, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become a widely adopted standard for securing accounts by requiring multiple forms of verification beyond just a password. While MFA significantly raises the barrier for attackers, it isn’t invulnerable. Attackers have adapted to bypass MFA by exploiting human behavior, social engineering, and technical vulnerabilities. In this […]

Introduction Microsoft 365 is one of the most popular cloud-based productivity suites, providing organizations with essential tools for collaboration, communication, and data storage. With so much valuable information housed within the platform, Microsoft 365 is an attractive target for cybercriminals. Although Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) offers an essential layer of security beyond just passwords, attackers are […]

Introduction to MFA Machine-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks In today’s digital landscape, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become a primary defense mechanism against unauthorized access. By requiring a second layer of authentication beyond just a password, MFA significantly raises the bar for attackers. However, cybercriminals are continually adapting, and one of the emerging tactics to bypass MFA is […]

Understanding the Risks of Deed Fraud and Protecting Your Property In an increasingly digital world, deed fraud has become a growing concern. This crime, also known as title theft or property theft, occurs when a fraudster illegally transfers ownership of your property without your knowledge, often through forged documents. The consequences of deed fraud can […]

Introduction To PAM for CMMC Compliance In today’s digital age, protecting sensitive information is paramount, especially for organizations that work within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a rigorous cybersecurity framework developed by the DoD to enhance security protocols among its contractors. By enforcing security best […]

A Comprehensive Look at Character.AI or C.AI With advancements in artificial intelligence, interactive AI platforms like Character.AI are making waves, especially among younger users. These platforms allow users to engage with AI-generated characters across various scenarios, ranging from fictional characters in books and movies to entirely original personas. As the popularity of Character.AI rises, it’s […]

The Department of Defense has released the final rule on CMMC 2.0, which outlines a phased approach to cybersecurity certification across contractors handling federal information. CMMC 2.0 has three levels of certification, with requirements ranging from self-assessments to third-party audits for handling controlled unclassified information (CUI). Implementation begins in phases, initially requiring Level 1 and […]

A Comprehensive Comparison In today’s interconnected and digitalized world, organizations must ensure that their systems, data, and processes are adequately protected from both internal and external threats. As businesses grow and technology evolves, so do the complexities of securing their assets. Two widely-used methods for evaluating the security posture of an organization are the security […]