Articles In Security

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

In the movie “Eagle Eye,” two strangers are coerced into a complex plot by a mysterious woman who communicates with them via their electronic devices. The movie showcases how technology can be manipulated to control actions and lead individuals into unintended consequences. While "Eagle Eye" focuses more on the theme of surveillance and artificial intelligence, it indirectly parallels the caution behind disabling autorun features—highlighting the risks associated with allowing external dev... read more.

• February 29, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

I’m not referring to the hit song from Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, as this is a cybersecurity blog about CIS Controls. But now that the song is in my head, I may have to find a way to integrate it somehow. But I digress. I’m speaking of the infamous “WannaCry” ransomware attack that hit the world back in May 2017. WannaCry exploited vulnerabilities in older versions of Microsoft Windows to encrypt data on infected computers, demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin for decryption keys. Th... read more.

• February 20, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

This was the line said by Julius Levinson, played by Judd Hirsch in Independence Day, that changes the direction of the movie from potential annihilation to probable survival. David Levinson (Julian’s son), played by Jeff Goldblum is on the verge of giving up and accepting the fate that aliens will take over the planet. When he hears these words, he thinks about a cold, then a virus, and then a computer virus. David creates a computer virus (aka malware) that can infect alien ships, disable their def... read more.

• February 13, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

The documentary "Zero Days" sheds light on the complexities of cybersecurity threats, such as the Stuxnet virus, which targeted industrial systems. The film exemplifies the sophisticated nature of modern cyberthreats and underscores the necessity of robust security measures like Domain Name System (DNS) filtering. The case of Stuxnet is a testament to the fact that no enterprise is immune to cyberthreats and proactive measures are essential. The Role of DNS Filtering in Enterprises: Blocking Access to Ma... read more.

• February 06, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

I recently became a fan of “Black Mirror” and especially the above named episode. In this episode, the story revolves around a young man named Kenny who becomes the victim of a malicious hacker group. Kenny's life takes a dark turn when he is caught in a web of cybercrime after his computer is compromised and he is blackmailed through his browser and email client. Infection and Surveillance: Kenny's computer is infected with malware that allows the hacker group to monitor his online activiti... read more.

• January 30, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

In Episode 18 of Season 5 of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the USS Enterprise becomes ensnared in a time loop, a phenomenon that causes the ship to repeatedly experience the same sequence of events. This time loop not only endangers the ship, but also poses a severe threat to the crew's safety and the ship's mission The character Data, played by Brent Spiner, is an android with a positronic brain that enables him to retain memories in ways that the rest of the crew cannot. As the time loop... read more.

• January 23, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

In the film "The Dark Knight," the character of Batman (played by Christian Bale) uses an advanced surveillance system called the "Bat-Sonar." This technology enables him to turn every cell phone in Gotham City into a high-frequency microphone, creating a real-time audio surveillance network. Batman activates this system to locate the Joker and gather vital information to prevent his destructive plans. Batman's Bat-Sonar provides real-time information that allows him to respond swiftly to emerging threats.... read more.

• January 16, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

“This is the way” is part of the Mandalorian creed. In the popular Star Wars series “The Mandalorian,” we follow a lone bounty hunter known as Din Djarin. Din Djarin wears a helmet and adheres to a strict code of conduct as a member of the Mandalorian. Much like Din Djarin's helmet, which protects his identity and records his journey, an audit log collects data and records every event within an organization's digital assets. Every action taken within the digital environment is logge... read more.

• January 09, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

PC Load Letter. The “Check Engine” light of the HP LaserJet II, III, and IV models. This message was supposed to mean Paper Cassette Load Letter and indicate that there was no letter sized paper in the Paper Cassette. What it actually meant was both everything and nothing. It could’ve meant that the manual paper tray was open, empty, had the wrong paper, or like all electronics, needed to be rebooted. This “error message” became very popular in the movie Office Space. Office S... read more.

• January 03, 2024

By Steve Gold, Posted in Security

If you’re a Mandy Patinkin fan like I am, you can quote many lines from The Princess Bride and have watched the acclaimed series Homeland, where he played CIA Director, Saul Berenson. In Season 7 of Homeland, Saul Berenson’s phone gets hacked because it is running outdated software. This scenario highlights several key points relevant to the importance of regular updates and patches. Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: The show demonstrates how hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in s... read more.

• December 19, 2023