With ransomware attacks seemingly at a fever pitch of late, the cyber insurance industry has come into stark focus as well, as some companies turn to their insurers to cover a ransom when attacked. But Cyber Research Analyst Jamie MacColl with the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) tells us cyber insurance is more than just paying ransoms. He discusses his latest research paper, titled "Cyber Insurance and the Cyber Se...

The network perimeter basically no longer exists, and the latest security solutions need to account for the new normal. Aaron Chen and Shane Davis with Sophos join us to talk about how the network security landscape has changed just in the last couple of years, new business cybersecurity and connectivity priorities, and the latest Sophos products that address them, including XDR (extended detection and response) and the XGS firewal...

Cybersecurity jobs are there for the taking, whether for prospective students or career changers willing to train, as employers desperately search for qualified staff. Dr. Marc Rogers of Purdue University joins us to talk about the shortage of cybersecurity pros in our home state of Indiana and beyond, and how a new website serves as a cyber career matchmaking tool. Dr. Rogers also discusses Purdue's Cyber Apprenticeship Progra...

We're fortunate to have two excellent interviews to share on this episode of Ping. First, we discuss the op-ed Cyber Security as Counter-Terrorism: Seeking a Better Debate (https://warontherocks.com/2021/05/cyber-security-as-counter-terrorism-seeking-a-better-debate/) with co-authors Emma Schroeder and Trey Herr with the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative. They suggest the way many view cyber crime as being sing...

In the latest case of real world implications stemming from a cyber attack, operations of the Colonial Pipeline, supplying almost half of the gasoline to the east coast of the U.S., stopped suddenly. Why? Colonial was the victim of a ransomware attack connected to the DarkSide group. We dissect the details of the attack, how it happened, what it means, how Russia may factor in, and when things might return to normal in a supersized...

While HTML email is nothing new, a recently discovered trick means a pretty wide open security flaw has been there all along, too. Security researcher, engineer, & tech columnist Ax Sharma joins us to explain how just a bit of code in the wrong hands can manipulate the "external sender" warning on your organization's emails - to either remove it altogether or change it to trick unsuspecting users into malicious clic...

What's your password? If you can come up with just one off the top of your head for all your accounts, you're probably doing it wrong. We take a look at just how wrong some are doing passwords courtesy of a British survey (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/national-pet-day-password-advice). But don't fret, we also offer tips on how to do your passwords right, without wracking your brain.

In a second featured topic, we take a ...

Cybersecurity laws are somewhat in their infancy in the U.S., but states are starting to get on board. Our guest Cynthia Brumfield, creator of the Metacurity newsletter and writer of all things cyber, tells us about states getting on board with liability protection for companies that take reasonable actions to secure themselves against threats. What's reasonable and what kind of safe harbor protections will states provide in co...

The year 2020 will be remembered for many things - few positive. And another ignominious distinction has to do with cybercrime. SonicWall's 2021 Cyber Threat Report, just released on March 16, dives deep into the threat landscape to show us just how bad the year was when it comes to cyber attacks - or good if you happen to be launching them. SonicWall's Brook Chelmo joins us to go over some highlights, discussing ransomware...

Spring has sprung - or at least is springing - in many areas, and a major tradition of the season is spring cleaning. And just like you decide which boxes to keep and which ones to dump from your home, your network needs a similar evaluation. How old is your equipment? Does it still do all you need it to? Do you need a few tweaks, or a whole new setup? Firewalls.com Director of Sales Anthony Mercho tells us what you factors to cons...

Employees can either be your first line of defense or your greatest cybersecurity vulnerability if they’re unprepared to deal with online threats. But what’s the best way to prepare them? We talk to Rebecca McKeown, an independent Chartered Psychologist and special advisor to Immersive Labs, for some answers. 

Rebecca specializes in Cognitive Readiness, which helps prepare people to respond in a crisis, like a cyber attack for insta...

February 7, 2021 marks Super Bowl LV - or 55 for those of us not well-versed in Roman numerals. And just like any other major event, there are cybersecurity implications. We explore them in a pop quiz featuring Tom Brady, the Kansas City Chiefs, Windows,  and even Armenia. Listen on to find out how cybersecurity and football intersect.

In Ransomware Reckoning, learn just how much ransomware cost last year, and what the outlook is mo...

As now President Biden enters office, his administration faces a variety of major issues, not only related to the pandemic, but also to cybersecurity and the online world. The continually developing SolarWinds supply chain attack that led to breaches of multiple federal agencies is still making headlines. And data privacy concerns, ransomware, Section 230, and net neutrality all count themselves as significant as well.

How will the...

We like to look forward at Ping, even when the view isn’t always rosy. So for our first episode of 2021, we take a look at predictions by top security firms to give us an idea what to expect in network security for the coming year. After all, knowing is half the battle when it comes to preparation. Andrew and Kevin talk ransomware, AI-enhanced phishing, remote work related dangers, and more as we ring – or ping – in the new year.

Fi...

Here at Ping, we like to celebrate the holiday season by sharing stories. And since we’re in the network security business, they tend to have a bit of an unusual twist. Last year, we presented a CyberSecurity Christmas Carol (check it out here: https://www.firewalls.com/blog/cybersecurity-christmas-carol-ping-podcast-episode-9). And this Christmas, we offer a twist on another classic tale. Gather ‘round as we recite the holiday poe...

The cyber threats of this year aren't going away when the calendar flips to 2021. They'll just continue to evolve. For a primer on the online hazards you can expect next year, we welcome back WatchGuard's Marc Laliberte, who - along with his team - has released a set of 2021 Cybersecurity Predictions. We start off by looking back at WatchGuard's 2020 Cybersecurity Predictions and how the pandemic influenced their ou...

In a year unlike any other, holiday shoppers are dealing with changes as well. The tradition of a one-day Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) sale, has been replaced with a month-long drip of deals. Our guest Dan Lohrmann dubs this COVID-19-related change, "Cyber November." On this episode, Dan discusses why things have gone even more online than inline, and why that may lead to new cybersecurity concerns. He also goes over som...

A broad federal warning outlines how hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country are in the crosshairs of a wave of ransomware attacks. To discuss this unprecedented coordinated threat, we welcome SonicWall's Barbara Vibbert, who provides context on the variety of vulnerabilities healthcare organizations face, why a successful attack can be so devastating, and what can be done to improve hospital and healthcare cyber...

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and that means it’s a great time to take a hard look at your online posture, protection, and habits to see where there’s room for improvement. Among the organizations with resources to help, is the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA. On this episode, we welcome James Stanley of CISA to talk about why raising awareness of cybersecurity is so important this m...