Author: HackWatchit

Mobile banking is highly secure — when you take a few straightforward steps, it becomes even safer. And those steps only take minutes, leaving you and your finances far more secure than before. Use strong passwords. Start here. Strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts form your first line of defense. However, one thing that can be a headache is the number of passwords we have to juggle — a number that seems like it’s growing every day. To help with that, you should strongly consider using a password manager. A good choice generates strong, unique passwords for…

Do you have a bunch of MFA apps on your phone that leave you feeling like you can’t put your arms down? Or maybe all those MFA apps on your phone feel like a litter of English bulldog puppies. They follow you around, demand your attention, and give you security snuggles. Either way, that’s a lot of figurative winter gear to take care of, a lot of mouths to feed. With all those apps to keep track of, consider the following: What will you lose access to if you break or lose your phone? Do all your MFA apps let…

A new variant of the Vo1d malware botnet has grown to 1,590,299 infected Android TV devices across 226 countries, recruiting devices as part of anonymous proxy server networks. This is according to an investigation by Xlab, which has been tracking the new campaign since last November, reporting that the botnet peaked on January 14, 2025, and currently has 800,000 active bots. In September 2024, Dr. Web antivirus researchers found 1.3 million devices across 200 countries compromised by Vo1d malware via an unknown infection vector. XLab’s recent report indicates that the new version of the Vo1d botnet continues its operations on…

Phishing has been the method most often employed by cybercriminals to achieve initial access to targeted organizations in 2024, according to risk advisory firm Kroll, which expects this trend to continue in 2025. But attackers have also increasingly been using valid accounts (i.e., credentials stolen via infostealers) and social engineering to get a foothold into targets’ systems and networks. “Social engineering tactics observed in 2024 included CEO-spoofing that takes advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic voice clones. In addition, threat actors targeted help-desk personnel for password resets and used telephone-oriented attack delivery to prime phishing victims into accepting…

As the back-to-school season approaches, equipping children with the tools and knowledge to navigate social media safely is crucial. In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in the lives of kids, offering both opportunities and challenges. Over 93% of teens in the U.S. use social media, and 68% of pre-teens also use social media.  From connecting with friends to showcasing their interests, social platforms offer many opportunities for self-expression and engagement. However, alongside the benefits come potential risks. How can parents be social media-savvy and help their kids stay safe on social media and empower them to…

Ransomware prevention and anti-data exfiltration (ADX) firm BlackFog disclosed Wednesday that ransomware attacks reached record levels throughout 2024. New groups, new variants, and the volume in which they appeared during the year highlight why ransomware is one of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges for organizations worldwide. In its report titled ‘2024 State of Ransomware Report,’ BlackFog detailed that 2024 was a pivotal year for ransomware, documenting 789 disclosed attacks and 5,159 undisclosed ones, marking year-over-year increases of 25 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The year kicked off with a record-breaking January, witnessing 76 attacks, a staggering 130 percent increase compared…

Picture this: A young computer scientist accidentally stumbles into a live hacking event and walks away having found vulnerabilities in Uber’s system. This isn’t the plot of a tech thriller – it’s the real-life story of Dr. Katie Paxton-Fear, age 30, whose “happy accident” in 2019 transformed her from a data scientist into one of cybersecurity’s most compelling voices and a highly paid bug bounty hunter. Her journey began with a traditional path in computer science, but a serendipitous invitation to a live hacking event changed everything. Where many might have seen a challenging and intimidating field, Katie saw an…

Critical infrastructure: The rising ransomware victim Ferhat Dikbiyik, the chief research and intelligence officer at Black Kite, explains how critical infrastructure providers can better protect their systems. Ferhat Dikbiyik February 26, 2025 5:14 pm 4 min read Organizations providing critical infrastructure are the lifelines that keep society functioning. Unfortunately, due to their importance, they have become prime targets for ransomware attacks. In fact, of the ransomware attacks that occurred in the past year, a staggering 88% were attacks on organizations in critical sectors. The infiltration of ransomware into America’s essential industries is a pressing concern because these systems can’t afford…

Companies are being warned that malicious hackers are using a novel technique to break into businesses – by pretending to offer audits of the company’s cybersecurity.With ransomware and other cybersecurity threats high in the mind of many business owners, it is all too easy to imagine how many companies might react positively to an invitation to have the security of their networks tested.But computer crime fighters in Belgium and Ukraine have warned that your business could be falling for a scam if it is duped into granting access to someone with malicious intent.Safeonweb, an initiative from the Centre for Cybersecurity…