Carl B. Johnson
Author

Carl B. Johnson

vCISO and compliance expert.

https://carlbjohnson.com

posts

Computer Security Companies

Computer Security Companies: What They Won't Tell You

The Blind Spot That Computer Security Companies Sell Around In March 2022, Okta — one of the most prominent identity management vendors in the world — confirmed that the Lapsus$ threat actor group had compromised a third-party support engineer's laptop and accessed internal systems. An identity security company, breached through

Carl B. Johnson Jul 30, 2022 7 min read
Cyber Security

Cyber Security Basics That Stop 90% of Attacks

The Breach That Started With a Single Password In May 2021, a single compromised password shut down the Colonial Pipeline and triggered fuel shortages across the Eastern United States. The attackers used a stolen VPN credential — no multi-factor authentication, no zero trust architecture, just one reused password. That's

Carl B. Johnson Jul 30, 2022 6 min read
Home Computer Security

How Can You Protect Your Home Computer in 2022

In March 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that Americans lost over $6.9 billion to cybercrime in 2021 — a 64% increase from the year before. A staggering number of those victims weren't Fortune 500 companies. They were regular people, sitting at home computers,

Carl B. Johnson Jul 30, 2022 7 min read
Computer Virus Prevention

Computer Virus Prevention: 9 Steps That Actually Work

The Virus That Cost One Hospital Chain $67 Million In 2017, the NotPetya attack crippled organizations worldwide. Heritage Valley Health System in Pennsylvania lost access to its entire network. Surgeries were delayed. Patient records vanished. The total global damage from NotPetya exceeded $10 billion, according to the White House. And

Carl B. Johnson Jul 30, 2022 6 min read
Cyber Security Definition

Cyber Security Definition: What It Really Means in 2022

Costa Rica declared a national emergency in May 2022 after the Conti ransomware gang crippled 27 government institutions. Tax systems went offline. Foreign trade ground to a halt. An entire country — not just a company — was brought to its knees by a cyberattack. If you think the cyber security definition

Carl B. Johnson Jun 27, 2022 7 min read
Computer Security Jobs Pay

Computer Security Jobs Pay: What You'll Earn in 2022

3.5 Million Open Positions and Salaries That Reflect the Desperation Cybersecurity Ventures projects 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally in 2025. We're already feeling the squeeze in 2022. That talent gap isn't just a headline — it's the single biggest driver of what

Carl B. Johnson Jun 20, 2022 6 min read
Computer Security Service

Computer Security Service: What Actually Works in 2022

The Colonial Pipeline Fallout Changed Everything About How We Buy Security One year ago, a single compromised password shut down the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Colonial Pipeline paid $4.4 million in ransom. Gas stations across the Southeast ran dry. And the FBI later confirmed that the

Carl B. Johnson Jun 20, 2022 7 min read
Cybersecurity Definition

Cybersecurity Definition: What It Actually Means in 2022

In March 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that Americans lost over $6.9 billion to cybercrime in 2021 — a 64% jump from the year before. That number makes the standard cybersecurity definition you'll find in a textbook feel almost dangerously quaint. If you&

Carl B. Johnson Jun 20, 2022 6 min read
Cloud Computing Security

Cloud Computing Security: What Goes Wrong and How to Fix It

In April 2022, researchers at Palo Alto Unit 42 reported that nearly 99% of cloud user accounts, services, and resources grant excessive permissions — permissions that are granted but never used. That gap between what's allowed and what's needed is exactly where threat actors operate. If you&

Carl B. Johnson Jun 20, 2022 6 min read
Define Cyber

Define Cyber: What It Really Means for Your Security

In May 2021, a single compromised password shut down Colonial Pipeline — the largest fuel pipeline in the United States — for six days. The company paid a $4.4 million ransom. Flights were disrupted. Gas stations ran dry across the Southeast. All because one set of credentials was exposed on the

Carl B. Johnson Jun 20, 2022 6 min read