Computer Security US Blog

Computer Security News and Insights

Identity Theft Protection

Identity Theft Protection for Businesses: A Field Guide

In March 2021, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that business email compromise and identity theft schemes cost U.S. organizations over $4.2 billion in 2020 alone — making it the single most expensive category of cybercrime. That number isn't slowing down. If you run

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read
Multi-Factor Authentication

Authenticator App vs SMS Verification: Which Is Safer?

In February 2021, T-Mobile disclosed a data breach that exposed customer phone numbers and SIM information. That same month, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center continued logging a surge in SIM swap complaints — a threat that directly undermines SMS-based two-factor authentication. If your organization still relies on text

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read
Cybersecurity Glossary

Cybersecurity Glossary for Beginners: 40 Terms to Know

During the 2020 SolarWinds breach investigation, I watched a boardroom full of executives stare blankly when an incident responder mentioned "lateral movement" and "supply chain compromise." They had no idea what was happening to their own network — not because they were negligent, but because nobody had

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 8 min read
Cybersecurity Terms Explained

Cybersecurity Terms Explained: A No-Nonsense Guide

In May 2021, Colonial Pipeline paid a $4.4 million ransom after a single compromised password shut down fuel delivery across the U.S. East Coast. The post-incident reporting was filled with jargon — ransomware, threat actor, credential theft, attack vector — that left most non-technical readers glazing over. Here's

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read
Malware

What Is Malware? A Security Pro's Real-World Guide

The Colonial Pipeline Attack Changed Everything In May 2021, a single compromised password led to the most disruptive cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure in history. DarkSide ransomware shut down Colonial Pipeline's 5,500-mile fuel system, triggering gas shortages across the eastern seaboard. The company paid a $4.

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read
Types of Malware

Types of Malware: What's Actually Hitting Networks in 2021

Colonial Pipeline Was Just the Beginning In May 2021, a single compromised password shut down the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Colonial Pipeline paid DarkSide operators $4.4 million in ransom. Fuel shortages rippled across the Southeast for days. That attack used just one of the many types

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read