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cybersecurity awareness

Educational content designed to help individuals and organizations recognize cyber threats and adopt safer digital behaviors. Topics include identifying scams, understanding attack vectors, building a security-first culture, and staying informed about evolving risks.

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phishing email

Phishing Email Attacks: What They Look Like in 2021

In May 2021, a single phishing email led to the shutdown of Colonial Pipeline — the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. The attackers used compromised credentials, likely harvested through a phishing campaign, to deploy ransomware that disrupted fuel supply across the entire East Coast. That one email triggered panic

Carl B. Johnson Aug 18, 2021 7 min read
computer security

Computer Security in 2021: What Actually Works Now

The Colonial Pipeline Hack Changed the Conversation On May 7, 2021, a single compromised password shut down the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Colonial Pipeline paid a $4.4 million ransom in Bitcoin to the DarkSide ransomware group. Gas stations across the Southeast ran dry. Panic buying erupted.

Carl B. Johnson Jun 03, 2021 7 min read
cyber security

Cyber Security Basics That Actually Stop Breaches

The Colonial Pipeline Hack Was a Wake-Up Call Nobody Should Have Needed On May 7, 2021, a single compromised password shut down the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Colonial Pipeline paid a $4.4 million ransom to the DarkSide threat actor group, and fuel shortages rippled across the

Carl B. Johnson Jun 01, 2021 6 min read
computer security software

Computer Security Software: What Actually Stops Breaches

The Colonial Pipeline Just Proved Your Software Isn't Enough On May 7, 2021, a single compromised password shut down the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Colonial Pipeline's systems went dark, gasoline shortages spread across the Southeast, and a ransomware gang called DarkSide walked away

Carl B. Johnson May 18, 2021 6 min read
insider threat indicators

Insider Threat Indicators: Spotting Danger Before Damage

In July 2020, a 17-year-old in Florida convinced a Twitter employee to hand over internal credentials. Within hours, the attacker hijacked accounts belonging to Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and Apple — tweeting a Bitcoin scam to millions. The breach didn't start with a sophisticated exploit or zero-day vulnerability. It

Carl B. Johnson Dec 12, 2020 7 min read
computer security

Computer Security in 2026: What Actually Works Now

The Breach That Changed How I Think About Computer Security In early 2024, Change Healthcare — one of the largest health payment processors in the United States — got hit with a ransomware attack that disrupted pharmacy operations, delayed patient care, and exposed the protected health information of roughly 100 million individuals.

Carl B. Johnson Feb 25, 2019 7 min read