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email security

Covers email security protocols, tools, and best practices for protecting inboxes from spam, malware, phishing, and unauthorized access. Topics include SPF, DKIM, DMARC configuration, email encryption, and secure communication policies for organizations.

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phishing meaning

Phishing Meaning: What It Really Is and Why It Works

In January 2024, a finance employee at a multinational firm in Hong Kong transferred $25.6 million to criminals after a video call with what appeared to be the company's CFO. Every person on that call was a deepfake. That's where phishing lives now — far beyond

Carl B. Johnson Sep 18, 2024 7 min read
FBI Gmail

FBI Gmail Warning: What You Need to Know in 2024

The FBI Gmail Alerts That Should Have Your Attention In early 2024, the FBI issued multiple warnings about sophisticated attacks targeting Gmail users — and the threat landscape has only intensified since. These aren't the clumsy Nigerian prince scams of a decade ago. Threat actors are now using AI-generated

Carl B. Johnson Jul 13, 2024 6 min read
phishing meaning

Phishing Meaning: What It Really Looks Like in 2022

In March 2022, threat actors used a simple phishing text message to breach Okta through a third-party contractor, Sitel. That single compromised credential gave attackers access to internal systems supporting thousands of Okta's customers. The attack didn't require sophisticated malware or a zero-day exploit. It required

Carl B. Johnson Oct 24, 2022 7 min read
phish

How One Phish Can Sink Your Entire Organization

A Single Phish Took Down a $4 Billion Pipeline In May 2021, a single compromised password — likely harvested through a phish or credential reuse — gave attackers access to Colonial Pipeline's network. The result: a ransomware attack that shut down 5,500 miles of fuel pipeline, triggered gas shortages

Carl B. Johnson Aug 31, 2021 8 min read
phishing meaning

Phishing Meaning: What It Really Is and Why It Works

In May 2021, Ireland's Health Service Executive got hit with a Conti ransomware attack that started with a single phishing email. One employee opened one malicious Excel attachment, and the entire national healthcare system went offline for weeks. That's the real-world weight behind the phishing meaning

Carl B. Johnson Aug 25, 2021 7 min read
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
phishing emails

How to Spot Phishing Emails Before They Cost You

In July 2021, a single phishing email led to a ransomware attack that shut down fuel deliveries across the entire U.S. East Coast. The Colonial Pipeline breach started — like most breaches do — with a compromised credential. If one employee had known how to spot phishing emails, $4.4 million

Carl B. Johnson Aug 18, 2021 7 min read
phishing email

How to Recognize a Phishing Email Before You Click

The Colonial Pipeline Attack Started with a Single Compromised Credential As I write this, Colonial Pipeline is still scrambling to restore fuel delivery to the southeastern United States after a ransomware attack that shut down 5,500 miles of pipeline. The FBI confirmed DarkSide as the threat actor. While the

Carl B. Johnson May 13, 2021 7 min read