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Endpoint Security

Comprehensive resources on securing laptops, desktops, mobile devices, and other endpoints that connect to your network. Covers endpoint detection and response tools, device hardening, patch management, encryption, and policies that minimize the attack surface across distributed environments.

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Types of Malware

Types of Malware: A Field Guide from Real Breaches

In 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 800,000 complaints with losses exceeding $10.3 billion — and malware was the engine behind a staggering number of those incidents. I've spent years watching organizations get blindsided not because they lacked firewalls, but because

Carl B. Johnson Apr 10, 2023 7 min read
Adware vs Spyware

Adware vs Spyware: What's Actually Stealing Your Data

In February 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that malware-related complaints had surged again, with losses running into the hundreds of millions. Buried in those numbers is a distinction most people get wrong: adware vs spyware. I've watched organizations treat adware as a minor

Carl B. Johnson Apr 10, 2023 6 min read
Trojan Horse Malware

Trojan Horse Malware: How It Gets In and How to Stop It

In September 2022, Uber disclosed a breach that started with a single employee accepting a multi-factor authentication push notification they shouldn't have. The threat actor behind it — linked to the Lapsus$ group — had already compromised the employee's credentials. But the initial foothold? Social engineering and malware

Carl B. Johnson Jan 24, 2023 7 min read
Keylogger Attack

Keylogger Attack: How Hackers Steal Every Keystroke

In March 2022, the FBI issued a Private Industry Notification warning that cybercriminals were using keyloggers embedded in fake business invoices to compromise corporate networks. The attackers harvested credentials for weeks before anyone noticed. By then, the damage was done — financial accounts drained, email systems hijacked, and sensitive client data

Carl B. Johnson Jan 24, 2023 6 min read
Computer Virus Prevention

Computer Virus Prevention: 9 Steps That Actually Work

In January 2022, a single employee at a European oil storage company opened what looked like a routine invoice. Within hours, the BlackCat ransomware had encrypted critical systems across multiple terminals, disrupting fuel distribution for days. The virus didn't exploit some exotic zero-day vulnerability. It walked through the

Carl B. Johnson Aug 23, 2022 6 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
Ransomware

How Ransomware Spreads: 6 Attack Vectors You Must Know

In February 2022, the FBI and CISA issued a joint advisory warning that ransomware incidents against 14 of 16 U.S. critical infrastructure sectors had increased dramatically. That advisory wasn't theoretical — it followed real attacks against water treatment facilities, hospitals, and food processors. If you're searching

Carl B. Johnson Mar 18, 2022 7 min read
Remote Work Cybersecurity Tips

Remote Work Cybersecurity Tips That Actually Work

In July 2021, a remote employee at a Florida IT management firm clicked a link that looked like a routine software update. Within hours, the REvil ransomware gang had compromised Kaseya's VSA platform and cascaded the attack to an estimated 1,500 downstream businesses. The initial foothold? A

Carl B. Johnson Jan 15, 2022 6 min read
Mobile Device Security Policy

Mobile Device Security Policy: A Practical Guide

In April 2021, the FBI's IC3 reported a sharp rise in mobile-focused phishing attacks — schemes specifically designed to exploit the smaller screens and always-on nature of smartphones. I've watched organizations pour millions into securing their perimeters while ignoring the devices employees actually use the most. The

Carl B. Johnson Dec 22, 2021 7 min read
BYOD Security Risks

BYOD Security Risks: What Your Policy Is Missing

A Single Employee's Phone Just Cost This Company Everything In August 2021, T-Mobile confirmed a massive data breach affecting over 50 million people. While the full attack chain was complex, the reality is that personal devices connecting to corporate environments create attack surfaces that most IT teams drastically

Carl B. Johnson Dec 22, 2021 7 min read