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security awareness training

Resources and best practices for designing and delivering effective security awareness training programs. Covers phishing simulations, compliance requirements, behavior change techniques, measuring training effectiveness, and fostering a culture of vigilance across organizations.

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computer security

Computer Security in 2022: What Actually Works Now

In March 2022, Okta confirmed that the Lapsus$ threat actor group had accessed an internal support engineer's laptop, potentially affecting hundreds of downstream customers. A few weeks before that, the same group hit Nvidia, Samsung, and Microsoft. These weren't obscure targets. These were companies with massive

Carl B. Johnson Aug 11, 2022 6 min read
CISA cybersecurity guidelines

CISA Cybersecurity Guidelines: What They Mean for You

The Federal Agency Most Hackers Wish You'd Ignore In May 2021, Colonial Pipeline paid $4.4 million in ransom after a single compromised password shut down fuel delivery across the Eastern Seaboard. Within days, CISA — the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — issued an advisory with specific defensive measures

Carl B. Johnson Jan 01, 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 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
cybersecurity

Cybersecurity in 2021: What Actually Works Right Now

The Colonial Pipeline Attack Changed Everything 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 Americans along the East Coast panic-bought gasoline for days. That'

Carl B. Johnson Jul 01, 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
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