Tag

Threat Prevention

posts

Phishing

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

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 298,000 phishing complaints — making it the most reported cybercrime category for the fifth consecutive year. And those are just the ones people actually reported. If you're asking what is phishing, you're asking the

Carl B. Johnson May 30, 2026 6 min read
Ransomware

What Is Ransomware? A Security Pro's Blunt Guide

A Single Click That Cost a Hospital $22 Million In February 2024, Change Healthcare — the payment processing backbone for thousands of U.S. hospitals and pharmacies — was hit by the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group. UnitedHealth Group, its parent company, confirmed paying approximately $22 million in ransom. The attack disrupted prescription

Carl B. Johnson Aug 11, 2025 7 min read
Ransomware

What Is Ransomware? A Security Pro's Blunt Guide

In September 2023, MGM Resorts watched its slot machines go dark, hotel room keys stop working, and reservation systems crash — all because a threat actor social-engineered the company's help desk with a ten-minute phone call. The attackers deployed ransomware that cost MGM an estimated $100 million in lost

Carl B. Johnson Feb 28, 2024 6 min read
Ransomware

What Is Ransomware? A Practical Defense Guide for 2021

In February 2021, Kia Motors America was hit with a ransomware attack reportedly demanding $20 million in Bitcoin. Customers couldn't access dealer portals. Internal systems went dark. The company spent days scrambling to restore operations. This wasn't an isolated event — it was the latest in a

Carl B. Johnson Mar 31, 2021 6 min read
Malware

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

The Attack That Shut Down 100 Romanian Hospitals In February 2024, a ransomware attack hit over 100 hospitals across Romania, forcing them offline and back to pen-and-paper operations. Patient data was encrypted. Emergency services were disrupted. The attack vector? Malware that slipped through a single vulnerable system and spread laterally

Carl B. Johnson May 08, 2020 7 min read