The rate of cyber-attacks has significantly increased over the past few years. Districts of all sizes are at risk of becoming victims of them, which is why it’s crucial that district leaders are aware of the most common cyber threats impacting the educational community today.
Do You Know Four of the Most Common Cyber-Attacks?
Tech Tidbit – Making Passwords Simpler and Harder
Last week I discussed the need to have all passwords minimally 12-18 characters to remain safe. While that is an absolute security requirement, we all know that our users are going to be pretty upset with this policy change.
Are Your Educators unknowingly opening your district to attack?
Everyone has heard about the cyber attack on casino giants MGM and Caesars Entertainment in September 2023. It is alleged that the attack on MGM was done via a phone scam that a hacker pulled on a help desk employee.
CISA Step 5 -Develop and Exercise a Cyber Incident Response Plan
Today we continue with our series discussing the highest priority cybersecurity steps as identified in the January 2023 CISA published report “Partnering to SafeGuard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats.
Tech Tidbit – Adobe Flash is dead! I say again, Adobe Flash is dead!
Reality Check – Adobe FLASH IS DEAD! THERE SHOULD BE NO FLASH IN YOUR NETWORK! As I start seeing more and more of these vulnerability scans from districts as we prepare for our upcoming new service offering which includes vulnerability scans, I have been dumbfounded that I have seen what is purported to be Adobe […]
CISA Step 4 – Minimize Exposure to Common Attacks
Today we continue with our series discussing the highest priority cybersecurity steps as identified in the January 2023 CISA published report “Partnering to SafeGuard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats.
CISA Step 3 – Perform and Test Backups
Today we continue with our series discussing the highest priority cybersecurity steps as identified in the January 2023 CISA published report “Partnering to SafeGuard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats.
Tech Tidbit – Network Documentation – What’s in your share drive?
Your district network is complex. You have lots of VLANs. You have lots of servers and endpoints. Lots of UPSes, switches, and on and on. Then you have outside vendors who have their own equipment on your network. My question for you this week is, “Where are all your network documentation, vendor documentation, and passwords […]
Tech Tidbit – Your world must be a commercial SSL world
Add the last “S” for security. I remember the old mattress commercials. You left the last “S” of the phone number for savings. In our world, we need to always make sure we have the last “S” for security.
Tech Tidbit – The FBI has issued a warning about malware hiding in fake search engine ads
The FBI has just issued a warning that cyber criminals are using search engine fake ads to launch cyber-attacks. Their suggestions are excellent. You can help battle malicious sites by implementing some form of DNS filtering.