Author: Ali

Quick answer: Cyber security due diligence is the assessment of a target company’s security posture, history and risks before a merger, acquisition or investment. It reviews governance, past breaches, technical controls, compliance and third-party exposure, and its findings can change the price, contract terms and integration plan. Done well, it prevents the buyer from inheriting a hidden breach. Cyber due diligence in four stagesCyber due diligence in four stagesPre-deal reviewPublic data, breach history and external exposureDetailed assessmentQuestionnaires, documents and interviewsTechnical testingScans and compromise assessment where allowedDeal and integrationPrice, warranties and a 100-day security plancybersnowden.com When you buy a company, you…

Quick answer: In July and August 2026, Iran-linked hackers known as CyberAv3ngers targeted water systems in at least a dozen US states, affecting more than 100 facilities, and disrupted operational technology at more than 30 municipal water systems in Minnesota. The same group had previously hacked industrial controllers at US water utilities in 2023. The attacks exploited industrial devices exposed to the internet. Key facts DateJuly to August 2026 (earlier campaign in November 2023) TargetsWater utilities in at least a dozen US states Type of attackAttacks on industrial control systems (operational technology) AttackerCyberAv3ngers, linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) ImpactMore…

To secure a WordPress website, keep WordPress, themes, plugins and PHP updated, protect admin accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication, remove unused plugins, take off-site backups, and add a web application firewall. Most hacked WordPress sites were running outdated plugins, not a flaw in WordPress itself. This checklist covers each step in order of impact. Key takeawaysOutdated plugins and themes are the most common way WordPress sites are hacked.Turn on automatic updates and remove plugins you do not use.Use two-factor authentication for every administrator account.Keep off-site backups so you can restore quickly if something goes wrong. Why do WordPress…

Quick answer: Personal cyber security services protect individuals and families rather than businesses. They range from consumer products, such as identity theft monitoring, password managers and antivirus bundles, to concierge services that secure devices, home networks and online accounts for executives, public figures and high-net-worth families. Most people can get strong protection by combining a few low-cost tools with good habits. What personal cyber security services coverWhat personal cyber security services coverIdentity protectionCredit and dark web monitoring, restoration helpDevice securityAntivirus, updates and home network checksAccount securityPassword managers and multifactor authenticationPrivacyData broker removal and social media checkscybersnowden.com Criminals target individuals as…

On the night of November 1 to 2, 2026, attackers took remote control of refrigeration systems in supermarkets across Europe and switched fridges and freezers to defrost. By morning, more than 115 stores in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg, Ireland and Estonia had warm freezers and spoiled food. This was the second wave. Three weeks earlier, the same method hit hundreds of supermarkets in France. No data was stolen and no ransom was demanded. The attackers simply turned off the cold. Key takeaways Attackers reached refrigeration controllers that were exposed to the internet and set them to defrost overnight. More…

Quick answer: A cyber security technician is a hands-on, often entry-level role that installs, maintains and monitors security tools such as firewalls, endpoint protection, backups and access controls. Technicians apply patches, review alerts, help users with secure access and escalate incidents to analysts or engineers. Typical routes in are IT support experience plus an entry-level certification such as CompTIA Security+. A cyber security technician's dayA cyber security technician's dayMaintain toolsFirewalls, endpoint protection and backupsMonitor alertsCheck logs and escalate suspicious activityFix weaknessesApply patches and secure configurationsSupport usersAccount access, MFA and security questionscybersnowden.com Technician roles are a practical entry point into security,…

Quick answer: In late March 2026, toymaker Hasbro discovered hackers inside its systems. Its website was unavailable for weeks, the disruption forced the company to delay a quarterly filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and personal information of a few hundred employees was affected. In May 2026, Hasbro said the hackers were no longer in its systems and recovery was underway. Key facts DateDiscovered late March 2026; all-clear announced May 2026 OrganizationHasbro (toys and games, United States) Type of attackIntrusion causing a long outage AttackerNot publicly named ImpactWebsite down for weeks; delayed SEC quarterly filing; a few hundred…

DMARC, SPF and DKIM are three DNS records that prove an email really came from your domain. SPF lists the servers allowed to send your mail, DKIM adds a digital signature, and DMARC tells receiving servers what to do with mail that fails those checks. Together they stop criminals sending email as your company, and since 2024 Google and Yahoo require them for bulk senders. Key takeawaysSPF says which servers may send email for your domain.DKIM signs each email so the receiver can check it was not altered.DMARC sets the policy (none, quarantine or reject) and sends you reports.Roll DMARC…

Quick answer: The SAMA Cyber Security Framework is the cyber security standard issued by the Saudi Central Bank (formerly the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority) for regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia. It is organized into four domains: leadership and governance, risk management and compliance, operations and technology, and third-party security. Organizations measure themselves against a maturity model, with level 3 generally expected as the minimum. The four domains of the SAMA frameworkThe four domains of the SAMA frameworkLeadership and governanceStrategy, policy, roles and awarenessRisk management and complianceRisk assessment, regulatory compliance and auditOperations and technologyControls for systems, data and monitoringThird-party securityOutsourcing,…

Quick answer: Chemical companies should treat cyber security as a safety issue as well as an IT issue. The core best practices are separating business IT from plant operational technology (OT), protecting safety instrumented systems, tightly controlling remote and vendor access, keeping an accurate asset inventory, monitoring OT networks, and running joint IT, OT and process safety incident drills. Multinationals also need consistent standards across every site. Priorities for chemical company securityPriorities for chemical company securitySeparate IT and OTZones and conduits between business and plant networksProtect safety systemsIsolate safety instrumented systemsControl remote accessMFA, jump hosts and vendor approvalPlan for incidentsJoint…