passwordsA how-not-to guide to password policies
Examples of password policies that will have users tearing their hair out — and why you shouldn’t employ them.
Alanna Titterington
40 articles
twitterScammers with blue checkmarks on Twitter X
Fraudsters are buying blue checkmarks to impersonate well-known brands on X (ex-Twitter) and scam users.
What Google Ad Topics is, and how to disable it
We explore what Google Ad Topics is, how it functions, and how to disable it. Along the way, we discuss the related topics of Google FLoC, Privacy Sandbox, and the demise of third-party cookies.
Password storage as the cornerstone of security
How online services should store user passwords, and how to minimize the damage in the event of a leak or hack.
vulnerabilitiesSecurity of Electron-based desktop applications
A few words on why desktop applications based on the Electron framework should be approached with caution.
The Fediverse: what is it, what’s it for, and how does it work?
We explain what the Fediverse is, how it works, where you can experience it today, and what to expect in the future.
windowsWrong system time and insecure Secure Time Seeding
Why the Windows system time can suddenly change, and how to stop it from happening.
threat intelligenceOSINT: what’s the danger, and how to stay safe
We explain what OSINT is, why it has to be front-of-mind at all times, and how to guard against hackers using it.
tipsWhat to patch first: prioritizing updates
Some thoughts on what PC software patches should be prioritized and why.
privacyThe perils of short links
How URL shorteners work, how they can be used, and the privacy and security threats they pose.
Information security gadgets
Gadgets to help protect employees’ devices against hackers and other threats.
Airbnb security: tips for safe travel
Four threats you might face when using Airbnb, and tips for avoiding them.
How to make your Threads account more private and secure
Here’s how to set up Threads to make your profile both private and secure.
Three high-profile social engineering hacks
How social engineering helped hack the CIA chief, hijack Elon Musk and Joe Biden’s Twitter accounts, and steal half-a-billion dollars.
To Threads or Not to Threads? That is the privacy question
Discussing privacy in Threads, and whether you should sign up to Zuckerberg’s Twitter clone.
Malicious extensions in the Chrome Web Store
A few dozen malicious extensions — with a combined 87 million downloads — discovered in Google’s Chrome Web Store.
Mario Forever, malware too: a free game with a miner and Trojans inside
Malicious versions of the free-to-download game Super Mario 3: Mario Forever plant a miner and a stealer on gamers’ machines.
Web skimmers: why are they particularly sneaky and dangerous?
What web skimmers are, why you should keep a look out for them when shopping online, and how to protect yourself.
Types of two-factor authentication: pros and cons
What two-factor authentication types are out there, and which ones should be preferred.
What’s the best way to lock your smartphone?
Which screen-locking method best protects your Android smartphone: PIN code, password, pattern lock, fingerprint, or face recognition?