Blog
The CybSafe blog is a collection of stories, updates and guidance for people-centric security professionals.
![[FREE] A beginner’s introduction to cyber security & the human aspect of cyber security](https://www.cybsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screenshot-2020-08-06-at-11.52.05-400x250.png)
[FREE] A beginner’s introduction to cyber security & the human aspect of cyber security
This list of free (or cheap) resources is a good introduction to the world of cyber security and the human aspect of cyber security. It’s by no means exhaustive, covering only the most fundamental concepts. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to start for beginners and...
Zero-trust is up post-COVID-19, but you’d be wrong for thinking it will keep networks safe.
“Now a good chunk of your critical assets are behind the firewall, but all your employees are not.” That’s what NetMotion CEO Christopher Kenessey said recently. He was summarising the problem we’re all facing: All of a sudden, the working world has changed. How can...
How to make sure remote workers learn security skills from others – Part 2
As we discussed in part one of this post, isolation restricts remote worker security. (Read part one here before continuing.) Remote workers can’t watch others. They rarely receive verbal feedback. And even if they did, remote workers tend to feel their environment...
Security awareness is dead. Long live borderless security awareness.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve all known it for a long time. Posters. Compulsory e-learning. Seminars and desk-drops. They’re security awareness staples. And they’re now all, without question, ineffective. They’re designed to teach people about security. Just...
Does isolation restrict remote worker security? – Part 1
Research shows how “social learning” impacts security skills – and it says a lot about securing remote workers. Remote working is here to stay. And there are benefits. But when it comes to security, remote working poses a problem. Remote workers know less about...
From 8th-12th of June 2020, PeepSec is back! Here’s what to expect…
From 8th-12th June 2020, the official London Tech Week event PeepSec is back! You can register to attend for free here. And there's good reason to. In 2020, PeepSec is perhaps more relevant than it’s ever been before... What is PeepSec? PeepSec is the world’s first...
How to secure Zoom, Houseparty and other video conferencing apps
We can all take steps to increase the security of video conferencing apps. This guide explains how. General tips Some general actions enhance the security of all video conferencing apps, such as: 1. Updating software Software updates patch known vulnerabilities and...
Why some people may take more security risks when working remotely
And a free resource to ensure they don’t... It’s 9:30am on a Wednesday and CybSafe’s Sam Oliver looks a little odd. He’s just joined a regular CybSafe meeting. It’s a meeting to which Sam usually wears business dress. But today Sam is dressed casually. And he isn’t...
Why I’m delighted with Forrester’s recognition of CybSafe
Independent Research Firm Forrester has named CybSafe a leader in its Security Awareness and Training Solutions report. According to CybSafe CEO Oz Alashe, it’s a big step towards keeping people and societies safe. A “leader” in our field CybSafe has been named a...
Six security essentials for those working from home
The COVID-19 outbreak is promoting remote working. Here’s how to minimise cyber risk when working from home 1. Use company-approved devices Mental blueprints dictate how we behave in any given situation. Our blueprints might prompt us to use personal laptops...
Cyber criminals are using COVID-19 cover stories in new phishing attacks
Here’s how to spot and stop the attacks Criminals are using COVID-19 stories to convince people to do things they’d never normally do. In one deplorable scam, cyber criminals email elderly targets. The criminals claim they represent medical organisations. They ask for...
Why we need new and better human cyber risk metrics
To make a difference as a security professional today, you need board support. You need resources. You need directors to trust and back you. You need organisational leaders to promote security. So whenever you have the board’s attention – or the attention of those who...
Why do some organisations use two security awareness training solutions at once?
Why do some organisations often use two or more security awareness training solutions at once? That’s a question that grabbed our attention when it popped up on social recently. The comment highlighted the following security oddity… Increasing numbers of organisations...
What we learned at SABS4CYBER 2019 – Part 2 of 2
This is part two of a blog reviewing key takeaways from SABS4CYBER 2019. The annual conference to highlight the contributions social and behavioural sciences can make to cyber security. You can read part one here. Multitasking a cause for concern? Dr. Helen Jones...
What we learned at SABS4CYBER 2019 – Part 1 of 2
SABS4CYBER is an annual conference that shines a spotlight on social and behavioural sciences. More specifically, SABS4CYBER puts the people using social and behavioural science to solve security challenges into the spotlight. This year, we were super excited to host...
What we learned at PeepSec 2019 – Part II
What we learned at PeepSec 2019 - part two This is Part Two of a post reviewing key takeaways from PeepSec 2019. You can read Part One here. To access the free video recordings of every talk from PeepSec 2019, register here. Day three JLT CISO Simon Legg...
What we learned at PeepSec 2019 – Part I
Following its inauguration in 2018, PeepSec returned in 2019 to facilitate further discussion on the opportunities and issues born from the interactions between people and technology. Over five days, 30 experts offered world-leading insights into areas...
Using AI and machine learning to improve cyber defences and reduce human cyber risk
To understand how AI and machine learning can reduce cyber risk, it’s worth considering how a typical taxi journey will look in a few years time. Today, when you jump into a taxi, you’re greeted by a driver who might inquire into your preference of radio...
Let’s punish phishing victims… er, you want to do what?!
There is a big, hairy elephant in the room when it comes to phishing: Many organisations believe that it’s okay, or right, or that they have no choice other than to punish people who repeatedly fail phishing simulations. Are they right? Before we answer that, let’s...
In the absence of a secure culture, reducing cyber risk could be impossible
To understand why it might be impossible to reduce human cyber risk without a secure culture, it’s worth considering a series of experiments from the world of behavioural science. The experiments weren’t designed to uncover security insights. Rather,...
You are almost certainly miscalculating your cyber risk
Unconvinced? Here’s a demonstration. Although it might not seem like it, people’s actions following 9/11 demonstrate just how likely it is you’re miscalculating your cyber risk. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, people began to change their travel...