Author: Robert Timlick

  • Amnesty Finds Cellebrite’s Zero-Day Used to Unlock Serbian Activist’s Android Phone

    Amnesty Finds Cellebrite’s Zero-Day Used to Unlock Serbian Activist’s Android Phone

    A 23-year-old Serbian youth activist had their Android phone targeted by a zero-day exploit developed by Cellebrite to unlock the device, according to a new report from Amnesty International.
    “The Android phone of one student protester was exploited and unlocked by a sophisticated zero-day exploit chain targeting Android USB drivers, developed by Cellebrite,” the international non-governmental
  • Oregon lawmakers consider consumer protections for ambulance services

    Oregon lawmakers consider consumer protections for ambulance services

    House Bill 3243, which is opposed by insurance plans, calls for locally set reimbursement rates.
  • Former Gresham hotel to be converted to apartments

    Former Gresham hotel to be converted to apartments

    The property was built in 1996 and operated as a Quality Inn until last week.
  • RDP: a Double-Edged Sword for IT Teams – Essential Yet Exploitable

    RDP: a Double-Edged Sword for IT Teams – Essential Yet Exploitable

    Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is an amazing technology developed by Microsoft that lets you access and control another computer over a network. It’s like having your office computer with you wherever you go. For businesses, this means IT staff can manage systems remotely, and employees can work from home or anywhere, making RDP a true game-changer in today’s work environment.
    But here’s the
  • Microsoft Exposes LLMjacking Cybercriminals Behind Azure AI Abuse Scheme

    Microsoft Exposes LLMjacking Cybercriminals Behind Azure AI Abuse Scheme

    Microsoft on Thursday unmasked four of the individuals that it said were behind an Azure Abuse Enterprise scheme that involves leveraging unauthorized access to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) services in order to produce offensive and harmful content.
    The campaign, called LLMjacking, has targeted various AI offerings, including Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. The tech giant is
  • Best Practices for Secure Data Backup

    Best Practices for Secure Data Backup

    These days, everything is digital. We deal with data every day: from personal photos to work files that hold a lot of value. What happens if you lose that? Well, this is the reason behind doing secure backups of data. Let’s go through some best practices to keep your data safe and secure.

    What is Data Backup?

    Data backup refers to the creation of a copy of your data. The copy can be used in the event of loss or destruction of the original data. Backups can be stored on various devices, such as external hard drives, or in the cloud. Having a backup ensures you don’t lose important information.

    Why is Secure Backup Important?

    Backing up will save your data from being lost forever. Sometimes computers crash or get viruses. Other times, you may delete some important files accidentally. If you do not have a backup, then you could lose everything. Backing up your data keeps it safe from these problems.

    How Often Should You Back Up Your Data?

    Backing up your data is very important and should be done regularly. Some people back up their data every day, while others do it on a weekly basis. It depends on how often your data changes. If you have important files that change daily, then you should back them up every day. Regular backups mean you will always have the latest version of your files.

    What Are the Different Types of Backups?

    There are several types of backups you can use:

    Full Backup

    A full backup copies all your data. It takes more time and space but is very thorough.

    Incremental Backup

    An incremental backup only copies new or changed files since the last backup. It saves time and space.

    Differential Backup

    A differential backup copies all changes made since the last full backup. It’s faster than a full backup but takes more space than an incremental one.

    Where to Store Your Backups

    The place of storage for your backups is an important consideration:

    External Hard Drives

    These are physical devices you can store at home or at work. It’s convenient, but they can get lost or damaged.

    Cloud Storage

    It keeps your backups online, so it is safe from any form of physical damage. It’s also easily accessible from any location.

    Offsite Storage

    Offsite storage means keeping backups in a different location than your main data. This protects against theft or natural disasters.

    How Can You Ensure Your Backups Are Secure?

    Keeping your backups secure is as important as making them:

    Use Encryption

    Encryption scrambles your data so only you can read it. This keeps it safe from hackers.

    Set Strong Passwords

    Use strong passwords for all your backup accounts and devices. This prevents unauthorized access.

    Regularly Test Your Backups

    Testing ensures that your backups work properly. Try restoring a file to make sure everything is correct.

    What Tools Can Help With Data Backup?

    Many tools can help automate and manage backups:

    Backup Software

    Backup software can schedule and perform backups automatically. This makes it easier to keep up with regular backups.

    Cloud Services

    Many cloud services include automatic backups in their package. They provide extra security features too.

    What Should You Avoid In Data Backup?

    Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid while backing up your data:

    Not Having Multiple Copies

    Always have more than one copy of your backup in different places.

    Ignoring Security Updates

    Keep all backup software and devices updated to protect against new threats.

    How Can You Make A Backup Plan?

    Creating a backup plan helps you get organized by:

    1. Determining what data should be backed up.
    2. Frequency of backups.
    3. Where the backups will be located.
    4. Reminders to test regularly.

    Take Action To Protect Your Data Today!

    Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your data. Start backing up today! Secure your important files by following these best practices for data backup. If you need help setting up a secure backup system, contact us today!

    —

    Featured Image Credit

    This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

  • 12,000+ API Keys and Passwords Found in Public Datasets Used for LLM Training

    12,000+ API Keys and Passwords Found in Public Datasets Used for LLM Training

    A dataset used to train large language models (LLMs) has been found to contain nearly 12,000 live secrets, which allow for successful authentication.
    The findings once again highlight how hard-coded credentials pose a severe security risk to users and organizations alike, not to mention compounding the problem when LLMs end up suggesting insecure coding practices to their users.
    Truffle
  • Berri Leslie, Oregon’s top bureaucrat, to step down in June

    Berri Leslie, Oregon’s top bureaucrat, to step down in June

    Leslie runs the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.
  • French restaurant Canard adds Beaverton location

    French restaurant Canard adds Beaverton location

    Portland French restaurant Canard is opening a third location, this time on the west side of the metro.
  • Oregon DMV will resume automatic voter registration

    Oregon DMV will resume automatic voter registration

    Gov. Tina Kotek paused the practice in October after DMV erroneously registered non-citizens to vote.