A “Mishandled” Email is No Laughing Matter

Published February 8, 2023 by Kathleen Hyde

The basic concept of information security the CIA triangle illustrated by an IT expert on blue. A white person in a navy suit is in front of a blue stylized background with an overlay that the person is pointing to of a white glowing triangle with the text "security" inside the triangle and the words "confidentiality", "integrity", and "availability" on the points.

I wasn't planning to write a blog post this week, but sometimes something happens, and the creative juices start flowing. Or an opportunity is presented, and you just can't help yourself.

Yesterday I received an email from a vendor trying to sell me cybersecurity services, or rather to get me to become a partner and resell the vendor's services. The subject line of the email was meant to be an attention grabber. It read:

Customer Cybersecurity and Application Performance Issues? You want to read this email!

Hand holding magnifier glass showing a red danger sign in front of a pale blue background. Image licensed through Adobe Stock. — Something that might seem like a silly inconvenience, like a misdirected email, can reveal serious risks in your cybersecurity practices. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

Okay, I thought, I'll bite. One mouse click and the email was open.

Wait...whaaat? Is this a joke?

Cybersecurity Awareness Month…I’m Concerned

Published September 30, 2022 by Kathleen Hyde

Cybersecurity Awareness Month…I’m Concerned

A blackboard with the words "Call to action" written on it in chalk, with the "o" replaced by a stopwatch. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

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Ain image withpale green lines like a circuit board over a dark blue-violet background and the words National Cyber Security Month in pale green on the center left. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

Image licensed through Adobe Stock.[/caption] By this time in September, my inbox is typically overflowing with invitations to webinars and other events celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which begins tomorrow. This year I've received exactly one email - and the mention was part of sponsor content in a newsletter - that mentioned programming aimed at securing our digital lives. What? Wait a minute! Only one? Yes, only one and I had to do a search on my inbox to locate it. I'm not sure if I should be elated because it means I won't have to buy new batteries for my mouse so it can work overtime or if I should be extremely concerned. Is this situation because our security is in a place where we don't need to be worried anymore? Are most organizations waiting until October arrives to begin sharing their knowledge or using the event to market their security and privacy products and services? Or has cybersecurity awareness become background noise? I'm hoping it's not the latter. We are not at the point yet where we can take our foot off the gas pedal much less hit the brakes. But it does seem like a plausible explanation.

A New Normal Spells O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y

Published May 26, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

A New Normal Spells O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y

A man drinking coffee at his desk in an office when a warning pop up comes up on his computer screen. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

For those who shifted to working remotely in 2020, a new normal may mean a return to the office. Already, many organizations have started requiring staff to return to their cubicles and conference rooms. Unfortunately, these changes spell O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y for those who exploit vulnerabilities for fun, financial gain, or other, more nefarious, purposes.

Social Media and Very Real Consequences

Published April 8, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Social Media and Very Real Consequences

Worried student checking bad news on mobile phone sitting in a campus. Image licensed from Adobe Stock.

Content Warning: online harassment, blackmail, suicide I’m always saddened when I learn that someone has experienced the death of a child because I’ve been there. I know what that gut-wrenching, heart-stopping pain feels like and how, in an instant, everything in your life changes. I know what it feels like…

Influences of Words and Actions on History

Published March 4, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Influences of Words and Actions on History

Young engineer businesswoman with tablet in network server room. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

This week Monday wasn't just the first day of the work week or the first day of March. It was also the first day of Women's History Month. Though this year's theme is not related to cybersecurity, I want to draw attention to this month-long event that honors women's contributions in American history because our words and actions today have the power to influence history. Think of where we might be without the contributions of women, in light of this year's theme "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced", but also with respect to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). What would the world be like without the contributions of Edith Clarke, Grace Hopper, or Sally Ride?

Something Stinks and It’s in My Inbox

Published February 24, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Something Stinks and It’s in My Inbox

It’s a rare thing these days – without a thousand notifications or an online meeting – to have a plan come together. And yet, that’s what happened over the last few weeks as I started to think about this post. As if on cue, to remind me that I’d decided…

Let’s Talk About Sex

Published February 17, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Let’s Talk About Sex

A person in a suit with their hand behind their back and their fingers crossed. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

For those who thought this blog post would be about sex, I’ll let you in on a little secret so you don’t feel like you’ve wasted your time reading something you wouldn’t otherwise. It’s not. Instead, it’s about the email messages that, from time to time, make the rounds and…

Time For Romance, Love, and Due Diligence

Published February 10, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

February is the month when many look for love, celebrate love, or decide to spend their lives with the ones they love because of one day, the 14th. We can usually count on, in the days and weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, ads enticing us to buy flowers and jewelry, or…

Three Cautionary Tales

Published February 3, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Three Cautionary Tales

The title of this blog post doesn’t really capture the essence of it. I feel like the title should be something along the lines of “and now for something completely different” because what I planned to write and what I’m posting are two different things. Sometimes life gets in the…

Take Part in Data Privacy Day 2021

Published January 27, 2021 by Kathleen Hyde

Take Part in Data Privacy Day 2021

A blue image with an illustration of small people walking around over a computer with a lock on it promoting Data Privacy Day. Image licensed through Adobe Stock.

Do you know what tomorrow is? It’s January 28th, otherwise known as Global Community Engagement Day, International Lego Day, and National Blueberry Pancake Day. It’s also National Kazoo Day, Rubber Ducky Day, and Thank a Plugin Developer Day for those of you who love WordPress. Oh, it’s also Data Privacy Day,…