#baseline-security-mode

#baseline-security-mode

A search for 'Guo Wei' in ORCID returned 616 profiles, none affiliated with the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, highlighting the difficulty in verifying academic identities.

I've always had what I would consider a hacker mindset, a curiosity to take things apart, understand them, and use that knowledge to solve problems. That mindset took me on a circuitous route into the cybersecurity industry; after being kicked out of high school for hacking computer systems, I worked a range of jobs, managing office supply companies by day and cracking Wi-Fi networks by night until I started a Digital Forensics degree which led me to the world of security research.

The methodology involved assessing Comparitech's Most Common Password report and NordPass's Top 200 Most Common Passwords list, then leveraging KeywordTool to determine search volumes to find the 25 most common passwords based on global popularity. According to the research, higher search volumes could suggest higher public interest, which could lead to higher password usage. Therefore, this places those passwords at a greater risk of being hacked.

Near-identical password reuse occurs when users make small, predictable changes to an existing password rather than creating a completely new one. While these changes satisfy formal password rules, they do little to reduce real-world exposure. Here are some classic examples: Adding or changing a number Summer2023! → Summer2024! Appending a character Swapping symbols or capitalization Welcome! → Welcome? AdminPass → adminpass Another common scenario occurs when organizations issue a standard starter password to new employees, and instead of replacing it entirely, users make incremental changes over time to remain compliant.

For mid-market organizations, cybersecurity is a constant balancing act. Proactive, preventative security measures are essential to protect an expanding attack surface. Combined with effective protection that blocks threats, they play a critical role in stopping cyberattacks before damage is done. The challenge is that many security tools add complexity and cost that most mid-market businesses can't absorb. With limited budgets and lean IT and security teams, organizations often focus on detection and response.

An FBI informant helped run the Incognito dark web market and allegedly approved the sale of fentanyl-laced pills, including those from a dealer linked to a confirmed death, WIRED reported this week. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Customs and Border Protection officers sparked a Department of Justice probe. Documents say that CBP officers in the US Virgin Islands were still friendly with Epstein years after his 2008 conviction, illustrating the infamous sex offender's tactics for cultivating allies.