OH NO. "Business is more afraid of the sheriff than we are the cybercriminal." Overheard in our ongoing LACybersecure work from an attendee.  The point of entry isn't HELP - It's getting into TROUBLE. What are we DOING??  For SMBs, the cavalry isn't coming. Even after a crime, the sheriff is going after the criminals. Don't count on asset recovery. You have to take your security seriously, and get the guidance you need. If you're in Los Angeles, apply today to join us in our #LACybersecure pilot program for SMBs, nonprofits, IT-MSPs.   Outside of L.A.? The Cyber Readiness Institute's free, online program is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises become more secure against today’s most common cyber vulnerabilities. As always, Stan and Julie provide actionable tips and thoughtful wisdom in a fun conversation on the complexities of cybersecurity and privacy. SecureTheVillage is a proud recipient of the CIS Alan Paller Laureate Program, funding our LA Cybersecure Pilot. Learn more about how SecureTheVillage is working to make Los Angeles the cyber-safest metropolitan area in America for our small and midsize businesses, our nonprofits, and our families. SecureTheVillage: ⁠⁠https://securethevillage.org/⁠⁠ ⁠Take the Test: ⁠How Hackable are you?⁠⁠

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” - H.L. Mencken We humans want simple solutions to complex problems. It's built into our neurology. And it makes it harder to manage cybersecurity. The computer and telecommunications revolution that we’re in the middle of is upending our world. A simple cybercrime example: In the old days at the end of the last century, if a criminal wanted to rob a bank, the criminal had to go to the bank.  No more. Now the criminal can steal money from people’s bank accounts over the Internet from anywhere in the world. Complex problems don’t get solved, they get managed. Let’s take a step back and ask what we can do to manage our security and privacy; in our homes, in our places of work, in our schools, and throughout our community. As always, Stan and Julie provide actionable tips and thoughtful wisdom in a fun conversation on the complexities of cybersecurity and privacy. Please join us at: ⁠https://securethevillage.org/⁠ Mentioned in the Episode: ⁠How Hackable are you?⁠ FREE SURVEY

“Unfortunately, the technology underpinning our critical infrastructure is inherently insecure because of DECADES of software developers NOT BEING HELD LIABLE for defective technology. That has led to incentives where FEATURES and SPEED to market have been prioritized AGAINST SECURITY, leading our nation VULNERABLE to cyber invasion. That has to stop,” Jen Easterly, CISA The policy we need is YEARS behind the current technology, and utterly inadequate to protect citizens against threats and scams. We lack protections and bear the brunt of the damage. Two clear examples - 1: SIM swapping. A bad actor was able to convince a telecommunications store to transfer a phone number to a new device by impersonating the owner. This allowed the criminal to: - Access private account information and steal money. - Gain all those 2FA codes sent via text message. - Gain access to their social media accounts, email accounts... what other apps are on your phone? Should telecom companies be held responsible for failures that enable financial crimes? 2: Deepfakes and nonconsensual graphic images. The growing threat of manipulated media - widespread technology usage to generate fake but realistic graphic images and no legal consequences. While Taylor Swift's massive fan base is championing federal penalties for these deepfake images, we drag our feet in spite of the urgent need for policy reforms to protect individuals from harmful uses of emerging technologies that currently have little oversight. Listen to this 15-min episode of #LiveOnCyber with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris and let's talk today's problems and potential solutions.

Not a game we want to play - but let's do it anyway! Take a guess: (reported) Cybercrime rakes in more $ than how many U.S. states do in TAX REVENUE annually? (FY22 per Statista - and of course, this is only REPORTED crime). I think you know where we're going with this. It's bad - and getting worse. Policy won't stop it. It's on us. Benjamin Franklin said, "Distrust and caution are the parents of security." Businesses, people need to flex their distrust. No email trust. No text message trust. Everything gets questioned. We lock down what matters (check out our human-speak guide: https://securethevillage.org/cybersecurity-for-individuals-families/). Tragically, it's a matter of life and death for some. Listen to our 10-min update on the latest scam tragedies that you and I need to be talking about. Share with a friend who could be at risk. Okay, let's be real - we all are at risk - so share, then share again.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War. We can’t control everything. We can, however, manage the things around threats to our digital security - and we must! Your awareness and keeping current is a crucial ingredient to success in 2024. Subscribe to SecureTheVilllage’s News of the Week, our top cybersecurity digest with all your need-to-know information on the latest in scams, cyber threats, cyber policy, and more. https://securethevillage.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9d32e680017d9ab0af1f68ff1&id=21426e8cd9

Are you a disaster movie fan? If you’re reading this, it’s likely you work in the cybersecurity field, or are interested in cybersecurity as a right-now issue. You may be a CTO, a CISO, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, a CEO. And it might be YOU that prevents the movie that we never want to see: Iran targets a local water district. A hacker accesses equipment through default password. A sanitation chemical level is increased in the water supply. “Of all the country's critical infrastructure, water might be the most vulnerable to hackers: the hardest in which to guarantee everyone follows basic cybersecurity steps, and the easiest in which to cause major, real-world harm to large numbers of people.” We’re going to need all of us to do the work of securing the cyber safety of our community. And we’re here to help you get involved. In this episode, we talk about HOW and WHY you might save the day. From the Board Room to the Living Room — It takes a village to secure the village™️. Article by Kevin Collier, NBC News: “50,000 security disasters waiting to happen: The problem of America's water supplies. If you could imagine a community center run by two old guys who are plumbers, that's your average water plant," one cybersecurity consultant said.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna1206

If you haven't watched the video trailers of Live on Cyber on LinkedIn, you're missing out on Julie having difficulty looking serious. Once, someone asked, "why is Julie smiling so much, talking about this very difficult, complex stuff?" And it's because SecureTheVillage has found a mission point where we can powerfully affect change. We are here to encourage and mobilize those with cybersecurity knowledge to do more to build the cyber resilience of our community. Because our communities have no clue what awaits them in 2024. How can you help? Whether working with us to translate the cyber-speak to easy to understand concepts, helping build and mentor the cyber workforce, learning how to secure your small business and nonprofits, or are an IT/MSPs who knows their client need more cybersecurity, there's a place for you here at SecureTheVillage. In 2024, we encourage you to become a vocal, thoughtful member of your community - even more than you already are - because it takes a village to secure the village™. It's this work of translation and building community resilience that is on us to do. And we are excited to do just that in 2024! - ⁠Stan Stahl, PhD⁠ and ⁠Julie Michelle Morris⁠ APPLICATIONS OPEN!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠SecureTheVillage⁠⁠ is addressing security for those without big IT teams. If you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT/MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update to help keep your business cyber secure!

What is resilience? It's like the old Timex ads, to "take a licking and keep on ticking." As we sit here looking at 2024, it's not pretty what's coming our way: * Our own SEC sued a CISO. (Didn't see that one coming.) * We're facing burnout of our best and brightest in the cybersecurity sector. * The attacks are intense. Infrastructure, schools, hospitals. * Cybercrime? So lucrative. It's coming at us on every conceivable front. What does it look like to have a defensible posture against all of this, and survive 2024? We believe its two things: 1. Personal resilience through connection to each other. Connection opens the door to resilience for your health, your ability to show up again the next day, ready to fight the fight, run your business, do the work. The latest research on mental health and loneliness shows what a powerful buffer connection is to keep us going. And as we connect, let's share what we know - Do you have an incident response plan? Can yours inform your peer's cybersecurity? 2. We need community resilience. We want to know that our communities are aware of digital threats - scams, hacks, and know how to protect their digital health. Let's make sure we're sharing what we know with the people and organizations who have no clue the dangers that await them. That's why we at SecureTheVillage exist - we care deeply about the community, and we believe you do too. We're in this together. Support our mission this year to bring awareness to communities and gather cyber experts to inform the field. Signing off for 2023 - See you in 2024! - Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris APPLICATIONS OPEN!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠SecureTheVillage⁠⁠ is addressing security for those without big IT teams. If you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT/MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update to help keep your business cyber secure!

"This company should be in the Hall of Shame."A major trucking company software vendor has developed such readily exploitable software that it could create a shutdown that would be felt nationwide.We write the software. Russia and China exploit it.There are cyber-nots in our supply chain. Our enemies know it, too.Are we fostering a lucrative market for cybercrime?In this #LiveOnCyber episode with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris, we talk about simple ways to join the fight for online safety!Let's press for better standards and adoption so smaller organizations on the wrong side of the digital divide aren't eaten alive by cyber criminals.APPLICATIONS OPEN!SecureTheVillage is addressing security for those without big IT teams. If you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT/MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee: Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update to help keep your business cyber secure!

🚨 When Iran can look up your password on Google... "Think your default password is harmless? Think again," warns Julie Michelle Morris. In this episode of #LiveOnCyber, Stan Stahl, PhD unpacks jaw-dropping cyber blunders, tiny oversights that lead to serious breaches, and must-do security tips for businesses flying solo on tech. What are you doing to help secure the last mile? Where are we sitting ducks for hacks and scams? Check out our 1-min episode preview 👇 and share your thoughts! Join Julie Michelle Morris and Stan Stahl, PhD in the fight for last-mile online safety: Sponsor cybersecurity guidance for small businesses and your community: https://securethevillage.org/partner-opportunities/   🎧 Hit subscribe on #LiveOnCyber for your weekly dose of Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris! APPLICATIONS OPEN! If you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee. https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/

Smaller organizations, families, and individuals are on the wrong side of the digital divide, and they're getting eaten alive by scammers and cybercriminals. How do we bridge the information gap from the experts to small businesses and nonprofits? Are we just talking to ourselves in cybersecurity? In this #LiveOnCyber episode, hear what brought Julie, a thought leadership expert, to SecureTheVillage and how SecureTheVillage is addressing security for those without big IT teams. Want to join the fight for online safety? Learn how LA Cybersecure is helping: https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ APPLICATIONS OPEN! If you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee. https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update to help keep your business cyber secure! Subscribe to Live on Cyber for your weekly dose of cyber sense with Dr. Stan and Julie!

In our special replay episode, we revisit an essential May 2022 conversation with Nicole Perlroth, a leading cybersecurity journalist and New York Times bestselling author. This frank and alarming conversation is as relevant as ever: Nation-state cybercrime dynamics and retaliation strategiesThe alarming shift of hacker targets to smaller entitiesThe evolving landscape of cybersecurity collaboration and legislationStrategies for future-proofing against cyber threats Nicole Perlroth spent a decade as the lead cybersecurity reporter at The New York Times. Her reporting uncovered a host of cyber vulnerabilities in the U.S. for which there were no policy responses, such as Russia’s escalation of cyberattacks on the U.S. and Iran ramping up cyber espionage. She has covered Russian hacks of nuclear plants, airports, and elections; North Korea’s cyberattacks against movie studios, banks and hospitals; Iranian attacks on oil companies, banks and the Trump campaign; and hundreds of Chinese cyberattacks, including a months-long hack of The Times. A Bay Area native, Ms. Perlroth is a guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a graduate of Princeton University and Stanford University. This event was created in support of a consortium of leading cybersecurity organizations: Automotive ISAC, Center for Internet Security, Cyber Readiness Institute, Cybercrime Support Network, Educause, The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Foundation, Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA), Sightline Security, SecureTheVillage, Technology Association of Louisville Ky, and US Valor. Thanks to our event sponsors Miller Kaplan, Beckage, California Lawyers Association Privacy Law group, and IEEE Orange County for their support. Tune in to this episode of #LiveOnCyber for a compelling look at cybersecurity's most pressing issues, as discussed by one of the most influential voices in the field. Subscribe for your weekly update on the latest in cybersecurity!

"It's a brutal reality check," says Dr. Stan. "Small businesses are especially vulnerable and the consequences can be crippling." Julie notes, "This story isn't just alarming, it's a wake-up call. Protecting your business online is not optional, it's essential." Dive into a real-life cyber horror story with in this episode of Live on Cyber. They discuss the devastating impact a single cyberattack had on a small business, offering a stark warning to others. Key highlights: 🔴 The downfall of a small business due to an overlooked security flaw in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). 🔴 No business is too small to escape the radar of cybercriminals. 🔴 The often-underestimated risks and the crucial need for digital vigilance in small enterprises. Tune in to hear this vital discussion on #LiveOnCyber, shedding light on the harsh reality small businesses face in the digital world. APPLICATIONS OPEN! If you're ready to level up your digital security, and you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT MSP in Los Angeles, apply NOW for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee. https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update to help keep your business cyber secure!

What are the implications when a nation-state attacks a private company? 🟢 At the same time we see the #Biden-Harris administration, #NIST, #CISA, #DoJ and other government entities - along with non-government organizations like #CIS, #CRI, Sightline Security, #DDN, and SecureTheVillage - in a concerted, intentional effort to help equip American corporations - ❌ We see the #SEC send exactly the wrong message in its lawsuit against #SolarWinds and its Chief Information Security Officer (#CISO). 👉 What could the #SEC do to help, rather than blame? If you're a CISO, board member, or just interested in the evolving world of cybersecurity governance, join Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris in this episode of #LiveOnCyber as they riff on ways the #SEC could help our businesses achieve reasonable – and transparent - cybersecurity instead of throwing them under the bus 🚍. ---- If you're ready to level up, and you're a small business, nonprofit, or IT MSP in Los Angeles, applications are open now for LA Cybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee. https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for weekly updates that help keep your business safe with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris!

If you're starting your journey to secure your business, you're in the right place! Learn the Top 4 security steps every small business needs from the Cyber Readiness Institute's Starter Kit! Small and micro-businesses, build a strong foundation to prevent loss with these Four Core Cyber Issues: ✅ Super strong passwords that guard your personal and client data ✅ Backups that catch you if you fall ✅ Training to keep tricks and scams at bay ✅ A secure place for all your important info. If you’re ready to get started: 1️⃣ Appoint a leader 2️⃣ Implement the four policies 3️⃣ Train your staff 4️⃣ Prepare for a cybersecurity incident Make sure your business is safe online—without taking up all your time. It's a quick lesson in making sure your business is as safe online—without taking up all your time. If you're ready to level up, and you're a #smallbusiness, #nonprofit, or #ITMSP in Los Angeles, applications are open now for #LACybersecure, a pilot program with coaching and guidance that costs less than a daily cup of coffee. https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Hit subscribe on Live on Cyber for weekly updates that help keep your business safe with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris!

What happens when your admin's email gets hacked? You don't want to guess or waste time. Cybersecurity for the small and micro-business is crucial. But it has to fit YOU. Think you're too small to be a target? Join us this week as we debunk myths and provide actionable insights specifically for small and micro-businesses. We'll break down what you really need to do to keep your business safe, without overburdening you or your team. Don't leave your business vulnerable—learn what you can do today to start your cybersecurity journey. --- Learn more about SecureTheVillage's LA Cybersecure pilot program for small and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, and IT MSPs in Los Angeles: https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Stay updated and secure. Subscribe to Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris!

In the name of convenience, are we compromising security? This week on #LiveOnCyber, Dr. Stan reveals how 'easy access' WiFi at a hotel exposed a glaring gap in their cybersecurity measures. Don't let the danger of unmonitored network traffic be the downfall of your digital safety. Learn through this example why your organization should be patching and implementing robust #cybersecurity controls (hint - a #breachreport doesn't make for good PR).  Be part of the proactive community by learning more about SecureTheVillage's LA Cybersecure pilot program for small and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, and IT MSPs in Los Angeles: https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Stay updated and secure. Subscribe to Live on Cyber for your weekly 15-min update and be an informed #CyberCitizen.

The ⁠23andMe⁠ security lapse repercussions go beyond just the user's personal genetic data. With this breach, their relatives are at risk.The data taken from 23andMe, likely through credential stuffing⁠ could cover more than HALF of the company’s 14 million customers, based on the number of people who have opted to make their data visible to relatives, including distant cousins (Washington Post).Dive into a new episode of #LiveonCyber with Stan Stahl, PhD, and Julie Michelle Morris on the shortcomings of optional multi-factor authentication for critical online accounts. Is the industry doing enough?Plus, get updates on LA CyberSecure, our pilot program boosting cybersecurity for local businesses and nonprofits.Don't leave your digital life to chance!Subscribe to Live On Cyber⁠ with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris for your weekly 15-min update!Learn more and apply to join the LA CyberSecure pilot program today: https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/

We believe that #MSPs and #ISPs are crucial players in securing our digital world. They are on the front lines with small to midsize businesses - how can we partner to equip them with the business development and security skills to better secure their clients? What is their role in the LA CyberSecure Pilot, an initiative elevating the cyber readiness of small to midsize organizations with support from the Center for Internet Security (CIS)? (Even though we were interrupted mid-podcast by the new federal alert system text messages, we carry on!) Dive into a new episode of #LiveonCyber with Stan Stahl, PhD, and Julie Michelle Morris! Be part of the revelation, the movement, the solution. Subscribe to Live on Cyber with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris, your weekly 15-min update on the latest in privacy and information security affecting your business and community!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Are small businesses and nonprofits ready for battle, or sitting ducks in cyber warfare? #Cybersecurity isn’t just about money - it’s about talent, time, and foundational cybersecurity measures. How do we bridge this digital divide of #cyberhaves and #cybernots? This #LiveonCyber episode unveils LA Cybersecure! A groundbreaking pilot program funded by the Center for Internet Security's Alan Paller Laureate Program, LA Cybersecure led by SecureTheVillage will enable 50 small to midsize organizations to measurably improve their cybersecurity readiness. Be part of the revelation, the movement, the solution. Learn more about the LA Cybersecure pilot and apply! https://securethevillage.org/la-cybersecure-pilot/ Be part of the revelation, the movement, the solution! Subscribe to Live on Cyber with Stan Stahl, PhD and Julie Michelle Morris, your weekly 15-min update on the latest in privacy and information security affecting your business and community!