Guest Editorial by Craig Debban, Chief Information Security Officer of QuSecure

Have you ever been on a trip and realized you forgot to pack something important?

It’s easy to overlook things during the hustle and bustle of traveling, especially during the holidays.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals take advance of this hectic time of year to target holiday shoppers and travelers.

They aim to catch you off guard when or where you least expect it.

Additionally, if you’re like me, you might be doing some last-minute shopping and looking for the perfect gift.

Below are some important tips to consider:

 

Secure your devices when they are not in use!

• Never leave your phone, tablet, or computer unattended.

• Try to take your device with you wherever you go.

• If you do need to step away, lock your device.

• Then, ask a trusted friend or family member to keep your device safe while you’re gone.

 

Beware of Public Wi-Fi!

• Always disable the option to automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks on your phone, tablet, or computer.

• Instead, manually choose which network you’d like to join.

• Only use Wi-Fi networks that you know are safe, and never connect to random hot spots.

 

Never install unfamiliar software!

• There are hundreds of shopping apps, some of which may be malicious, so only use those you know and trust.

• When you download software or apps, be sure to download from verified sources such as the App Store or Google Play.

• You can verify that an app is legitimate by reading the app’s reviews, checking the number of app downloads, and looking up the app’s developer.

 

Verify links before clicking!

• Watch out for malicious advertise-ments, otherwise known as malvertising.

• Malvertising is when cybercriminals use ads to spread malware or trick users into providing sensitive information.

• When shopping online, click on an ad or link from a reputable source, such as a retailer’s official social media profile.

• To be extra careful, use your browser to navigate to the store’s official website to shop instead.

Verify attachments are safe before downloading them!

• A common tactic among cybercriminals is to create phony email notifications from a retailer or postal service. These notifications often include a malicious attachment.

• The cybercriminals may claim that there was an update to your order or that your package has been delayed, but you’ll have to download the attachment to find out more.

• Don’t fall for this trick! Before opening the attachment, contact the retailer or postal service to verify the notification is legitimate.

• You can also look up your order directly on the website where you made the purchase.

This is a popular time when cybercriminals seek ways to scam you.

Don’t let criminals ruin your holiday plans!

 

About the Author

Craig Debian has over 25 years of experience in the technology and security fields, having begun his career in 1995 as an LCpl for the United States Marine Corps.

In 2000, Debban worked as a System Administrator for BORN Information Services, then moved to BORN Informations Services, Inc. as a Help Desk and System Administrator.

In 2006, Debban took on a senior IT Analyst role at Granite Pointe Partners, and from 2008 to 2021, he worked at International Decision Systems, where he held the roles of CISO, Senior Director of Information Technology and Security, IT Director, and Sr. Systems Administrator.

In 2021, Debban became the Chief Information Security Officer at Solifi. In 2022, Debban moved to QuSecure, where he currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and works to define the security controls appropriate to the level of risk associated with the company’s solutions.

Debban attended South Dakota State University from 1991 to 1995 and served as an Information Systems Management Officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999.

QuSecure offers simple software solutions with classical and quantum-resilient protection, cryptographic agility, controls, and insights.

To learn more, please visit www.qusecure.com.

 

QuSECURE Takes Platinum in 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards, the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, now entering its Ninth Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

 

QuSECURE

Best Quantum Cyber Security Solution

• QuProtect

• QuSecure is a leader in post-quantum cybersecurity to protect enterprise and government data from quantum and classical cybersecurity threats. 

• QuSecure’s flagship product, QuProtect, delivers quantum resilient channels over the public internet for data to reach devices securely outside an organization’s data center or cloud environment.

• For highly transactional industries such as banking and finance, QuEverywhere (part of QuProtect) protects data and transactions on-premises or in the cloud, on a mobile device or desktop browser, or in a networked system without requiring users to install software at the endpoint. 

(Learn how to preserve and uphold your customer’s trust and become a pioneer in building your business’ post-quantum cybersecurity foundation, starting with the simple, safe, and compliant QuProtect solution. An all-in-one software-based solution that secures critical data from classical and emerging AI and quantum threats anywhere it travels. Courtesy of QuSecure and YouTube.)

• QuProtect leverages Quantum-Safe Cryptography for secure communications wherever data travels and empowers you with complete cryptographic control for adaptive protection against classical and emerging threats. 

• QuProtect is the industry’s first flexible, comprehensive post-quantum solution designed to be easily and immediately deployed without rip and replace on legacy and contemporary networks, putting control and insights right into the hands of the user.

(QuSecure’s quantum-safe solutions provide an easy transition path to quantum resiliency across any organization. QuSecure’s customer deployments are in banking/finance, healthcare, space/satellite, IT/data enterprises, data centers, and various Department of Defense agencies. Courtesy of QuSecure and YouTube.)

• Available through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), QuSecure delivers advanced cybersecurity technologies to federal government agencies and the broader public sector, ensuring data protection against the emerging threats of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and quantum computing.

• *QuSecure was a New Competitor to the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards Program.

 

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.

In 2023, this exclusive sold-out event featured at ISC East, well over two hundred representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines – and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for future generations.

Comprehensive collaborations between these private and public sectors have led to the development of innovative intelligence and technologies that serve to protect our Nation.

Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, delivered the keynote address at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Excellence in Public Safety Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.

Director Dettelbach spoke with passion on the epidemic of Gun Violence by Illegal Guns taking place across the United States, which results in over 125 deaths daily and impacting generations of families – leaving open chairs at holiday events.

Firearm injuries were the leading case of death for children for the third year in a row, he explained, and have doubled in the U.S. since 2021, levels that are simply intolerable.

Director Dettelbach lauded the strong partnerships with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Policing that ATF has earned and relies upon to reduce violence and spoke with admiration as a former prosecutor on the selfless sense of mission and drive that is universal across the entire First Responder Community.

The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

The ‘ASTORS’ was specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit, and intelligence to end-users in a variety of government, homeland security, enterprise, and public safety vertical markets.

(See a few of the highlights during the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon in NYC during ISC East on November 16, 2023. Courtesy of AST, My Pristine Images, and Vimeo.)

AST puts forward the Largest and Most Qualified Circulation in Government with Over 75,000 readers on the Federal, State and Local levels.

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches Private and public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from the Government at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants and Dams, Bridges and Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting and Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools and Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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