Latest news with #digitalSecurity
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Sneak attack Iran could use on AMERICA: urgent warning as war threatens to spiral out of control
As the conflict in Iran reaches a critical tipping point for the US, a cyberwarfare expert has warned that an attack by Iranian hackers is not just possible, it's likely. James Knight, who has over 25 years of experience in digital security, told the Daily Mail that Americans should be prepared for bank disruptions and potential blackouts if the US officially enters the fighting between Israel and Iran.
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
You're Getting Lazy With Your Passwords and Hackers Love It. CNET Survey Finds 49% of US Adults Have Risky Password Habits
It feels like I have a password for everything: my bank account, my Amazon Echo Show and even my Netflix app. With so many different devices and accounts, coming up with unique, strong passwords -- and remembering them -- can be overwhelming. It's tempting to get lazy and use the same password for multiple accounts. It's a relatable move, and it's one scammers are counting on. The risks of using old passwords or including personal information in a new one is a big risk to your data and identity. Repeating passwords could open the floodgates to hackers getting access to more than just your Netflix account. Yet CNET's latest survey shows that almost half of US adults (49%) have risky password habits and 24% admitted to using a password that's shared with another account. That's troubling to Attila Tomaschek, CNET software senior writer and digital security expert. "Reusing the same password across multiple accounts puts users at risk of getting their online accounts compromised through a credential stuffing attack," said Tomaschek. There's not one particular password formula that will guarantee your information is safeguarded. However, there are steps you can take to protect your password and data as best as possible. Here are CNET's survey findings and what our experts recommend when creating or upgrading your password. Key takeaways 49% of Americans have risky password habits 24% of US adults use the same password for more than one account 25% of US adults use a random password generator, a practice CNET experts recommend Cole Kan/CNET What password habits are putting us at risk? CNET's survey found the risky password habits US adults most commonly turn to include reusing a password across different accounts or using personal data as part of a password. While 24% said they use the same password for different accounts, 8% admitted to using a password that they know was compromised in a data breach. "If a malicious actor gains access to a user's login credentials on one account, they could use those same credentials to gain access to other online accounts that share the same credentials," said Tomaschek. Read more: 184 Million Passwords Leaked for Google, Facebook, Instagram and More. How to Protect Your Accounts US adults are also using personal information as a part of their passwords including birthdays or anniversaries (15%), a pet's name (14%), part of the user's name (11%) or a family member's name (11%). Less common password practices include using a password that contains a previous or current street address (6%), a child's name (6%), a common sequence such as "1234" (5%), the word "password" (3%) or the name of a college or professional sports team (3%). Cole Kan/CNET Using personal data in your password may help you remember your login but it also makes it easier for hackers to access your account. "This is especially risky considering the wealth of information that many people share online through social media and other outlets," said Tomaschek. Creating a unique password for each account can minimize that risk. How to create a strong password without forgetting it Not all US adults have lazy password habits. CNET found that one-quarter (25%) of US adults go with randomly generated passwords when creating one, for example, from an online service or Internet browser. That's welcoming news to Tomascheck, who said this is one of the safest options. Randomly generated passwords are substantially more difficult to guess than a user-created password, Tomaschek said. "A good password generator will offer options for the user to customize the length of the password and whether numbers and symbols are incorporated," he said. "The longer and more complicated the generated password, the better." However, a randomly generated password can be impossible to remember, so Tomaschek recommends using a password manager to store each of your unique passwords. CNET recommends Bitwarden as its top recommendation. Read more: No Password Manager? Learn How to Protect Your Online Accounts and Make Logging In Simple The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends making each password 16 characters or longer. Also, use a random mix of numbers, letters, special characters or words. If your password has been compromised, change it right away and keep an eye on any other accounts to make sure they're not impacted.
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
KL Declaration to position Asean as respected regional bloc, says analysts
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, to be introduced at the upcoming 46th Asean Summit, will serve as a key reference point for the region's future direction. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Kuala Lumpur Declaration, to be unveiled at the Asean summit next week, is set to boost the bloc's image on the global stage, making it a more assertive, neutral and respected entity, according to academics. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad from Universiti Malaysia Sabah said the declaration will highlight Malaysia's leadership and create a platform for Asean to tackle important issues like digital security, sustainable development and global power shifts. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad. 'The declaration enables Malaysia and other Asean member states to collectively and credibly voice the concerns of developing countries on global issues,' said Syahruddin, an expert in psychological operations and public diplomacy. 'It will allow Asean to take a unified stance on matters such as climate change, unilateral economic sanctions and equitable development, while clearly rejecting pressure from major powers.' Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced last week that the declaration, to be unveiled at the 46th Asean Summit on May 26–27, will serve as a roadmap for the region's future. Syahruddin said Malaysia could use the declaration to expand its influence through coordinated efforts with groups such as the UN's Group of 77, and China. However, he cautioned that the declaration must include firm commitments to neutrality, respect for sovereignty, and the rejection of foreign interference, values enshrined in Asean's Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). 'It must reaffirm Asean's commitment to peaceful dispute resolution. This isn't just symbolic. It's a clear signal that the region will not become a playground for external power rivalries,' he said. Asean as a key driver of global issues Azmi Hassan, a geostrategist from Akademi Nusantara, said the KL Declaration will strengthen the concept of Asean centrality by upgrading its role from observer to active participant in global affairs. He said, unlike earlier declarations such as KL and Langkawi 2015, which were more domestically focused, the 2025 edition represents a bold shift toward a proactive global role, with Malaysia at the helm. Azmi Hassan. Azmi said the declaration reflects Anwar's push to make Asean more independent and respected, especially in global conflict, citing Malaysia's recent peace efforts in India- Pakistan and southern Thailand. He expects the declaration to address key global conflicts and tensions, including the Gaza crisis, the Ukraine war and US-China trade disputes, signalling Asean's readiness to act as a balanced voice in today's multipolar world. Rebranding Asean's global image From a strategic communications standpoint, Syahruddin said the declaration could serve as a diplomatic instrument to reshape how the world sees Asean—not just for trade but as a mature community that values human rights, justice and shared security. 'Malaysia is wise to use this document to rebrand Asean, not only as a trade hub but as an influential participant in global discourse. This is key to enhancing Asean's credibility and global trust,' he said. Both Syahruddin and Azmi expect the KL Declaration to include key elements such as regional digital transformation agenda, cross-border security intelligence sharing, greater cooperation in the green economy, as well as institutional reforms for quicker decision making. 'It may also codify ethical digital governance principles across the region, in response to cyber threats, misinformation, and digital inequality among member states,' said Syahruddin. The 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, scheduled for May 26-27, is expected to gather leaders from 10 member states as well as a host of international observers.
