In late May, malware known as VPNFilter began targeting routers from Linksys, Mikrotik, Netgear, QNAP and TP-Link, as well as network-attached storage (NAS) devices from QNAP. The malware operates in three stages. First, it is installed and maintains a persistent presence on the device so it can contact a command-and-control (C&C) server to download additional modules. 

There is plenty of data that proves the increased volume and sophistication of IT security threats. But the problems run far deeper. It’s not just about stealing someone’s social security number or a company’s trade secrets. Cybercrime is now a preferred method of attack, literally, by terrorists and state-sponsored groups. Activist groups are hacking. Malware, malicious code and other hacking tools are constantly being bought and sold on the dark web. Cybercrime has become big business.

“Keep Calm and Carry On.” Originally used in World War II-era motivational posters from the British government before becoming an Internet meme, this catchphrase is actually very good advice for those feeling uneasy about the recent revelations of significant security flaws in central processing units (CPUs).

A security researcher has reported a serious vulnerability in the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) security protocol that could allow hackers within range of a wireless network to intercept data, or even inject malicious content or malware in certain cases. The flaw was discovered by Mathy Vanhoef of the Imec-DistriNet Research Group of Belgian university KU Leuven. Vanhoef executed a successful attack as a proof of concept.

Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is increasingly popular among organizations struggling with costly and inefficient WAN architectures. Leveraging software-defined techniques to virtualize the WAN and prioritize traffic in real time, SD-WAN enables organizations to reduce their reliance on expensive MPLS links while gaining greater performance and flexibility. SD-WAN also makes it easy to set up secure site-to-site connections between headquarters and remote locations.