security tools

Winsage
July 4, 2025
Microsoft addressed concerns regarding the KB5060829 update for Windows 11 24H2, which caused error messages related to the Windows Firewall With Advanced Security. The error, labeled as "Config Read Failed" and logged as event 2042 in the Event Viewer, does not indicate a malfunction of the Firewall and can be safely ignored. Microsoft stated that the Windows Firewall is expected to function normally and no action is required from users. The error is associated with a feature under development and does not impact Windows processes. The issue affects a minimal number of users, as the update requires manual installation. Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a resolution, though no timeline has been provided.
Tech Optimizer
July 1, 2025
All software is susceptible to security vulnerabilities, but open-source solutions can enhance defenses against cyber threats, according to Jeremy Wilson, CTO for the North America public sector at EDB. He noted that the global community continuously inspects open-source code, leading to fewer issues and quicker resolutions. EDB's PostgreSQL database product is designed for online transaction systems, data warehousing, and analytics, incorporating security enhancements and performance improvements. EDB synchronizes its release cycles with the open-source community and aims to meet regulatory requirements, including obtaining FedRAMP High certification. EDB collaborates with Red Hat to implement security controls and has integrated features like transparent data encryption and APIs to support zero trust cybersecurity initiatives. Wilson acknowledged challenges agencies face when transitioning to open-source solutions, including legacy systems and regulatory compliance hurdles. EDB aims to provide a turnkey enterprise database that simplifies the migration of applications, ensuring compliance with FIPS 140-3 and DISA STIGs.
Winsage
June 26, 2025
Organizations must transition to Windows 11 Pro by October 14, 2025, as Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates, increasing vulnerability to cyber threats. The upgrade is complimentary for eligible Windows 10 devices, but compatible hardware is necessary to utilize enhanced security and performance features. Windows 11 Pro PCs include built-in security tools like Windows Hello, BitLocker encryption, and TPM 2.0. Windows AI PCs feature intelligent tools like Windows Copilot for improved efficiency, while Copilot+ PCs, launching in mid-2024, will have dedicated AI processors for advanced capabilities. Security features such as Secure Boot, Virtualization-Based Security, and BitLocker encryption are integral to Windows 11 Pro devices, mitigating risks of malware and unauthorized access. Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro enhances device stability and aligns with sustainability goals through energy-efficient designs.
Tech Optimizer
June 24, 2025
Zero Trust addresses the issue of misplaced trust in cybersecurity, particularly the assumption that files from known senders are safe. This assumption can lead to security breaches, as malware can be hidden in documents from internal employees, vendors, or customers. Familiar interactions often bypass essential security checks, creating vulnerabilities. Security tools may fail to detect modern threats, which can evade traditional defenses. Compromised accounts and infected devices can introduce risks regardless of the sender's identity. To mitigate these risks, Votiro's solution cleanses every file using Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology, removing harmful elements while maintaining functionality. Votiro's approach ensures that file security does not disrupt business operations, providing a seamless and efficient solution for organizations.
Tech Optimizer
June 23, 2025
A diverse array of endpoint security tools has been integral to cyber defense strategies for desktops, laptops, and other end-user devices for the past three decades. The latest evolution is represented by endpoint protection platforms (EPPs), which combine various security capabilities including antivirus software, visibility and monitoring, and endpoint detection and response (EDR). EPPs continuously log, monitor, and analyze events on endpoints to identify suspicious activities, generate alerts, and neutralize threats. They serve as a frontline defense for devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and other user-facing technologies. Leading EPP solutions include the SentinelOne Singularity Platform and CrowdStrike Falcon. Both platforms offer automation capabilities that generate alerts upon detecting events and can act in real-time to thwart attacks. They provide centralized dashboards and reporting features for analysts and incorporate generative AI threat detection interfaces. The EPPs are compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS. Pricing for SentinelOne includes: - Singularity Complete: .99 per device annually. - Singularity Commercial: .99 per device per year. - Singularity Enterprise: Pricing available upon request. CrowdStrike pricing options include: - Falcon Go: [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: A diverse array of endpoint security tools has been integral to cyber defense strategies for desktops, laptops, and other end-user devices for the past three decades. The latest evolution in this realm is represented by endpoint protection platforms (EPPs), which amalgamate various security capabilities including antivirus software, visibility and monitoring, as well as endpoint detection and response (EDR). These platforms continuously log, monitor, and analyze events on endpoints to identify suspicious activities, generate alerts, and, when necessary, neutralize threats. EPPs serve as a frontline defense for a range of devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and other user-facing technologies. Among the leading EPP solutions available today are the SentinelOne Singularity Platform and CrowdStrike Falcon. A closer examination reveals a comparison of their key features, pricing structures, and performance metrics, along with guidance for organizations seeking an EPP that aligns with their security needs. Key features comparison Both Singularity and Falcon offer a robust suite of capabilities: Automation capabilities. Both platforms automatically generate alerts upon detecting events that warrant further investigation. They can act in real-time to thwart attacks, with options for automated responses such as remediation and rollback when malicious activities are identified. Additionally, human analysts have the flexibility to manually initiate these responses through the platforms. Analyst interface. Each EPP provides centralized dashboards and reporting features that analysts utilize to review correlated event data. Furthermore, both platforms incorporate generative AI (GenAI) threat detection interfaces—Purple AI for SentinelOne and Charlotte AI for CrowdStrike—allowing administrators to query the GenAI agent for deeper insights into the analyzed event data. Supported OSes. The EPPs are compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS. Cybersecurity platform. These platforms feature centralized storage, dashboards, and analytical capabilities for the data generated by their offerings, alongside other cybersecurity and asset information. Pricing comparison As the tools diverge in their offerings, pricing becomes a distinguishing factor, with each platform presenting unique features and add-ons. SentinelOne Singularity pricing options Singularity Complete is priced at 9.99 per device annually, providing endpoint and cloud workload protection. Singularity Commercial costs 9.99 per device per year, encompassing XDR, EPP, EDR capabilities, identity threat detection and response (ITDR), and managed threat hunting (WatchTower). Singularity Enterprise includes comprehensive features such as XDR, EPP, EDR, data retention, ITDR, threat hunting, network discovery (Singularity Network Discovery), forensic data collection (Singularity RemoteOps Forensics), and support services. Pricing is available upon request from SentinelOne. CrowdStrike Falcon pricing options Falcon Go, available at .99 per device per year for up to 100 devices, includes antivirus software (Falcon Prevent), USB device control (Falcon Device Control), mobile device protection (Falcon for Mobile), and support services. Falcon Pro is priced at .99 per device per year, offering Falcon Prevent, Falcon Device Control, host firewall control (Falcon Firewall Management), and support services. Falcon Enterprise costs 4.99 per device annually, featuring Falcon Prevent, Falcon Device Control, Falcon Firewall Management, threat hunting and intelligence (Falcon OverWatch), extended detection and response (Falcon Insight XDR), and support services. Falcon Complete MDR represents CrowdStrike's managed detection and response service, which includes Falcon Prevent, Falcon OverWatch, Falcon Insight XDR, and IT hygiene (Falcon Discover), with options to add firewall and identity protection. Pricing for Complete MDR is available upon inquiry. Additionally, Falcon for Mobile protection for smartphones and tablets can be acquired as a separate add-on for Pro, Enterprise, and Complete MDR plans. Performance and evaluation comparison Feedback from users regarding SentinelOne and CrowdStrike offerings tends to align positively. Verified reviews on Gartner Peer Insights indicate that both EPPs boast an average performance rating of 4.7 out of 5, with 99% of ratings being three stars or higher. In the past year, CrowdStrike's Falcon garnered 724 ratings, while SentinelOne's Singularity received 227. SentinelOne holds a slight edge over CrowdStrike in terms of pricing flexibility, rated at 4.4 compared to 4.2, whereas CrowdStrike excels in the availability of third-party resources, rated at 4.7 against SentinelOne's 4.4. Notably, both platforms were included in the 2023 Mitre ATT&CK Evaluations, which simulated a nation-state attack scenario. In this evaluation, CrowdStrike demonstrated superior attack technique detection, while both platforms exhibited comparable protection capabilities. In the 2024 evaluations, CrowdStrike opted out, allowing SentinelOne to successfully detect all tested attack techniques. Common criticisms of CrowdStrike on Gartner Peer Insights highlight complexities in licensing and insufficient support for hybrid environments. Conversely, SentinelOne users expressed frustration with the Android OS capabilities, which tend to generate a higher number of false positives. Questions to ask when selecting an EPP tool Organizations of all sizes should implement endpoint security tools to safeguard their user devices. Larger enterprises often manage and monitor these tools internally, while smaller organizations may opt for managed services that provide similar endpoint security solutions along with management and monitoring support. Some services even offer incident response capabilities in conjunction with the organization's existing resources. When evaluating endpoint security tools and services, organizations should consider the following questions: How well integrated is the platform? Is there a single agent deployed to each endpoint, or is it a combination of agents? Does the product represent a truly unified platform or merely a collection of services presented under a unified interface? What is the quality of the platform's data gathering, logging, analysis, alerting, and alert prioritization in terms of accuracy, speed, and comprehensiveness? High quality should be the cornerstone of any EPP. How effectively does the platform leverage cyber threat intelligence? What sources does it utilize, and how frequently are they updated? What techniques does the platform employ to analyze events and detect attacks? How adept is it at identifying sophisticated and novel threats? How automated are its capabilities? This encompasses protection, detection, and incident response features. Effective automation that makes sound decisions in real-time can be pivotal in preventing ransomware from affecting multiple endpoints. Karen Scarfone is the principal consultant at Scarfone Cybersecurity in Clifton, Va. She provides cybersecurity publication consulting to organizations and was formerly a senior computer scientist for NIST." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99 per device per year for up to 100 devices. - Falcon Pro: .99 per device per year. - Falcon Enterprise: .99 per device annually. - Falcon Complete MDR: Pricing available upon inquiry. User feedback indicates both EPPs have an average performance rating of 4.7 out of 5, with 99% of ratings being three stars or higher. CrowdStrike's Falcon received 724 ratings, while SentinelOne's Singularity received 227. SentinelOne has a slight edge in pricing flexibility (rated 4.4) compared to CrowdStrike (rated 4.2), while CrowdStrike excels in third-party resource availability (rated 4.7) compared to SentinelOne (rated 4.4). Both platforms were included in the 2023 Mitre ATT&CK Evaluations, with CrowdStrike demonstrating superior attack technique detection. Common criticisms of CrowdStrike include complexities in licensing and insufficient support for hybrid environments, while SentinelOne users expressed frustration with Android OS capabilities leading to higher false positives. Organizations should consider integration quality, data gathering and analysis capabilities, cyber threat intelligence utilization, attack detection techniques, and automation levels when selecting an EPP tool.
AppWizard
June 19, 2025
Cybersecurity researchers at Zimperium zLabs have discovered a new variant of the GodFather Android malware that uses on-device virtualization to hijack legitimate mobile applications, primarily targeting banking and cryptocurrency apps. This malware installs a concealed host application that downloads a genuine version of the targeted app within a controlled environment, redirecting users to this manipulated version. It monitors user actions in real time, capturing sensitive information like usernames and passwords. The GodFather malware targets 484 applications globally, with a focus on 12 financial institutions in Turkey. It employs traditional overlay attacks and uses legitimate open-source tools to evade detection. The malware manipulates APK files, relocates malicious code, and utilizes Android’s accessibility services to deceive users into granting permissions. It also encodes critical information to complicate tracking efforts and transmits screen details back to attackers for real-time monitoring.
Winsage
June 6, 2025
Simplewall is a rule-based firewall controller for Windows that enhances the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) without replacing it. It allows users to manage network access for applications and services with a user-friendly interface, supporting advanced features like filtering rules by IP, port, or protocol. Users can create tailored profiles for different scenarios and have comprehensive control over network interactions, including blocking telemetry data and automatic updates. Simplewall is lightweight, portable, and operates without background processes or telemetry, ensuring a straightforward user experience. Setting up simplewall involves downloading it, extracting the files, and enabling filters, allowing users to establish a functional firewall profile quickly. While it offers many advantages, such as being open-source and compatible with older Windows versions, it may be overwhelming for beginners and lacks detailed app profiling compared to premium firewalls.
Winsage
May 27, 2025
Microsoft has announced new protective measures against potential quantum-powered cyber threats by rolling out post-quantum cryptography (PQC) capabilities for Windows Insiders using Canary Channel Build 27852 and higher, and for Linux users through SymCrypt-OpenSSL version 1.9.0. The newly introduced PQC algorithms, standardized by NIST, will evolve in response to emerging threats, emphasizing the need for "Crypto Agility." The updates enhance OpenSSL’s API surface for Linux developers, allowing experimentation with TLS hybrid key exchange. Experts warn that quantum computing could breach even the most robust encryption systems, highlighting the urgency for software companies to adapt their security measures.
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