About tlgadmin

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far tlgadmin has created 185 blog entries.

DFARS pre-assessment questionnaire

Los Angeles, CA - Tonight I am reviewing our new DFARS Pre-Assessment Questionnaire that has just been updated for 2017. It is a very compact 30 questions in a four page document. It of course is not a full DFARS assessment, but it is step one of your process you must do before anything else on your DFARS compliance journey.

DFARS is the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. It is a supplement to the FAR that provides DoD-specific acquisition regulations that DoD government acquisition officials – and those contractors doing business with DoD – must follow in the procurement process for goods and services.

If you are an aerospace company, Department of Defense contractor or another type of organization that falls under....

DFARS pre-assessment questionnaire2023-02-07T08:01:16-08:00

What are your unexpected risks from the Yahoo billion account breach?

The big cyber-security news today is the billion account breach at Yahoo!  Some experts are recommending the immediate closing of your Yahoo! account. I am not fully on board with that recommendation. If you have highly sensitive information in your Yahoo! account then I agree. If the account is used for some club activities or e-mail in Yahoogroups.com, etc. then at minimum you need to change your password.

At minimum, all Yahoo! users need to change their passwords today. If you have helper/challenge questions for your passwords those questions and answers need to be changed, too. If your Yahoo! login name, password and challenge questions & answers have been used on other websites you need to change those, too, immediately.

Here is the advice Alvaka has for you:

·         Beware that Yahoo! is a partner of AT&T so you may have exposure there, too. At minimum change the password or close the account and move your information elsewhere.

·         If you have employees who check their Yahoo account at work you need block Yahoo! at your firewall and filtering defenses you have.

Here are some good tips I saw posted by the CEO of KnowBe4 and I agree with them. He says:

What are your unexpected risks from the Yahoo billion account breach?2024-04-21T19:40:41-07:00

I’m a Security Monitor

Irvine, CA - I have become somewhat enamored by the LifeLock commercial titled, “Fix it.” In that commercial, bank robbers come storming into a bank breaking a display and yelling, “Everybody on the floor.” As everyone hits the floor a man in a security uniform remains standing and one of the customers whispers, “Do something!” He replies, “Oh, I’m not a security guard. I’m a security monitor. I only notify people if there is a robbery.” After a brief glance around he passively says, “There’s a robbery.” The commercial narrator then says, “Why monitor a problem if you don’t fix it?”

You can view that video here.

I’m a Security Monitor2022-02-03T11:40:52-08:00

Here is the reason your antivirus isn’t working anymore

Irvine, CA - Even the biggest of the antivirus software vendors are beginning to give up the fight against malware. The traditional ways of fighting just don’t work anymore. It is too reactive and labor intensive… not to mention just inherently flawed at this point. If you have been to our lunch and learns the past couple of years you know that at Alvaka Networks we down-play significantly the role and importance of firewalls and AV software. Sure you need them, but oftentimes users rely on those two tactics at the neglect of other often more important and effective solutions. If you want a comprehensive solution based upon tools you likely already own you should read this – What 12 Security Things Should I Focus on to Be Defensible in 2016? These are just as valid for 2017.

What is the breaking news on the demise of antivirus software as we know it? Well, it simply does not work well today and in the future. Here is a link to...

Here is the reason your antivirus isn’t working anymore2017-06-27T15:53:49-07:00

Kevin McDonald’s FACETStv interview with Dr. Anthony Chang of CHOC Hospital

Orange, CA - I have been attending monthly MI3 meetings at CHOC Hospital in Orange County, CA. MI3 is the Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute. If you are in healthcare or interested in innovation these meetings on the third Monday of the month from 4 to 6 p.m. are worth attending.

In this video Kevin McDonald interviews Dr. Anthony Chang, the Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer of CHOC Hospital on data science, artificial intelligence and the other innovations being promoted at CHOC.

Kevin McDonald’s FACETStv interview with Dr. Anthony Chang of CHOC Hospital2017-06-27T15:54:00-07:00

New statistics on ransomware

Chicago, IL - I sat in on a cybersecurity presentation by anti-virus/malware vendor Webroot. If you have not checked it out it is a good product that represents the next generation of protection in my opinion.

The slide deck had a few interesting graphic factoids I thought I would share.

New statistics on ransomware2017-06-27T15:54:09-07:00

Here is a list of available ransomware decryption tools

If you have just gotten ransomware, check out this new webpage with a list of new ransomware Decryption Tools. Not all ransomware can be decrypted, but if you find you have:

1.       WildFire Decryptor

2.       Chimera Decryptor

3.       Teslacrypt Decryptor

4.       Shade Decryptor

5.       CoinVault Decryptor

6.       Rannoh Decryptor

7.       Rakhni Decryptor

Here is a list of available ransomware decryption tools2019-12-13T12:54:50-08:00

Alvaka is growing – T minus 1 day

Irvine, CA – We are in the office and set-up for operations at 7 AM tomorrow morning. We start the day off with a staff meeting bright and early.

I was in my office this morning and I got my PC set-up and running, printing, etc. At lunch I decided to kick my feet up on the desk and watch this unusual view I have all day long.

T minus 1 day to moving-in.  Click Here for the Pictures

The move-ology countdown:

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 6 days

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 5 days

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 4 days

Alvaka Networks is growing - T minus 3 days to moving-in

Alvaka Networks is growing - T minus 2 days

https://www.alvaka.net/blog/t-minus-1

Alvaka is growing – T minus 1 day2016-11-01T01:57:24-07:00

Alvaka Networks is growing – T minus 2 days

Irvine, CA – The movers finished delivering all our personal property from the old building. I got my basic office functions set-up tonight and my most important personal items put away. There are still some boxes to unpack and pictures to hang. Some others have done the same. Some offices are still dumping zones and in complete disarray. Most of that will get organized for tomorrow. There is the most basic semblance of an office system starting to come together. By tomorrow night is should be vastly better. We still plan to be completely operational at 7 AM Tuesday morning, but the unpacking won’t be complete.

T minus 2 days to moving-in.  Click Here for the Pictures

 

The move-ology countdown:

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 6 days

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 5 days

Alvaka Networks is growing and moving into new Irvine offices - T minus 4 days

Alvaka Networks is growing - T minus 3 days to moving-in

Alvaka Networks is growing - T minus 2 days

https://www.alvaka.net/blog/t-minus-1

Alvaka Networks is growing – T minus 2 days2016-10-31T06:27:57-07:00