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SFTP vs. FTPS: The Key Differences

SFTP uses SSH to encrypt data and ensure secure authentication for file transfers, while FTPS relies on SSL/TLS to secure FTP connections. SFTP operates on a single port, streamlining firewall configurations, whereas FTPS may require multiple ports.
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Common Data Protection Risks in Box Explained

Software as a Service (SaaS) efficiency dominates with more than 85% of business using at least one SaaS application. While it has widespread adoption, it does come with new data security risks. Some of the risks include companies that don’t comply with security standards and aren’t transparent about security. Also consider that allowing users remote access with any device can increase convenience...
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February 2026 Patch Tuesday Analysis

Today’s Patch Tuesday Alert addresses Microsoft’s February 2026 Security Updates. The FIRE team is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expect to ship that coverage as soon as it is completed.In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEsCVE-2026-21519A type confusion vulnerability in the Desktop Window Manager could allow an authenticated attacker to elevate their permissions to SYSTEM....
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Fortra Patch Priority Index for January 2026

Fortra's January 2026 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft and Google.Up first on the list are patches for Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) that resolves an insufficient policy enforcement vulnerability.Next on the list are patches for Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel. These patches resolve 11 issues...
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The Security Paradox of Open Source Tools

The start of a new year is always a good time to take stock. In cybersecurity, one perennial problem - the persistence of “vintage” open source vulnerabilities like Heartbleed and Shellshock – should force us to ask some hard questions. Why do so many vulnerabilities persist in Open Source (OS) tools, and how do we fix the problem? In theory, OS tools should be more secure. In practice, it hasn’t...
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AI is Changing the Attack Surface - Security Must Innovate

Security needs to be reevaluated in the context of AI, but not everything needs to change at once. Organizations that take a measured approach will do better, not giving into the AI hype cycle but recognizing the strategic ways AI is changing the game — and the ways it is changing security trajectories for the better.AI Is Weakening DefensesAI-enabled attacks are increasing, weakening existing...
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Cobalt Strike 4.12: Fix Up, Look Sharp!

Cobalt Strike 4.12 is now available. We are excited to introduce a new look and feel for the Cobalt Strike GUI, a REST API, User Defined Command and Control (UDC2), new process injection options, new UAC bypasses, a new BOF API BeaconDownload for in-memory buffers, and new drip loading Malleable C2 options.Additionally, we have overhauled pivot Beacons so that they now support the novel Sleepmask...
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Top Ways Employees Make Their Employers Vulnerable

The people factor is still the biggest variable in cyber resilience. Firewalls, EDR, and Zero Trust help, but everyday choices shape outcomes. The top ways employees make their employer vulnerable often come down to habits formed under pressure: clicking quickly, sharing widely, and trusting implicitly. Understanding those patterns — and changing them at scale — requires focusing on human risk...
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Hacking Attack Leaves Russian Car Owners Locked Out of Their Vehicles

Imagine the scene. It's a cold Monday morning in Moscow. You walk out to your car, coffee in hand, ready to face the day. You press the button to unlock your car, and ... nothing happens. You try again. Still nothing. The alarm starts blaring. You can't turn it off.Welcome to Monday 26 January, 2026, and the chaos that was caused by a cyberattack on Delta - a Russian company that provides smart...
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SEO Poisoning Marketplace Topping Search Results, Impersonating Top Financial Institutions

Introduction to the HaxorSEO MarketplaceFortra Intelligence and Research Experts (FIRE) have uncovered a group of active malicious threat actors operating since 2020. The group refers to themselves as Haxor, a slang word for hackers, and their marketplace as HxSEO, or HaxorSEO. HxSEO has established its primary base of operations and marketplace on Telegram and WhatsApp. HxSEO stands out for...
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Artificial Intelligence for Post-Exploitation

Post-exploitation tasks frequently require manual analysis, such as relying on an operators’ expertise to scan a target environment for sensitive information that could support in the pursuit of an objective. For example, searching file shares and internal applications for sensitive information of credentials. These tasks are often time consuming, but can be dramatically improved with the...
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Fortra Secure Email Gateway 6.2: A Major Leap Forward in Threat Detection and Security

The 6.2 release of Fortra’s Secure Email Gateway marks a significant milestone in email security. This major update introduces cutting-edge enhancements powered by the Fortra Threat Brain, designed to deliver superior protection against phishing, malware, and spam.What's New in Version 6.2?At the heart of this release is the Fortra Threat Brain, a sophisticated intelligence engine that aggregates...
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Fortra Patch Priority Index for December 2025

Fortra's December 2025 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft and Google.Up first on the list are patches for Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) that resolve 13 type confusion, inappropriate implementation, and use after free vulnerabilities.Next on the list are patches for Microsoft Office, Word, Access, Outlook and Excel. These patches resolve 13 remote...
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BEC Global Insights Report: December 2025

This report from Fortra Intelligence & Research Experts (FIRE) outlines key BEC trends for December 2025 based on active defense engagements. Findings include a 1% increase in overall attack volume compared to November, with gift cards as the leading cash-out method (52.8%) and Apple Store cards being most requested (50%).
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WEF: AI Overtakes Ransomware as Fastest-Growing Cyber Risk

We can no longer say that artificial intelligence is a "future risk", lurking somewhere on a speculative threat horizon. The truth is that it is a fast-growing cybersecurity risk that organizations are facing today.That's not just my opinion, that's also the message that comes loud and clear from the World Economic Forum's newly-published "Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026." As the report bluntly...
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6 Areas Turning Cyber Compliance from Checkboxes to Proof

A new year often brings a wave of updated cybersecurity compliance requirements. In 2026, regulators are raising the bar. “Check-the-box” compliance that may once have been sufficient to pass audits is no longer enough. Today’s mandates increasingly demand evidence: proof that controls are operating as designed, faster incident reporting, and broader disclosure obligations across vendors, systems,...