Meta Defence Labs Ltd

Join us this Friday for a casual chat with our Managing Director and NCSC Certified Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials, Chani Simms! ??? Date: Friday, 8th December 2023 ? Time: 12:00 (London Time) ?? Location: Virtual Meeting (Link will be provided upon registration) ?? Register now to secure your virtual seat! See you all there! #cybersecurityevent #cyberessentials #networksecurity #metadefencelabs

Congratulations CyBur Ltd team Tinesh Chhaya and Simon Holden ??

Here is a little gift - The Inside Man In celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're excited to offer you something special! Our trusted partner, KnowBe4, has created an exclusive kit packed with everything you need to run an engaging and impactful security awareness campaign throughout October. One of the highlights? You’ll get access to the entire first season of their award-winning?Inside Man?series. It’s not just educational—it’s seriously entertaining! We are a huge fan of the series, and you’ll enjoy how it mixes suspense with key lessons in cybersecurity. Here is a link to access your free training: https://lnkd.in/d6dZcBJG

Beware of CEO Fraud – The Modern Day Bank Robbery ?? CEO Fraud: The Silent Heist ?? Not all bank robberies happen with ski masks and getaway cars. Some happen with a simple, convincing email. #CEO Fraud is a cybercrime that targets your accounting team, where scammers pose as your CEO or another executive and urgently request a large money transfer. They use social engineering, urgency, and fear to bypass usual protocols. Why it works: Attackers play on authority – nobody wants to say “no” to the CEO. They create urgency – making you feel that time is critical. They rely on trust – knowing we often trust communications that appear internal. Preventing CEO Fraud is about culture and verification: Multi-Level Approval: Ensure large financial transfers always require more than one approval. Create a Verification Culture: No matter how high up the request comes from, it’s okay to verify through other channels. Flag Irregular Requests: Unusual timing or unexpected emails from top executives should always be double-checked. Cybercriminals don’t need to break through firewalls if they can break through our trust. Let’s work together to protect our businesses and not fall for the tricks of modern digital heists. ???? Have a protocol you use to verify unusual requests? Let’s share best practices below and keep our workplaces safe.

???♂? “This is your CEO. Transfer ￡50,000 to this account immediately!” Sounds familiar? It might be a CEO Fraud attempt – a sophisticated spear-phishing scam where hackers pose as top executives to trick finance employees into transferring large sums. Here’s how it works: The attacker gathers information about the company and executive team from social media or online news. They craft a convincing email that creates urgency, pressure, and authority. A finance team member, often under stress, acts without full verification. How can we defend against CEO Fraud? Slow Down: Pressure tactics are red flags. Take a moment to question unexpected requests. Use a Second Channel: Verify requests through a phone call or in-person chat with the executive. Educate Teams: Ensure your finance team knows that no one is too senior to double-check. Verification is not disrespect – it’s protection! During Cyber Awareness Month, let’s remind our colleagues that a healthy level of scepticism can save the company from huge losses. Have you ever been targeted by a scam like this? Let’s discuss how to spot and stop these attacks. ????

CEO Fraud – The High-Stakes Impersonation Attack ?? CEO Fraud: Don’t Get Fooled by the Boss! ?? Imagine this: You’re working away when an urgent email from your CEO lands in your inbox. It’s asking you to transfer a significant sum of money for an important deal. Time is of the essence, and you want to help the company succeed – so you act quickly. STOP! Before you hit send, you might want to think twice. CEO Fraud is a targeted spear-phishing attack where cybercriminals impersonate your CEO or other senior executives, often targeting finance teams with urgent payment requests. They thrive on urgency, hoping you’ll act without verifying. Here’s how to protect yourself: Verify requests independently: Always confirm with your CEO directly or through a trusted contact before making large transfers. Double-check email addresses: Often, attackers use addresses that look almost identical to real ones but have small variations. Trust your instincts: If something feels odd or rushed, take a step back. Remember, executives rarely ask for large transactions out of the blue, and no legitimate request would make you feel pressured to skip your usual verification steps. Have you come across a suspicious request like this? How did you handle it? Let’s share tips and keep our finance teams safe! ????

The Human Element in Cybersecurity ?? The Biggest Threat in Cybersecurity? It's Not Always the Tech... ?? Cybercriminals are getting smarter – but instead of attacking systems, they’re increasingly attacking people. Social engineering relies on tricking YOU into bypassing security controls. Whether it's: Phishing emails pretending to be your CEO asking for an urgent payment Tailgating where someone follows you through a secure door Or "Shoulder surfing" to glance at your passwords The techniques are creative, and the risk is real. The solution? Be sceptical. Trust your instincts. If someone’s request seems out of the ordinary, take a moment to verify it before you act. Cyber Awareness Month is the perfect time to remind ourselves – a secure workplace isn’t just about strong passwords and firewalls. It’s about staying sharp and not falling for tricks designed to exploit our trust. Have a story about social engineering or a best practice? Drop it in the comments and help raise awareness. ??

It's the Cyber Awareness Month, Lets Understand Social Engineering: The Art of Manipulation Social engineering isn't just a fancy buzzword – it's one of the most common tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit human behaviour. Picture this: an email pops up from your "IT department" urgently requesting your password to "fix an issue." You panic, comply, and just like that – you're a victim. Social engineering attacks play on emotions like fear, urgency, and curiosity. By manipulating these emotions, attackers trick people into giving away sensitive information or performing actions they shouldn’t. The key to protection? Awareness. Always double-check requests, especially those involving sensitive data. Think before you click, and if something feels off, it probably is. Stay vigilant – because often, the weakest link in cybersecurity is not a device but a decision. Have you encountered a social engineering attempt before? Share your experiences and tips below. Let’s help each other stay safe!

Social Engineering – It’s Not About Hacking Computers, It’s About Hacking Minds! Did you know that 93% of cyber breaches are linked to some form of social engineering? Attackers don’t just break through firewalls – they use psychology to make you willingly open the door. Here are some classic social engineering tactics: Pretexting – The attacker pretends to be someone trustworthy (e.g., IT support). Baiting – Offering something you want (like a USB labelled “Confidential Project”) to make you click or plug it in. Phishing – Those emails that say you’ve won a prize or need to verify your account. The best way to combat social engineering is to stop and think. If someone is asking for your information, especially under pressure or urgency – question it. Remember: Awareness is your first line of defence. This Cyber Awareness Month, commit to staying informed, staying alert, and staying secure. What’s one habit you’ve developed to avoid falling for these tricks? Let’s share and learn from each other. ????

October is the cyber awareness month and it's never too late to transform your culture.