Nicole Forrest is a cybersecurity and privacy Writer who covers data protection, online security, and the policies and technologies that shape how people use the internet. When she’s behind her laptop, she’s usually getting lost in research about digital infrastructure, regulation, and how to make the internet a better place for everyone. When she’s out in the real world, she enjoys learning about different cultures through travel, food, and drink.
Weak, reused, and stolen passwords keep showing up at the start of the data breach chain, year after year. According to Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report, compromised credentials play…
Picture this: You apply for a new line of credit and it’s declined by your financial provider because your credit score has hit the floor. Alarm bells start to ring…
The RSA encryption method is a form of asymmetric cryptography, also called public-key cryptography, that uses a pair of mathematically linked keys so that encrypted data can only be read…
On occasion, when you visit a website you might notice something slightly strange in the address. Rather than seeing the standard “www” in the URL, the domain prefix could read…
Computer network exploitation (CNE) is a coordinated effort to break into a network undetected and silently pull data out of it. It’s a form of digital espionage that seeks to…
A reverse proxy is a server that sits between the internet and a website’s backend servers, managing and controlling incoming traffic on the website’s behalf. You might never see a…
Your personal information, login credentials, and browsing habits all have market value, and that has turned data theft into a profitable pastime for anyone who has the time or inclination…
Cybercriminals prefer to operate undetected when they’re carrying out their attacks. They use digital tricks and treachery to get around security measures without alerting you to the fact that something’s…
A number you don’t recognize calls your phone. Then another. Your inbox fills with loan offers and insurance quotes you never asked for. You haven’t handed your details to anyone…
Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key, or WPA-PSK, is one of the most common ways to secure a Wi-Fi network. The shared-password model with easy setup made WPA-PSK a popular network…