What Is Swatting? Definition, Dangers, and How to Protect Yourself
It might sound like something you’d do to a fly that's buzzing around your kitchen while you're cooking dinner, but swatting is actually a serious cybercrime. So, what is swatting,…
Nicole Forrest
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.
Posts by Nicole Forrest:
Everything You Need to Know About IPv4 vs. IPv6 Right Now
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) are both network protocols that tell internet traffic where it’s going and where it came from. Initially, the developers…
What Is Digital Footprint? A Guide to Online Identity
Searching for a nearby restaurant, liking a friend’s social media post, or opening a weather app can all generate data that can be used to build a picture of who…
Zelle Scams: 11 Common Examples and How to Avoid Them
Zelle is known for its speed and convenience, but both of those things can work against you if you send money to the wrong person. Scammers use a range of…
CEO Fraud: What It Is, How to Spot It, and Prevention Tips
When carried out successfully, CEO fraud can cost a company millions of dollars and incur reputational damage that takes years to repair. The good news is that this scam follows…
What Is Passwordless Authentication? A Complete Guide
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…
What Is Identity Theft and How Does It Happen?
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…
RSA Encryption: Asymmetric Cryptography for Data Authenticity and Integrity
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…
What Is WWW2? A Guide to Website Subdomains
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): Process, Risks, and Protection
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…