Security Highlights from Defcon 26
- by Brittany Day

Defcon 26 provided individuals and organizations with valuable tips and insight on security and the latest and most effective defenses. Here are some security-related highlights from the event.
Defcon 26, a high-profile hacking conference that recently took place in Las Vegas, offered a multitude of predictions and implications regarding changes and trends in the field of cyber security. Although Defcon is an event that is mainly attended by ethical hackers who are aiming to learn how to better protect the systems they are responsible for, everyone can gain knowledge from the experts who spoke and the activities and contests that took place at Defcon 26. With cyber threats becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, cyber security is an issue that affects all individuals and organizations. According to CSO, cyber crime damage costs are expected to hit $6 trillion annually by 2021 (CSO Online). Email is an extremely popular attack vector used by cyber criminals, so effectively securing email accounts is becoming increasingly important. Here are two highlights from Defcon 26 and a summary of what they suggest in the context of today’s cyber threat landscape:
- NSA Brings Nation-State Details to Defcon: “Spot the Fed” has been a longstanding tradition at Defcon, but the task was extremely easy this year. Rob Joyce, senior advisor for cybersecurity strategy at the NSA, discussed the latest details on nation-state hacking and defense. He suggested that there are four actors that are most concerning in regard to nation-state hacking: Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. In terms of defense strategies, Joyce emphasized that the transparency provided by public hacking is critical in finding and fixing flaws that nation-state hackers could exploit. He also referred to cybersecurity as a “team sport”, suggesting that the government and private enterprises should share information on vulnerabilities and attacks. Finally, Joyce reminded the audience that basic security measures, such as software patching and multifactor authentication, should not be overlooked. (DarkReading)
- Tesla Plans to Open-source Security Software: Following Defcon 26, CEO of Tesla Elon Musk announced that Tesla is planning to open-source its security software to other automakers for free. Musk feels that doing this will decrease the risk of cyber criminals hacking self-driving vehicles. Tesla has a good relationship with security researchers and whitehat hackers, whose work has led to the rapid fixing of various vulnerabilities in the past. Open-sourcing security software will likely encourage more security researchers to search for and identify vulnerabilities, making Tesla cars even more secure. (Electrek)
These are just two of many security-related highlights of Defcon 26. The schedule was packed with speeches from experts in the field of security, hacking-related activities and contests and Q & A sessions. As expected, Defcon 26 proved to be a hub for innovation in the field cyber security and advancement in the practice of ethical hacking. With the evolution of cyber crime and email-related threats, it is crucial that businesses and individuals stay informed and implement the latest and most advanced defenses and protection strategies.
Blog Articles
-
2021
-
2020
- Effectively Securing Business Email Accounts: Are Employees the Weakest Link?
- Encryption: An Essential Yet Highly Controversial Component of Digital Security
- Business Email Security Redefined: Key Benefits of Securing Your Business Email with Guardian Digital
- 8 Business Email Security Best Practices
- Demystifying Email Encryption: Stop Sender Fraud
- Demystifying Phishing Attacks: How to Protect Yourself Now
- Demystifying Tax Fraud: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Deceptive, Costly Scams This Tax Season
- Coronavirus Phishing Scams are On the Rise - Is Your Business Email at Risk of Infection?
- Dave Wreski: Founder of Guardian Digital – Open Source Cloud Email Security
- New Ransomware Warnings: Is Your Business Safe from This Silent Threat?
- FBI: Existing Cloud Email Protection Inadequate Against Phishing, Ransomware
- Email Risk is Universal: Securing Business Email in Every Industry Sector
- How To Safely Navigate Office 365 While Working Remotely
- Tips and Advice for Staying Safe Online During COVID-19
- Why Your Business Needs Better Email Security
- Defending Against COVID Email Spoofing Attacks with DMARC
- You’ve Got Mail: How To Tell If It’s Fraud
- Open-Source Security Is Opening Eyes
- Think Like A Criminal: How To Write A Phishing Email
- The Four Biggest Email Threats Your Business Faces Today
- Everything On DocuSign Phishing Attacks in 3 Minutes
- Understanding Payload-Less Email Attacks in Under 3 Minutes
- Demystifying Fileless Malware in Less than 3 Minutes
- How to Protect Sensitive Data & Maintain Client Trust in Financial Services Industry
- Exchange Servers Are Vulnerable - Learn How To Secure Your Email Server Now
- Apache SpamAssassin Leads A Growing List of Open-Source Projects Taking Steps to Correct Instances of Racism and White Privilege
- Cyber Risk Is Greater than Ever in the Legal Industry
- Understanding Malicious URL Protection - And Why You Need It to Secure Your Email
- Email Security for SMBs Beyond COVID-19
- Email Risk Is BIG for SMBs - How To Protect Your Business Now
- Email Threats By The Numbers: How Big Is My Risk?
- The Modern Email Threat Landscape: Where Traditional Defenses Fall Short
- Why Email Security Is More Important Than Ever in This 'New Reality'
- The Threat of CEO Fraud Extends Beyond the C-Suite
- Top Email Security Trends Putting Your Business at Risk of Attack
- Think Like A Criminal: What You Need to Know About Social Engineering Attacks in 2020
- Managed Services: A Key Element of Effective Email Security that Even Modern Solutions Lack
- How To Secure Your Remote Workforce: Advice from Leading Security Experts
- FBI: The 2020 Presidential Election Is Under Attack by Email Scammers
- AT&T Security Researchers Identify a Correlation between Strong Cybersecurity and Business Success
- The Aftermath of a Cyberattack Pt. 1: Phishing Recovery Basics
- It Pays to be Prepared! Ransomware Preparedness & Recovery Basics
- Breaking Down Fileless Malware: Anatomy of an Attack
- Office 365 Email Is Vulnerable to Attack Without These Critical Supplementary Defenses in Place
- Keep the Holidays Merry & Bright - Beware of These Sneaky Seasonal Phishing Scams
- Migrating Business Email: The Hidden Complexities You Need To Know
- How Do SPF, DMARC & DKIM Secure Email Against Sender Fraud?
- Top Email Security Risks Heading into 2021 - How To Set Your Business Up for Safety & Success
-
2019
- Your Current Approach to Email Security May Not Be Enough
- Ways to Prevent Email Account being compromised in a Breach
- Celebrating 20 Years of Revolutionizing Digital Security
- IBM Closes its $34 Billion Acquisition of Red Hat
- Interview with Security Expert and Author Ira Winkler
- What is Phishing Email? How to prevent Phishing email scams?
- Ways Our Business Email Exceed Your Expectations
- Spear Phishing Protection - Definition & How To Recognize Spear Phishing Email
- What is Whaling (Whaling Phishing)? & How to Prevent Whaling attacks?
- Ransomware Attack Explained - Best Practices For Ransomware Protection
- Business Email Compromise (BEC) - Definition & Prevention From BEC Attacks
- Wire Transfer Scams Involving Real Estate Transactions: How to Prevent Fraud with Effective Email Security
- Guardian Digital and Mautic: A Dynamic Open-Source Duo
- Email Malware - How to Recognize & Prevent Malware Email Attack
- An Open-Source Success Story: Apache SpamAssassin Celebrates 18 Years of Effectively Combating Spam Email
- What is Spam Email - Types & How to Prevent Spam Emails?
- Email Virus - Complete Guide to Email Viruses Plus Best Practices
- What Is A Zero-Day Attack & How To Prevent Zero Day Exploit?
- 2020: A New Decade of Digital Threats - Is Your Business Email Secure?
- Linux: An OS Capable of Effectively Meeting the US Government’s Security Needs Heading into 2020
- Complete Guide on Email Security & Threats Faced by Organizations
-
2018
- Guardian Digital Keeps its Customers Protected from Intel Design Flaw
- Security Spotlight: Open Source Email Security Solutions
- Top Six Advantages of Open Source Development/Products
- Python and Bash - Contenders for the most used scripting language
- Guardian Digital Outlines Top 4 Benefits of Choosing Cloud
- Unrivaled Protection Against Today’s Most Dangerous Threats
- Guard Your Email Accounts Against Today’s Most Dangerous Threats
- Security Highlights from Defcon 26
- Linux / Open Source FAQs: Common Myths / Misconceptions
- Email Security FAQs Answered by Guardian Digital
- Guardian Digital Mail Systems: Designed to be Secure Without Fail