Forensic Blogs

An aggregator for digital forensics blogs

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10 Cybersecurity Tips You Should Know!

Stay safe with your devices and while going online by using these cyber tips of the month! Practicing good habits with your devices and your activity online is crucial to keeping you and your information safe, along with others who might be connected to you in some way. Use these tips to put your best foot forward while navigating the digital world!

Don’t click on links without thinking; make sure to inspect links and know they are from a trusted source before clicking, since malicious links can do damage in many different ways to your devices.

Be sure to connect securely when connecting to different networks. Unsecured connections can have negative consequences, so only connect to private networks when you can, especially if you’ll be handling some private and sensitive information.


Make sure your mobile device is secure! A lot of us hold private information on these devices and bring them with us everywhere, so it is important that they are protected from others. A few protective measures to put in place include a strong password, turning off automatic connection to public Wi-Fi, turning your Bluetooth off, and downloading anything with caution.


Never leave your devices unattended! The security of your devices is not only important digitally, but also physically. Lock up any phones, laptops, or tablets so no one can access them. For desktops, lock them or shut them down completely when unattended.


Always be careful with what you plug into your computer. Never use something such as a USB drive if you don’t know where it came from, as it could potentially have malware on it.


Make sure that all of your online shopping is done safely! Don’t shop from a computer and a network that you don’t own, and make sure to be careful about which websites you shop at. It is also smart to make sure you are using a strong password, and that you aren’t saving your card’s details and information in an online account.


Keep your device clean! Regularly remove applications that you don’t use, making sure your device won’t have old, lingering apps that may provide vulnerabilities for criminals to use.


Make sure to use unique passwords for all of your different accounts and devices. The best and safest passwords are at least twelve to fifteen characters and have numbers, letters, and symbols in them. Avoid using common phrases to build your passwords, as well as any type of personal information.


Be careful with what you post online! Social media is a place where criminals can gather and learn a lot of information just from what you post. Consider what you put out there, and also consider who is able to see your page. You can always go in and change your privacy settings too!


Practice good habits online; what you do has the potential to impact others at work, at home, or even somewhere else around the world, so practicing good online habits benefits everyone.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, AND LINKEDIN SO YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WE’RE UP TO!

The post 10 Cybersecurity Tips You Should Know! appeared first on The Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity.

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Top Tech Podcasts Of April 2021

Keeping up to date with all things technology is easy with April’s podcast list! These highlighted podcasts cover a wide range of technology, from discussing the history of cybercrime and what it looks like today, to understanding the best ways to navigate your life in a digital age. They range from short, seven-minute bursts, to full fledged hour and a half deep dives, meaning there is something for everyone. Happy listening!

How I Built This is hosted by Guy Raz, an acclaimed radio and podcast personality. This NPR podcast focuses on the stories from the creators or some of the world’s best known companies, and how they came to be. These entrepreneurs and innovators transparently discuss the ways in which their businesses have come to be over the decades, with ideas and lessons left behind that can be applied to businesses of any size.

The Cyberlaw Podcast is hosted by Stewart Baker, a partner of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. The podcast is a series of weekly interviews and discussions about current events concerning technology, privacy, government, and security. Baker talks with politicians, reporters, academics, and authors, often focusing on where cybersecurity intersects with the law, and offering different opinions and debates on the topics.

Pivot is hosted by Kara Swisher, New York Magazine Editor-at-Large and Co-Founder of Recode, and Scott Galloway, a Marketing professor at NYU. This podcast discusses some of the biggest stories in business, technology, and politics every Tuesday and Friday morning. They offer their insights and opinions on the stories, lending their strong personalities to the case.

Darknet Diaries is hosted by Jack Rhysider, a knowledgeable member of the security world who has previously worked in a security operations center for a Fortune 500 company. This podcast focuses on the dark side of the web, such as stories involving cybercrime and hackers. Darknet Diaries aims to “capture, preserve, and explain the culture around hacking and cyber security in order to educate and entertain both technical and non-technical audiences.”

The CyberWire is a collection of podcasts created by the CyberWire team. These podcasts allow you to keep yourself up to date on all things happening within cyberspace, and to understand the current threats and issues happening within cybersecurity. The collection of podcasts lets you choose your preferred version of information about cybersecurity, whether it be the Daily Podcast which focuses specifically on the news, Career Notes which focuses on cybersecurity professionals, or more.

7 Minute Security is hosted by Brian Johnson, a security enthusiast who’s spent around twelve years working in IT before shifting to focus on information security in 2013. The podcast focuses on helping listeners build a career in security, with information about pentesting, blue teaming, technical security tests, online privacy tips, and more. Each podcast is only around seven minutes long, making it easily digestible content and perfect for people who can’t dedicate an hour or so of their time to listen to a full length podcast.

Back to Work is hosted by Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin. Their podcast focuses on the convergence between people, technology, and work. Their discussions range from communication, different types of constraints and barriers, productivity, and more.

Smashing Security is hosted by Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, two veterans of the computer security industry. This podcast takes a lighthearted approach to the news and views of cybersecurity, hacking, online privacy, and more, allowing you to laugh as you take in the helpful and educational information. Despite this different approach from most cybersecurity podcasts, the hosts are still able to handle the weighty topics easily.

Note to Self is hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. The podcast focuses on how to navigate your life in the digital age, and as the podcast’s website describes, it is “your weekly reminder to question everything.” The show focuses on the way technology is impacting different parts of our lives, and how to use it effectively without falling into traps.


Malicious Life is hosted by Ran Levi, an author of three books who’s worked as an electronics engineer and programmer for a few high-tech companies in Israel. The podcast focuses on the evolution and history of the cybersecurity industry, through interviews with experts, politicians, and hackers. This podcast is made for anyone interested in the background history of cybercrime, and the state that it is in today.

The post Top Tech Podcasts Of April 2021 appeared first on The Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity.

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Women In Tech Q&A with Emily Crawford

Our next Women’s History Month worker spotlight is Emily Crawford! Crawford is a second-year Computer Networking and Cybersecurity major, with a minor in Digital Forensics. She is currently working on the Social Media Footprint Awareness team. In the past, she was worked on the VPN comparison, IOT intrusion, and Network Scanning teams at the Leahy Center

What made you choose to major within the information technology field?

When I was a freshman in high school a guest speaker worked in the cybersecurity field. He told of his experience how these different tools worked, and I was extremely interested and I knew I wanted to go into cybersecurity.

What was your first experience with technology?

My first experience with technology was when I was a three-year-old toddler, and I proclaimed to my mother how I wanted a computer for Christmas.

Are there any females in tech that you look up to?

My first computer science teachers in high school were both women, and they made me feel welcome as a woman in tech and encouraged me to pursue a career in tech.

What are the pros and cons of being a woman in tech?

The pros of women in technology are that the community I am a part of with other women in technology is amazing, and I have met so many women in technology who were all so talented and nice. A con of being a woman in technology is that I often feel I don’t belong and I need to prove my worth.

What advice would you give to younger women who are interested in getting into the tech field?

My advice for younger women would be to not be afraid to start getting involved in tech whether it be in clubs or after-school programs. Also to know that you are not alone and there many other fantastic women in technology

Is it daunting to be working in a male-dominated field?

Sometimes especially when I’m new and don’t know anyone else, it can be daunting and sometimes I feel I need to prove my place as a woman. Although this feeling usually fades the better I get to know my team.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, AND LINKEDIN SO YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WE’RE UP TO!

The post Women In Tech Q&A with Emily Crawford appeared first on The Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity.