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Choose your reviews carefully

Three reasons our security tests are the most trustworthy

Choose your reviews carefully

This security report compares anti-malware products. Its job is to help you make informed buying decisions. We applied advanced testing techniques to ensure that the results are meaningful. The same cannot be said for many other tests. I’d say you’ve picked a good one to read, here. Let’s prove that.

Security report checklist

There are a few questions you should ask when you look at a security report. These are all very important but in random order here they are:

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Cyber Security DE:CODED – Security opportunities for Managed Service Providers

“Every SMB is an expert in something. A passion. It’s probably not anti-virus…”

Show notes for series 2, episode 7

Small business and Managed Service Provider special!

  • Do small businesses face the same cyber threats as large organisations?
  • Are your security solutions 100% effective? And how do you pick a good one?
  • Where are the opportunities for MSPs to add value and make more money?

In June 2022*, we set up a panel of security experts to help and advise companies selling managed security services. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) need to choose a set of security solutions that they can use or possibly resell to their small business clients, known as SMBs.

The clients face the same cyber threats as large organisations, but they’re far less equipped to handle them.

We answer all of these questions and more with special guests Martin Lee from Cisco, Chad Skipper from VMware, and Luis Corrons from Avast.

Security Life Hack from John Hawes (AMTSO)!

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Deep and direct ransomware testing

300 ways to run a ransomware attack!

Deep and Direct Ransomware Testing

SE Labs tested CrowdStrike Falcon against a range of ransomware attacks designed to extort victims. These attacks were realistic, using the same tactics and techniques as those used against victims in recent months.

Test like ransomware hackers

Testers attacked target systems, protected by CrowdStrike Falcon. Our testers in the lab acted in the same way as we observe ransomware groups to behave on the internet.

Attacks were initiated from the start of the attack chain, using phishing email links and attachments, as just two examples. Each attack was run from the very start to its obvious conclusion, which means attempting to steal, encrypt and destroy sensitive data on the target systems.

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Cyber Security DE:CODED – Mental health challenges

“We see the worst, because it’s helped us to evolve to pick up on threats and dangers. But it’s not that helpful for life in the 21st century.”

Show notes for series 2, episode 6

Mental health is an important but often misunderstood area, full of prejudice and technical jargon. How can we look after ourselves better at work and in our personal lives?

Post-pandemic, we take stock on the mental impacts of working from home and isolated environments.

And now we’re facing hybrid working. Can we take control?

Is this the right time to take stock and address any issues we can identify to stay happier?

Protective factors can keep us going but, when they disappear, we can experience problems.

We address all of these issues and more, with special guest Olly Church (The Eleos Partnership).

Security Life Hack from Luis Corrons (Avast)!

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Anti-virus testing

How hard should a security test be?

Anti-virus testing

Anti-virus testing



Thank you for opening this report. We hope you’ll be able to use it to get a better idea about which anti-malware products you might want to buy (or get rid of!)

What do the awards mean?

The report starts off with a list of products, each of which win impressive-looking awards. But have you considered what those awards mean? How come there aren’t any massive losers in the list? How hard is this security test anyway?

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Cyber Security DE:CODED – Ransomware

“There’s usually about 30% corruption in backups”

Show notes for series 2, episode 5

Ransomware is feared by businesses all over the world. What happens during and after an attack? We give a unique insight into the experiences of ransomware victims.

How do organisations react to a ransomware attack?

We examine the grey area between good and bad apps.

Guests on this month’s Cyber Security DE:CODED podcast include Jeremy Kirk (The Ransomware Files) and Dennis Batchelder (AppEsteem).

Security Life Hack from Brian Monkman (NetSecOPEN)!

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Beware fake anti-virus reviews

You need anti-virus and there is a load of advice online about which to buy. Who can you trust?

best anti-virus

Some anti-virus reviewers know what they are talking about. Others don’t. Some are just in it for the money. How can you tell which reviews are worth your time?

How to choose anti-virus for your PC and your family

Most people believe that you should run anti-virus on your PC. Independent security experts, governments and every computer journalist on the planet promotes this advice. And they are not wrong. There is no doubt that installing anti-virus is one of the most important things you can do to keep your computer and its data safe.

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Cyber Security DE:CODED – Cloud security

“As long as anything is online, it’s open for strangers to try to break protection”

Show notes for series 2, episode 4

The ‘cloud’ is integrating with our lives at ever more useful (or intrusive!) levels. We look at what securing the cloud means in the real world.

Is it possible to secure your online life when you don’t control all of the systems in use?

Is anyone testing cloud security, or do we simply need to accept marketing claims?

Don’t lose your cryptocurrency to hackers and scammers. Our security tips focus on cryptocurrency investors.

What does a personal hack attack look like? Backups never seems more attractive…

Guests on this month’s Cyber Security DE:CODED podcast include Eugene Kaspersky (Kaspersky) and Luis Corrons (Avast).

Security Life Hack from Chad Skipper (VMware)!

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Educating cyber security’s next generation

LEVEL:UP Security Education by SE Labs.

SE Labs takes a central role in understanding and assessing IT security. We use our unique position to help guide young people into the cybersecurity world. This year we started running our school’s Cyber Security Week course.

Setting a path to cybersecurity

We have already spoken in the past about the rather fluid manner of getting into cybersecurity. There is no specific, necessary pathway to begin a career in the industry. In many cases attempting to take what some see as the obvious path has problems. We want to help start educating cybersecurity’s next generation.

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Which anti-virus?

Everyone tells you that you need it, but which one?

Classic cybersecurity advice always includes a plea to, “install anti-virus” or “use endpoint protection software”. Journalists, bloggers and even governments hand this information out, as if it helps. Most platforms, including Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS, include anti-virus so the question then becomes, “which anti-virus?”

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