Right, we start from the idea that measuring is a form of dominance over things.
In fact, we could say that you can’t measure what you don’t control.
That is why it is essential to deliberately choose what is measured (especially with our metrics).
Let’s get real. Not all metrics are useful metrics
Today we will talk about metrics in the context of an organization’s environment and goals. Therefore, measurements will always be related to:
- History data.
- Trends.
- Usage patterns.
- Typical lines.
- Common bases.
- Current values.
This context has always provided important and obvious benchmarks when comparing and analyzing an IT environment’s performance.
Thus you will determine “what is right”, “what is wrong” and what you just don’t care about.
Some metrics do not tell the whole truth
We know that availability is usually calculated by dividing the actual measured availability by the total possible availability of a certain interval.
0.9999 availability, for example, is considered a satisfactory result by most standards. Buuuuut, depending on when it takes place, that little downtime can be insignificant or important.
It is not the same if there’s inactivity between 2 and 3 in the morning for an online retailer or if it is at a time of great activity, near the end of the month or shortly before closing.
We are saying that the opportunity cost of each minute can range between tens of thousands of euros and hundreds of thousands of euros if it actually takes place just before holidays or during the period of greatest commercial activity.
With this we just intend to illustrate the relativism we live in and how crucial the context is to understand measures.
At a first glance we could say 99.99% is cool. However, it wouldn’t be so cool now if the 0.1% of application demand spikes and the 0.1% of downtimes match.
In this case, 99.99% uptime creates an over-optimistic image and may work against investigation of the underlying factors that may be causing potential performance issues or improper workload distribution.
In addition, a serious question arises:
(Serious voice).
Is the drop at times of absolute peaks of use a sign that the app is under-resourced, misplaced, or is it just an unfortunate coincidence?
Load spike failures have financial repercussions due to missed opportunities, but they also require a thorough examination of reliability, availability, network performance, and capacity KPIs, among others, to determine if any adjustments or fine-tuning are necessary.
Are there hidden costs?
Something is clear right here:
The use of automation should be compared to the service ticket and organization standard problem resolution times.
*In theory, at least in theory, open tickets should be solved faster the more automation is used.
Therefore, it is important for IT organizations to track service ticket average resolution time (MTTR), as well as the amount and effectiveness of automation being used in their workflows for:
- Configuration.
- Provisioning.
- Maintenance.
- Problem solving.
In addition, a metric will be needed more than ever to determine and control the value of automation within the organization.
But we want to make clear that, in terms of automation, more doesn’t have to mean better.
Self-service portals, incidents and service requests have an inverse relationship:
The more end users discover that the self-service portal meets their needs for datasets, analytics, access to services and resources, etc., the less frequent IT service requests will be.
This goes beyond simple MTTR reduction.
It also involves employing self-service portals to allow customers to complete the most common service requests without the need to create and close a service ticket.
If installed and maintained, this should lead to a wonderful world where there are less service tickets issued, happier and more productive users, and the possibility, even, of users suggesting changes, additions and extensions of self-service portals.
Let’s evaluate the history of metrics
There are too many management tools and utilities for complex, hybrid cloud-based environments, don’t you think?
Companies tend to get the better deal if they focus their search on a single comprehensive, unified and complete management platform.
They often reduce the number of management tools they use, while streamlining the management of their IT operations by performing such a transformation.
The result?
A type of “virtuous cycle” that leverages improved automation and visibility to expand opportunities for continuous optimization and raise the level of indicators used to assess the overall health of IT infrastructure.
Conclusion
The areas that will most profit from automation and self-service access will be revealed by establishing useful cost metrics that go beyond the cost of IT acquisitions, amortization and depreciation, as well as the cost of IT consumption, including software-as-a-service solutions (SaaS), Cloud resources, usage, and permanent virtual machine assignments.
As a result, you will identify objectives for constant and continuous optimization and improvements that will keep costs in the right direction.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About PandoraFMS
Pandora FMS is a flexible monitoring system, capable of monitoring devices, infrastructures, applications, services and business processes.
Of course, one of the things that Pandora FMS can control is the hard disks of your computers.
The Passwordless Future Is Here at NordPass
You lightly place your thumb at the bottom of your phone screen and, lo and behold, it’s unlocked instantly. So why can’t we do the same at the bank or when logging in to Twitter or YouTube? Well, soon we’ll be able to do it all. The passwordless future is inevitable and it’s almost here.
At NordPass, we’re thrilled to be creating a passwordless future. But what is passwordless authentication? How does it work? Let’s answer these questions.
Why should we consider going passwordless?
Year after year, we see either “123456” or “password” top our Most Common Passwords List. Millions of people reuse absurdly simple passwords across multiple platforms, even though they are very easy to crack by using a dictionary or brute force attacks. It makes passwords (and the people using them) one of the weakest links security-wise in any company or service.
Weak passwords are just part of the problem. The way we treat passwords is an issue as well. One of the worst password sins that all of us can attest to is reusing passwords. Having a single password to secure multiple accounts is a huge security risk, to put it mildly. In such instances, a single compromised account indicates that all of user’s accounts are essentially compromised as well.
The solution lies in biometric authentication and passkeys, which combined become one of the safest and smoothest passwordless authentication options available.
Passkeys: The key to passwordless authentication
In an age where technology usage continues to rise, the need for secure and efficient authentication methods becomes all the more pressing. Passwords, which have long reigned supreme as a solution for securing online accounts, have over time proven to be unreliable and susceptible to hacking. In turn, many organizations and companies have been looking for new, more efficient, and robust ways to authenticate users.
One organization at the forefront of the effort to go passwordless is the FIDO Alliance. The alliance works with various companies, including NordPass, to develop and promote open standards for passwordless authentication.
According to the FIDO Alliance, the technology set to replace passwords is passkeys. Passkeys are digital credentials that are generated by the user’s device. Usually used in combination with biometric data, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, to offer an extra layer of security, passkeys provide access to websites and other online services.
What passkeys bring to the table
One of the major advantages of passkeys is that the private key, which is used to generate the passkey, never leaves the user’s device. This makes it almost impossible for attackers to gain access to the key through phishing or other forms of cyberattack. Furthermore, passkeys are almost impossible to hack, making them more secure overall.
Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are invisible to the user and are never revealed or entered manually.
Going passwordless will also improve user experience. A fingerprint scanner, for example, is a fast and reliable authentication method. It would also mean that there would be no more password reset procedures — IT departments throughout the world will be very grateful. Also, when it comes to biometric authentication, you don’t need to remember anything. You won’t have any Post-its on the computer screen or notes in your planner. You can’t lose, steal, or forget your fingerprint.
Room for improvement for current passkey-based authentication
Right now, passwordless authentication is gaining major traction among such tech giants as Microsoft, Apple, and Google. All of these companies have been introducing passwordless authentication solutions, and in most instances the solutions include the use of passkeys.
However, current passkey-based solutions have a long way to go. At the moment, these solutions limit users to a single ecosystem, which makes it difficult to share them between, say, an Android user and an iOS user. In addition, the current solutions do not offer any kind of sync with password managers.
But this is where NordPass comes into play. We are currently working on integrating passkeys into your favorite password manager.
Introducing passwordless authentication to NordPass
At NordPass, we’re excited to be at the forefront of the passwordless revolution. And by early 2023, NordPass is set to introduce passwordless authentication both for individuals and businesses.
Passwordless access to NordPass
We are currently working on enabling a passwordless sign-in to NordPass. It will be a faster and simpler process than the one now, since it will require a single biometric confirmation. In simple language, this means that you will be able to access your Nord Account and NordPass with a single tap of a finger. You read it right. No more manually entering your Nord Account and Master Password each time you need to log in. Passwordless access to NordPass is set to significantly improve user experience and overall security.
NordPass passkey storage
All NordPass users will have the ability to save passkeys for any website or app in the encrypted vault and use them to access those online services later. With NordPass, you’ll be able to use, share, and sync passkeys between multiple devices and platforms, whereas many passwordless authentication solutions tend to lack such functionalities. This will make NordPass a single place for all of your digital valuables, including passwords, passkeys, credit cards, and other sensitive information.
Passwordless multi-factor authentication (MFA) for businesses
Password-based authentication is still the industry standard. However, due to the inherent vulnerabilities that come with password-based authentication, most businesses face a variety of cybersecurity risks. To significantly reduce the risk of suffering a phishing or an account takeover attack, businesses need to rethink their security approach with regard to access to endpoint devices such as laptops, desktops, workstations, and mobile devices as well as applications that leverage regular passwords or even single sign-on solutions.
With the introduction of passwordless MFA, we’re looking to help businesses improve their overall security stance by eliminating the need for passwords and introducing an authentication method based solely on biometrics.
Passkey integration for online service providers
The world is already moving rapidly towards a passwordless future. Unfortunately, not everyone can adapt smoothly and efficiently. Many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) lack the resources and know-how to implement passkey authentication for their users. However, at NordPass we’re ready to leverage our security expertise to make the transition from passwords to passkeys as smooth as possible. We believe that the frictionless user experience offered by passkeys across multiple platforms and devices, combined with superior security, will help your business increase conversion rates, user engagement, and user satisfaction.
You can expect big things as early as 2023. So stay tuned, and be prepared for the inevitable passwordless future – it’s just around the corner.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
How to Change Your Netflix Password
You’re dozing off to one of your favorite shows on Netflix, and suddenly a notification flashes on your phone. You look down and see a weird message: “Someone signed into your Netflix account at 03:23 in Nigeria.” Odd, because you were asleep at that time – and certainly haven’t been to Nigeria before. Looks like it’s time to change your Netflix password.
Whether you have forgotten your password, want to wrangle Netflix away from your ex-spouse, or just want to update your passwords, this guide will tell you how to easily change your Netflix password.
How to change your Netflix password on desktop
Fortunately, Netflix foresaw the need for expediency when it comes to changing your password – the process is quick and straightforward.
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Open up your browser and go to the Netflix login page. Once you’ve logged in, bring your mouse to hover over your profile picture in the top right corner. Click on “Account.”
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The first thing you’ll see is a section marked “Membership and billing.” On the right-hand side of this section are a few hyperlinked options. Click on the “Change password” link.
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You’re now on the page where you can reset your password. Before you do, check out our password generator to craft the perfect password that will be extremely difficult to crack.
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There you have it — your Netflix password is now changed. Remember that you’ll need to re-enter this new password on whatever devices your Netflix account is connected to.
How to change your Netflix password on mobile devices
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Open the Netflix app on your mobile device and log in to your account.
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Tap the profile icon located in the upper-left corner of the screen and select “Account.” If you are using a tablet, tap “More” at the bottom of the screen and select “Account” there.
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Now tap “Change password.”
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Now enter your current and new passwords.
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Tap “Save” to confirm. The changes should take effect immediately.
How can you reset your Netflix password?
If you have forgotten your Netflix password, the only way to regain access to your account is by resetting your passwords. Here’s a quick guide on how to reset your Netflix password:
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Visit the “Sign in” page and select “Need help?” which is located below the “Sign in” button.
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Choose “Email” and enter your email address. Click “Email me.”
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You will receive an email from Netflix with instructions on how to reset your password and create a new one.
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You can also choose the “Text message” (SMS) option. Simply enter your phone number and select “Text me.”
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You will receive a text message from Netflix with instructions on how to reset your password and create a new one.
If it’s been years since you last had to reset your password, don’t worry: all hope is not lost yet! In the above image, you can see the option at the bottom that says “I don’t remember my email or phone.” Click on it.
Now, you can enter your personal and payment details to reset your password. Netflix’s UI is intuitive enough to make resetting the details of your account effortless. Just follow the on-screen instructions, and you’ll have a new password in no time.
Invest in a password manager
This is the most guaranteed way to never have to worry about your passwords again. NordPass can automatically generate top-tier strength passwords, store them in an encrypted vault, and then autofill them to whichever account it’s associated with. The unnecessary hassle of memorizing and creating passwords will be a thing of the past. With NordPass, online life is smoother and safer.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
Should Couples Share Passwords?
So what’s the deal with password sharing? Would you give your partner the password to your banking account but not your phone? Is laying all your codes on the table a sign of trust or a massive security risk? Should couples share passwords at all? While it can help to build trust with a partner, sharing your passwords isn’t always the best idea.
We are asking some basic questions on a very touchy subject just to help keep your security tip top. Don’t worry — we’re not judging your loving relationship. We just believe in safety precautions no matter what, and you will too once you get a dose of reality from these not-so-lovely situations.
It’s all about how you share them
Sometimes the risk isn’t who you share your password with, but how you do it. Sharing your passwords over the internet, whether over unencrypted email or messaging apps, is like sharing them in plain view of the world. The next time you think about doing this, remember that any of the following situations can take hold (without you even knowing).
- Your messaging app may not be as honest as you think. A messaging app without end-to-end encryption has full access to everything you send. End-to-end encryption means that the only person who can read your message is the person you send it to. Sounds like a given, right? Not when you consider the genuine possibility that your messaging app could be giving employees access to your private conversations.
- Man-in-the-middle attacks. It’s true, attackers lurk in the middle of an exchange waiting to steal vital information, like passwords, credit card numbers, addresses… you name it. Without end-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge architecture, your credentials could be exposed, and a cybercriminal could be in and out of your bank account within seconds.
The easy way to share passwords securely
Looking at the potential risks that one might face when trying to share passwords online, it is quite natural to question whether couples should share passwords at all and is it worth the risk? The good news is that there’s a way to share passwords securely.
Obviously, the best defense is encryption. A messaging service or website using end-to-end encryption makes sure your data is kept safe from attackers. Password managers like NordPass help you store and share your passwords in a completely secure way.
With NordPass, encryption happens on your device, scrambling your data into gibberish before it even reaches the servers. This way everything you send remains locked, even from us – until it reaches your verified recipient.
NordPass Family is a great way for couples, families, or even groups of friends to further improve their online security. The Family plan comes with six Premium accounts and includes all the advanced security features. Best of all — you’ll be able to share passwords with other NordPass users instantly and effortlessly without sacrificing security.
The takeaway
Matters of the heart aside, always think twice before you send a password by text or messaging apps. Even if the service offers encryption, subpar ciphers and weak protocols can be broken by even a mediocre cyberattacker.
Sending a password securely with NordPass is easy. It locks your sensitive credentials in an encrypted vault. You can select them from a simple drop-down list and send in complete confidence.
The internet’s primary concern and priority is functionality. Your security and privacy probably aren’t. Don’t risk all of your accounts over something as small as sending a password.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
NordPass Desktop App: Release Note
NordPass 4.37 (latest)
We’ve waved bye-bye to some pesky bugs and have also spruced up the place a touch – enjoy!
NordPass 4.36
We’re starting off 2023 on the right foot with a release that’s faster and more reliable. Stay tuned for some bigger announcements!
NordPass 4.35
No major updates this time, just a new and improved app release with some under-the-hood performance upgrades – enjoy!
NordPass 4.34
We’re happy to present you with a new release. Here’s what we’ve got this time:
DESIGN CHANGES TO ITEMS. We updated how your item details are displayed. Hope you’ll like it.
NordPass 4.33
Building good things takes time. So since the last release, we have mainly focused on catching and eliminating pesky bugs.
NordPass 4.32
This time we’ve waved bye-bye to some pesky bugs and have also spruced up the place a touch – enjoy.
NordPass 4.31
We’re happy to present you with a new release. Here’s what we’ve got this time:
AUTOFILL DISABLEMENT ON WEBSITES. You can now disable autofill on any page that you don’t want to fill your details. It won’t reset when you refresh the page but you can turn it back on at any time.
BUG FIXES.
NordPass 4.30
Here’s what you’ll see in the new NordPass release:
ONBOARDING UPDATE. New users will be greeted by a refreshed onboarding experience that will help them familiarize themselves with NordPass.
NordPass 4.29
No major updates this time, just a new and improved app release with some under-the-hood performance upgrades – enjoy!
NordPass 4.28
Building good things takes time. So since the last release, we have mainly focused on catching and eliminating pesky bugs.
NordPass 4.27
This time we’ve waved bye-bye to some pesky bugs and have also spruced up the place a touch – enjoy!
NordPass 4.26
No big announcements from us this time. However, we hope you’ll still enjoy an updated NordPass version with fewer bugs and better autofill.
NordPass 4.25
Our bug busters have been working hard since the last time you heard from us. That’s why today we can proudly present another NordPass release with even fewer bugs. We hope you’ll like it.
NordPass 4.24
Building good things takes time. So since the last release, we have mainly focused on catching and eliminating pesky bugs.
NordPass 4.23
We’re happy to present you with a new NordPass release. Here’s what we’ve got this time:
UPDATED PASSWORD INFO. Now you’ll get more guidance on making your passwords more secure. Open any of your passwords, and you’ll see whether it’s been reused on other accounts or it’s too old and needs changing.
BUG FIXES. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Therefore, we continuously aim to catch pesky bugs and provide you with the best password management experience.
NordPass 4.22
Here’s what you’ll see in the new NordPass release:
SWITCH ACCOUNT. A long-awaited feature is here! If you have a few NordPass accounts, like personal and business, switching between them will now be a breeze. Just click on your profile account and look for a “Switch Account” button.
LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE. For our Lithuanian friends out there, you can now use NordPass in your mother tongue. Simply head to Settings to change the language.
BUG FIXES.
NordPass 4.21
Our bug busters have been working hard since the last time you heard from us. That’s why today we can proudly present another NordPass release with even fewer bugs. We hope you’ll like it.
NordPass 4.20
We’re happy to present you with a new NordPass release. Here’s what we’ve got this week:
CARD PIN. From now on, you can also add your PIN when saving card details. Don’t worry; it won’t be autofilled. It’s for your reference only.
DELETE CLIPBOARD SETTING. When you copy your password or other item data, it’s normally saved in the clipboard. To avoid pasting it somewhere you didn’t intend; you can now choose the clipboard to clear after a set time.
BUG FIXES.
NordPass 4.19
It’s international women’s day! So we want to take this opportunity and say thank you to all the beautiful women who tirelessly work at NordPass. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
P.S. We mainly focused on fixing bugs this time, so we hope you like a better running app.
NordPass 4.18
Here’s what you’ll see in the new NordPass release:
SUBDOMAIN SORTING IMPROVEMENTS. From now on, if you have multiple items saved for one domain, the account with the matching subdomain will be shown first.
BUG FIXES.
NordPass 4.17
Did you know that January has a Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year? The good news is it’s over. But if you’re still feeling a little bit blue, here’s a few things we’ve updated to hopefully cheer you up.
Safari import. You can now import passwords saved in Safari straight to NordPass.
Data Breach Report update. If your password appears in a Data Breach report and you update it on the website, select “Resolve” and the same details won’t appear next time you run the report.
Bug fixes. Caught many annoying bugs that hinder your experience.
Some write songs, some dedicate sonnets, some built monuments. We create release notes to honor each update of NordPass app for Windows, macOS and Linux. A single click of that magical “Update” button unlocks the newer, faster, better-performing world of stress-free password management.
NordPass 4.16
As Christmas is over, it’s time to make some New Year’s resolutions. But why wait? We want to become a better, smoother-running, and more user-friendly app now. We have strived for perfection since NordPass was launched, and this week is no exception. So we present you a new NordPass version with fewer bugs and more Autofill fixes.
NordPass 4.15
A good beginning makes a good ending, so why not start a week with a new NordPass release? Here’s what we’ve got this week:
BREACH SCANNER UPDATE. If your password was leaked in a data breach and you’ve reused it on other accounts, a new ‘Accounts at risk` tab will appear. There you’ll see a list of accounts that may be vulnerable. Don’t wait for a second and change their passwords to prevent cyber attacks.
AUTOFILL UPDATE. We’ve fixed a ton of autofill bugs so you’d have a smoother autofill experience on even more websites.
NordPass 4.14
We know that sometimes life throws challenges right at you. At those times, the last thing you want to think about is how and where to access your passwords.
That’s why from now on, you can give emergency access to your passwords and other items. Choose a person you really trust and invite them to be your emergency contact. Once they accept it, you can give them access immediately or wait for 7 days to be given automatically. Note: You can only give emergency access to another NordPass user with a Personal or Family plan.
NordPass 4.13
Trick or treat? Who are we kidding? It’s always just treated here at NordPass. So here’s our Halloween treat to you – a brand new NordPass release. Don’t worry, nothing to be scared of—just a smoother running version of your password manager.
NordPass 4.12
Tired of too many emails and banners? We get you, and we want to improve our communication with you. That’s why from now on, a lot of important information will appear as in-app notifications. So if you open the app and see a red dot next to a bell icon, just know that it’s something important from us to you.
P.S. We also solved a number of bugs.
NordPass 4.11
Getting your data stolen isn’t nice. But if that happens to you, it’s important to identify the stolen information and act quickly. That’s why with this release, Data Breach Scanner has gone even better. How?
If your data has ever appeared in any breach, you can now use the Breach Scanner to identify not just what type of data was leaked, but also see it in plain text. This includes passwords, your address, social security number, birth date, and other data types.
In addition to all this, we are continually working to improve one of our core features – Autofill. So expect to see more websites working flawlessly with NordPass.
NordPass 4.10
Can’t find tools to improve your password security? We got you. You’ll find security tools such as Password Generator, Data Breach Scanner, and Password Health in the sidebar from this release. More accessible to access and easier to use.
We also solved some pesky bugs to make your NordPass experience more enjoyable.
NordPass 4.9
What do you have in the box this time NordPass? Well, let me see…
Title and website address suggestion. That’s right, now when creating a new item, you only need to enter a few letters in the Title or Website address fields, and NordPass will suggest filling it with one of the thousand popular websites.
Spanish and Italian languages are now available on the NordPass extension.
Bug fixes, bug fixes, and more bug fixes.
NordPass 4.8
It’s August my friend. And you know what August is good for? Learning new languages.
Hablas español? Parli italiano? If you do, lucky you. Because you can now use NordPass in Spanish and Italian. Enjoy!
NordPass 4.7
Did you know that no one else has the same fingerprint as you? That’s why it’s the most unique password you can have. Dedicated Mac users, this release is for you. Yes, you can now sign in to your NordPass app with a fingerprint. Feeling like James Bond yet? We are!
P.S. We also solved a ton of pesky bugs to make your experience smoother than ever.
NordPass 4.6
Dear bugs, it’s time. Time to say goodbye. It won’t be the same without you. It will be better. The password managing experience will be much greater now.
NordPass 4.5
It’s officially summer, NordPass people! (Or winter, if you live in the southern hemisphere.) Wherever you are, we hope it’s sunny so that you can enjoy the brand new release. Here’s what we’ve got:
MULTIPLE ITEM SHARING. Sharing is caring, right? Well, now you can select multiple items and share them all at once. Easy peasy. Just always make sure you trust the people you share your credentials with.
PASSWORD GENERATOR HISTORY. You know that moment when you create a super-strong password with the NordPass Generator and forget to save it? Yeah, we’ve been there too. That’s why you’ll now see a little clock icon in your Generator where you can check your previously generated passwords.
BUG FIXES. And, of course, we won’t release a new NordPass version without getting rid of as many bugs as possible.
NordPass 4.4
“Speed” was the main keyword at NordPass this week. So what to expect in this release?
Updated designs so you could find your passwords or any other items at the speed of light.
Tons of bug fixes and maintenance work so that your app would work faster than ever and would be as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside.
NordPass 4.3
Don’t worry if you missed the chance to get NordPass Premium for less. The Summer Kick-Off Sale is here! Use this offer to get access to all the amazing Premium features.
Also, we have a little something for our Business users. From now on, all members who are added or removed from groups will be notified by email.
NordPass 4.2.18
Hello, world! We’ve prepared a nice little juicy pack of updates – just for you. Please give a warm welcome to:
Double EXTENSION-upgrade: from now on, not only it speaks German fluently but also is available in Dark Mode. Ready to give some rest for those sore eyes?
A new ge-ne-ra-tion for stronger passwords! Check out the PASSWORD GENERATOR to enjoy shiny new looks and (finally!) PASS-PHRASES for nice-and-strong-memorable-passwords.
NordPass 4.1
We are working hard on bringing Dark Mode to the NordPass extension. In the meantime, we are also doing some good old maintenance work. So expect to see some design changes in the browser extension and forget the existence of annoying bugs.
NordPass 4.0
Today is the day! You know what we are talking about. You asked for it; we delivered it. And oh boy, how good it looks! You’ll believe it once you see it.
OK, we recommend sitting down for this one. Then open your NordPass app, update it to the newest version and enjoy the shiny new DARK MODE.
And if that doesn’t impress you, well, then we have more news. You can now use NordPass in German. Whether it’s your mother tongue or just want to polish your German skills, you can now change your language preference in Settings.
NordPass 3.31
This time we’ve got many design changes to make your life easier. So let’s get to it. Here’s what you’ll see in this release.
TOAST MESSAGES UPDATE. Some of the success messages, such as when you import items or update your app, were outdated, so we made them easier to understand.
MULTISELECT REWORK. We noticed that the sorting option was missing when multiple items were selected. We introduced this option and changed long-winded buttons to visually pleasing icons.
BROWSER EXTENSION UPDATE. You can now access Tools from the NordPass extension, including the Password Health and the Data Breach Scanner.
NordPass 3.30
Are you ready to switch off the lights? Because Dark Mode is coming very very soon. We are working hard to make sure everything looks perfect for the release. A few more things, and we are done. Keep your eyes peeled.
In other news, we fixed some annoying bugs we found in Groups and took care of other bugs.
NordPass 3.29
Sometimes what we do is either too difficult to explain or too difficult to see. Yes, you guessed it. This week we put all our effort into finding and getting rid of bugs. We hope we’ll have something more exciting for you next week.
NordPass 2.34
NordPass has gone through some serious spring cleaning with this release. Why do we say so? Here’s what we did:
B2B GROUPS BUG FIXES. It’s new, fresh, and now with fewer bugs.
APP BUG FIXES. We’ll never give up on perfecting NordPass.
EXTENSION DESIGN REWORK. So much better looking now! You have to see it to believe it.
And something exciting is coming up very soon. So stay tuned. 😉
NordPass 2.33
This time, we’ve got good news for Business users. Let us introduce GROUPS. Admins and Owners can now assign members to groups and share passwords with a number of people instantly. Think, your finance department sharing login details every accountant needs to access.
Anything else? Of course, we got rid of more nasty bugs.
NordPass 2.32
Happy April Fool’s! Stay vigilant, and don’t get tricked by any hackers. Keep your passwords safe with an updated NordPass app. Here’s what we’ve got this time:
CHANGES TO MASTER PASSWORD CREATION. Now it’s easier to understand what that mysterious Master Password is and how it is different from your Nord Account password. BUG FIXES as usual.
NordPass 2.31
It’s spring! Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and NordPass is releasing another update. In this release, you’ll find: KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS. You can now use CTRL + F to search your items and CTRL + L to lock your app instantly. BUG FIXES. No bugs allowed here.
NordPass 2.30
NordPass bug hunters strike again. Yes, you guessed it. We got rid of more pesky bugs so you could enjoy an even smoother experience with NordPass. That’s it for now!
NordPass 2.29
“Could NordPass be any better?” asks our team every single week. And the answer never changes. YES, it can!
But it’s not always about new features and crazy advancements. Sometimes it’s all about perfecting those nitty-gritty details. So this week, we say another goodbye to a bunch of bugs. Bye, we won’t miss you.
NordPass 2.28
Another week, another release of a better, faster, and more secure NordPass app. And for this we say a BIG thank you to our bug hunters (aka developers). You guys rock.
NordPass 2.27
If NordPass was a dog, what would he say to a flea?
Stop bugging me.
The good news NordPass doesn’t need to endure nasty bugs. Bye-bye, bugs. We don’t wanna see you no more.
NordPass 2.26
Ready, set, new release! What can you expect to see in the new and shiny NordPass 2.26?
EXTENSION REWORK. Updated, upgraded, and overall better-looking browser extension. But what did we actually do? Well, we just made it even more similar to your desktop app, meaning more functional and easier to use. Voila!
BUG FIXES. Can you tell we don’t like insects? No bugs are allowed in our app. Yuck.
NordPass 2.25
It’s a very special day today. We thought about it over and over again. We were constantly considering, overthinking, and having sleepless nights about it. We even visited a fortune teller to ask if you’ll like it, or not. Yet still, our developers were nervously (but carefully!) coding that code.
And here it comes. A sincere love letter. In PDF format. Containing your Recovery Code. Save it, delete it, save it again, print it – do whatever you want, but please, keep it safe. And don’t show to anyone else! It was created from the bottom of our hearts to express how much we LOVE YOU.
Take care!
And don’t forget to update the app to get those extra bug fixes.
NordPass 2.24
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a password manager named NordPass lived. His goal was to become the best password manager that there ever was. And he did it one release at a time.
He proudly presents his latest achievements:
AUTOSAVE AND PASSWORD EDIT UPDATES. Now it will be easier to understand when NordPass is prompting to update an old password or when it is offering to save a new one automatically.
HELP SECTION ADDED TO SETTINGS. If you need help using NordPass, head to Settings to be directed to the Help Center.
COPY CHANGES. Salvador Dali might have said not to fear perfection as we’ll never reach it, but we’ll still give it a good go.
BUG FIXES. No need to call the pest control officer; we got it fixed.
NordPass 2.23
AbraCadabra boom! No, it’s not magic. It’s just your passwords and personal information filling in quicker and smoother than ever before. Bye-bye, annoying bugs who tried to stop you. What else can you expect in this release?
ONLINE/OFFLINE INDICATOR appears in the NordPass extension.
COPY CHANGES to make the app easier to navigate.
MORE BUG FIXES.
NordPass 2.22
New Year, new NordPass release. Here’s what you’ll see in the latest version:
EASIER LOG IN WITH NORD ACCOUNT. We tweaked the steps you take logging in to NordPass for a smoother experience.
BUG FIXES, because no one likes bugs.
RECOVERY CODE PDF. You will now be able to download your Recovery Code in PDF. Keep it somewhere safe. 😉
NordPass 2.21
Yeah, Christmas will be different this year. But we’ve still got something to spread a little cheer.
In this release, you will see:
ICONLESS ITEMS STYLING. Your passwords that don’t have dedicated icons will light up in a variety of colors.
BUG FIXES. Well, it cannot be called a release without bug fixes, right?
NordPass 2.20
“You guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?” – Kevin, Home Alone, 1990
That’s the NordPass spirit, Kevin! We’ve got more:
Design changes. Yes, the sky’s the limit for our designers, sorry.
Password Generator update. Did we mention that it’s important to have long and unique passwords?
Browser extension update. Easier to understand, prettier to look at.
NordPass 2.19
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
Don’t want NordPass for my own
More than you could ever know
Making this wish come true
Giving a bug-free NordPass for you
P.S. Thanks Mariah Carey for inspiration.
NordPass 2.18
NordPass has turned 1 year old this week. Just on time for Thanksgiving, can you believe it? And we can honestly say this year we are the most grateful for YOU, our dear NordPass user. You, who believed in us and drove us to release one update after another.
So here’s one more. Full of even more design edits, bug fixes, and love:
LOGINS TURN TO PASSWORDS. Now all across the app, you’ll see the term “Password” instead of “Login” because it’s just easier to understand.
CHOOSE FOLDER WHEN AUTOSAVING to organize your passwords there and then.
RENEWED IMPORT. Importing passwords in bulk is now easier than ever.
MINOR DESIGN CHANGES because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a good-looking app.
NORD ACCOUNT DEEPLINK FIXES. No more accidental logouts when you use NordVPN and change your IP.
NordPass 2.17
Xmas is in less than 35 days. You’re welcome.
In other news, our designers, developers, and copywriters are presenting you with another brand new update. This time we fixed the annoying-forever-loading spinner, made minor changes to the way you see your items’ details, and updated the copy to make your app even more easier to navigate. Until next time 😉
NordPass 2.16
We know you have better things to do (like keep up with the news on the current presidential election. Yikes, so intense!). So we thought, ‘who are we to bombard you with more messages?’. Poof! Your login and logout messages are gone.
To make your day a little bit brighter, we also made some improvements to your items layout. And we can describe it with just one word – SLEEK. You’ll believe it when you see it 😉
And NordPass update wouldn’t be an update without bug fixes. We did the dirty work and crushed them once again.
NordPass 2.15
Trick or treat? Treat, always. We might be a few days late to any online Halloween party, but, to make up for it, we are bringing new treats to your desktop app:
ADD ITEM IN FOLDER. You can now add items straight from your folders. Easy, breazy, and all your items are organized.
ITEM DETAILS FIXES. “There is no limit to perfection!” screams the NordPass design team. Your items will now look more beautiful than ever.
OTHER LITTLE BUG FIXES. Little bugs and spiders might fit the Halloween theme, but they don’t look good in your NordPass app. We got rid of them to make your experience smoother and safer.
NordPass 2.14
Providing high-quality password-managing experience, routine maintenance and working under-the-hood is just as essential as releasing a new shiny feature. So nothing grand this time — just the usual bug-fixing and design-improving business. We’re packing and sending best wishes along with app improvements your way!
NordPass 2.13
BUG FIXES. Sometimes you couldn’t scroll down to the end of your passwords list. You simply couldn’t. The good news is that we did some magic tricks, so now you can.
BUG FIXES. We’ve also changed the font style, the button style, and the spacing style in the context menu of your passwords list (not exactly a bug, but we wanted to keep the release notes in style).
BUG FIXES for everyone.
BUG FIXES. Sometimes you couldn’t scroll down to the end of your passwords list. You simply couldn’t. The good news is that we did some magic tricks, so now you can.
NordPass 2.12
When life gives you Monday, we release the app update. Let’s see what we’ve got:
IN-APP NOTIFICATIONS sometimes were over-competitive and tried to overlap each other. Someone smart once said that the best way to kill competition is to partner it. So after some inspiring conversations about team spirit, the attitude was fixed – all notifications now act super friendly.
DESIGN BUG FIXES. Yes, sometimes bugs may look stylish. Even pretty. They are still bugs – and they are out now.
PASSWORD HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS. The development department was very excited about changing something with the algorithm. All I know is that the health of your passwords will be calculated even more accurately. I only write release notes – please don’t judge me. And have a nice day!
NordPass 2.11
Hey there! How are you? Ready for the update? Let’s go:
BREACH REPORT. This one feels like a lottery. By clicking a ‘Scan’ button, you can find out if any of your accounts were ever caught in data breaches. However, it probably is the first lottery where it’s better not to ‘win’ anything.
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS. They see you scrollin’, they hatin’, – because scrolling with that new scroll bar has never felt so good. Just give it a go.
NordPass 2.1
Another week – another update. Let’s roll!
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS. Yes, we did it again. We’ve played with UI, got lost in perfecting the details. Oh, baby baby. Yes, the item lists now look neat, the font is sent from above. It all looks perfect now!
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS. Let’s be honest – after entering your Master Password to unlock the vault, the app window was getting overexcited and moved all over the place. Not that it was a bad thing – but those moves really weren’t good. So, we’ve sent the app to some dancing classes. The result – the app learned some solid, stylish but still moves – more like JLo style.
NordPass 2.9
Faster than light.
Supersonic.
Fleet-footed.
Pronto.
Winged.
We’ve spent hours trying to find the right word to describe the improved speed of opening your passwords (and other items) in the vault, but none of them was good enough. They say that action speaks a thousand words, so enjoy viewing your items at full speed.
NordPass 2.8
Passwords are more human-natured than you could possibly think. They need a safe and cozy place to stay. Most of them eat well (cheat days included 😉 ) and constantly work out to become faster and stronger. However, sometimes they also may feel weak and unwell, so regular health check-ups are crucial. Luckily, we’ve found an easy way to maintain their well-being – set up a password health checker in the app. Take a chance to make your precious passwords happier (and accounts safer) without leaving the house.
Stay safe, everyone!
NordPass 2.7
The idea of throwing this party came out of thin air. Why not, we thought – work hard, party harder, right?
So we’ve ordered lots of food and drinks (everyone was curious seeing what new employees look like when they’re drunk), brought in a magical photo booth (making selfies was too mainstream), and prized trivia (to avoid awkward silences), and live music by our beloved DJ “Vibe Manager”.
Time flew, the party’s got in full swing (no one seemed to be running out of things to talk about – phew). Even NordVPN and NordLocker stopped by. After a not-work-related heated discussion about data privacy and online security, they promised to join our “Tools” department. Like, forever.
Autofill department surprised everyone with funky moves – those icons felt like dancin’ till the break of dawn. It was fun until the ‘fun’ went out of control – and out of login fields. Luckily, after taking a chill pill, everything’s got back in order.
By the way, some unwanted URL spaces were trying to crash both the party and the app. That’s kind of rude, so we’ve asked them to leave.
We’ve finished with a small team-building session with cleaning the office – it’s now nice and clean – and so is the app (we hope so).
That’s it – peace out!
NordPass 2.6
Our engineers are all about perfection. They literally were calculating coordinates for pixel-perfect autofill icons placement. However, some “wind of change” has happened, and those icons ended up finding their home OUTSIDE the login fields. Sorry for that – this unforgivable mistake was fixed.
Also, some sneaky, crawly, totally gross bugs were caught and removed. The app is much better without them – enjoy!
NordPass 2.5
This release contains some behind-the-scenes magic, usual tinkering-under-the-hood and minor design tweaks. By hitting the “Update” button, you will get one step closer to top-notch password-managing experience. Stay well!
NordPass 2.4
They say – small changes make a big difference. Behold – the update with a bunch of app upgrades is here. Let’s see what we’ve got here:
VISUAL IMPROVEMENTS. Mirror mirror on the wall, who is prettiest of them all? Well, our designer’s brush made some magic tweaks, so the answer is clear now – it’s those tiny cute little app icons. Lookin’ good!
APP LOADING FASTER. Need for speed? You’re welcome! Fasten your seatbelt and put the pedal to the metal – the project “Make the app faster” was completed successfully.
BUG FIXES. Dear sneaky bugs, thanks for visiting, farewell, let’s never meet again.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
Will GPT-3 replace programmers writing code?
Although it has been developed very quickly in recent years, thanks to technological advances, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around since the 50s.
Today this technology is being developed to do tasks that were previously only a matter for humans, such as programming.
What is GPT-3? Is your work as a programmer in danger?
AI is equipped with a set of tools, algorithms and techniques that allow it to learn on its own and improve its skills.
This makes it an excellent choice to replace programmers writing code in the near future.
First, AI is much more efficient than human programmers when it comes to writing code.
AI can analyze patterns and information much faster and more accurately than any human, allowing it to write code much faster.
AI is also capable of detecting and correcting errors automatically, which means the programming process is much simpler.
In addition, AI is much less expensive than human programmers to write code.
This is because AI doesn’t need to spend as much time learning programming languages, allowing it to save on working hour costs.
Well, you see? AI is not bad at all, after all, almost all the previous paragraphs have been written entirely by the ChatGPT.
Had you noticed?
Don’t worry, don’t panic!
If you really believe that AI in the near future can replace programmers writing code, re-read the previous paragraphs a little more carefully.
GPT-3, the autoregressive language model that uses deep learning to produce texts that simulate human writing, writes well, of course, probably better than me, because it doesn’t make mistakes.
But, again, read the first paragraph written by GPT-3 again to see if you find out what I’m talking about.
You get it?
I’ll come and give you a hand.
AI can write better than a human, but it will never have a purpose
If we asked AI to write us a story, it would write something with correct syntax, even with meaning, but the text would offer no greater interest than that written by a good elementary school student.
However, writing fiction literature or essays is an activity with a very large artistic and creative component.
You might think, and I do not blame you, that many bestsellers could be written by Artificial Intelligence, and it is more than likely that the authors of the future will use Artificial Intelligence tools to find flaws in their texts, to round off their style and in some cases to add some filling content.
Moreover, I would say that is already happening.
In fact, Google is updating its algorithms to detect content generated by Artificial Intelligences as the Internet begins to be full of it.
However, I guarantee you that this article contains something outside the scope of an AI today:
- Acid irony.
- Even more acidic sarcasm.
- And why not? A certain melancholy.
*Damn it, this last paragraph was corrected by the AI, did I not tell you that it was possible?
But let’s go beyond that.
Before talking about an activity like code, let’s talk about other disciplines affected by Artificial Intelligence.
Are we talking about autonomous driving?
Soon Google, Microsoft and Apple assistants will use the new algorithms and will be much, much smarter, they will even be able to help us answer emails while driving, and give us better guidelines.
What’s more, I’m sure that in less than a decade, they will drive for us from point A (our garage) to point B (a public parking space).
But wait…
I live in Madrid…
Have you ever tried to find a car park in the center of Madrid?
Surely in Silicon Valley they do not have such hellish parking….
So, I withdraw what I said, that will still take some time, at least in Madrid.
Let’s give it 20… 30 years, but it will come.
I assure you, it will come.
The same will happen with text translation (but much, much earlier), the musical composition of the greatest hits, and with illustration, painting and graphic design.
If I ask Dall-E2 (the interface for creating OpenAI images with GPT3) to create an illustration for me under the premise “marvel-style illustration of a Hungarian family celebrating New Year’s Eve” it will draw this:
I swear I’m not kidding. It did it for me, in no time.
Is your position as a programmer in danger?
But back to the subject of code. I have no doubt that sooner or later (10 years from now) there will be tools that help developers create, debug and test code as a functional part of software development suites, such as add-ons or additional utilities.
Artificial Intelligence is/will be little by little an assistant that will add tasks to its backpack, but in the near future, the creation of full applications through a simple premise does not make sense, since as in literary, visual or musical creation AI lacks context.
Creating an application is an extremely complex process, where the code part is only one part, and it is not the most important part.
Context is much more important, and it includes answers to questions such as:
- How will it be used?
- Who will use it?
- What data inputs and what data outputs are expected?
AI is good at giving answers, because what it does is study millions of existing questions and their answers, validating that learning process over billions of turns to the shaker we call Deep Learning, but…
Is it capable of asking new questions?
No, absolutely not.
Many will say that pure creation does not exist. That all stories have already been told, and that modern popular music does not come out of four chords repeated ad nauseam in different rhythms and melodies. They are right, but nuances are almost everything.
In the world of software development, these subtleties are a universe full of very subtle nuances that we can not “put in a shaker” and expect the mixture of previous formulas to work. It is science fiction and if I may say it, bad one.
Maybe one day Formula One drivers like Fernando Alonso will compete on a circuit hand in hand with Artificial Intelligence. But it won’t be this decade, or the next.
There are not only practical limitations, but ethical, moral, economic and legal limitations.
A commercial airliner could land on its own, but no insurance company would insure the device.
After all, who were we going to blame in the event of an accident?
The same applies to code generated by AI.
Who would patch it? Who would extend it? Who would talk to the client to understand the requirements? Who would invent the text of the “tooltips” to help in the interface? Who would design the interface (UI)?
Let’s get even more risky. Why not buy AI as a company CEO? Why not buy AI as President? Why not buy AI as a partner or lover?
AI applied to everyday life has just begun, but companies like Google already see their business model in danger, because what an AI does very well is answering questions and simplifying the process of obtaining information and delivering moderately satisfactory results.
Nowadays it is the ideal assistant, who does not stop observing and learning. And the time will come when it takes control over many activities, but as for software developing, it is still too soon.
Although we shouldn’t relax that much, everything is a matter of time.
After all, I said that this text was not fully written by AI,
but…
Can you really be sure about that?
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About PandoraFMS
Pandora FMS is a flexible monitoring system, capable of monitoring devices, infrastructures, applications, services and business processes.
Of course, one of the things that Pandora FMS can control is the hard disks of your computers.
Get to full asset inventory by combining active scanning with API integrations – Part 6
Imagine: there’s a new security threat. How do you find out if your organization is affected? You might research the CVE to gauge the severity and impact of the vulnerability. You might perform a vuln scan — if there’s a vuln check available. At some point, you’ll eventually end up with a list of devices that you need to update.
What are your next steps?
The cost of not tracking asset ownership
In an ideal world, your asset inventory would be the first place you would look for information. However, the reality is: most organizations have their asset inventory data distributed across multiple solutions and maintained by different teams. So instead of being able to focus on mitigating issues, your security team spends an inordinate amount of time doing detective work. And for security practitioners, time is of the essence.
Asset inventory is the first step to getting context around a device: the hardware, OS, software, etc. But what about who owns it? More and more, knowing who is responsible for an asset is as important as knowing what an asset is. Without clear asset ownership tracking, you waste a lot of time going from team to team, person to person, trying to find out who is responsible for an asset.
Let’s take a look at three reasons why a lack of asset ownership can adversely impact your business.
Reason #1: Forgotten assets can be costly
One of the biggest obstacles to tracking asset ownership is humans. Humans are dynamic, often upgrading to new equipment, changing roles, or even leaving organizations entirely. As a result, assets are often left abandoned, unmanaged, and unowned. Documenting asset ownership manually, like in a spreadsheet, means that the data becomes outdated very quickly. Effective asset ownership tracking requires regular updates and attention. Without a major investment of time and resources to maintain asset ownership tracking, stale data will continue to plague your organization. For example, consider infrastructure that no longer has an owner, but is still racking up recurring expenses. These forgotten assets can be costly over time.
Reason #2: Lack of asset ownership can lead to service outages
Your business relies on having systems that are working efficiently. Systems need to be updated, upgraded, and maintained regularly to ensure that everything runs smoothly and outages do not occur. However, what would happen if a specific system needed a configuration update to continue to operate? How would you know who to go to?
Oftentimes, it’s a goose chase. You start with one person (or team) and hope they can point you in the right direction. While you’re chasing down the appropriate person to help you, access to the systems you need may be shuttered or months may have passed by. These consequences can be detrimental to business – especially if these systems directly impact revenue.
Reason #3: Wasted time slows down remediation
9 years ago: Shellshock.
5 years ago: Apache Struts.
1 year ago: Log4Shell.
Nearly a decade has come and gone between these major vulnerabilities, and yet, building comprehensive asset inventory and tracking asset ownership continues to be a challenge. One of the biggest challenges faced by security teams is that they often need to rely on asset owners to take action to update and secure their devices. However, tracking down the right asset owner can be a bit of a journey through a myriad of data sources – from CMDBs to VMs to EDRs to device logs to spreadsheets. The amount of time that security teams spend hunting for information is a hindrance to fast response and remediation times.
Tracking asset ownership with runZero
runZero 3.5 introduces the ability to track asset owners in your inventory. Asset owners can be anyone in your organization who can help you remediate issues. For most organizations, assets will likely have multiple owners, such as an individual, team, and business unit. For example, a laptop might have an assigned device user, business owner, IT owner, and security owner. Each of these assignments will help you zero in on the right person who can take action on the device, based on the situation. Let’s take a look at how runZero can help you track different types of owners within your organization.
What are ownership types?
In runZero, ownership types help you classify and assign ownership to assets. There is a default ownership type, called Asset Owner, which automatically pulls owner data from integrations you have configured. Otherwise, you can add up to nine custom ownership types based on what your organization needs. For example, you might want to have ownership types for the security owner, IT owner, and business owner.
When you create an ownership type, you will need to specify the following:
- Name – The name of the asset ownership type, such as
IT owner. - Reference – You can set the reference to
user,group, ornone. If set, you will be able to easily search within the user or group inventories for owners that match the display name. - Visibility – You can set the visibility to
hiddenorvisible. This setting controls the ability to view the asset owner from the asset inventory and asset details page.
After you have created your ownership types, you’re ready to start assigning owners within your asset inventory. Let’s take a look at how you can do this in runZero.
How to assign ownership to assets in runZero
There are a couple of ways to assign asset owners: manually or automatically through rules and the API. However, the most efficient way to apply ownership is through rules, which allows you to set up specific conditions and automate the assignment of asset ownership after each scan. For example, let’s say you want to assign an IT owner for all firewalls. Here’s how you can do it with rules:
- From the Rules page, create a rule using the
asset-query-resultsevent type. Based on this event type, the query will run against the asset inventory after a scan completes. - Give the rule a descriptive name, like
Automate IT ownership for firewalls. - Configure the rule with the following conditions:
- Run the following query after a scan completes:
type:firewalland the number of matches is greater than 0. - If there is a match on the query, take the following action: modify the asset and set the ownership of the matching assets. This value for the owner can be any name. For our example, we will assign the
IT ownerto someone on the team namedTim. - Make sure the rule is enabled. If it is not, it will not run.
- Run the following query after a scan completes:
- Save the rule.
Each time a scan completes, this rule will check for matching conditions and perform the configured actions.
Viewing ownership data for an asset
Now that you’ve set up ownership types and automated ownership assignment, let’s take a look at how you can view this data in runZero. You can view ownership information from two areas of the console: the asset inventory and the asset details page.
There’s a new column in the asset inventory called Owners, which will list the owners for the asset. If there are multiple owners, there will be a plus (+) sign to indicate that there are more for you to view. The owner name that gets displayed in the inventory table depends on the order you have them ranked on the ownership types page. The highest ranked ownership type will take precedence. In our example, we have our IT owner ranked first, so we will see our IT owners displayed in the inventory table. Other owners will be viewable by hovering over the plus (+) sign. From the asset inventory page, you can select some assets then use the Manage asset ownership button to manually update the owner for those devices.
From the asset details page, there is a new ownership section that lists all the visible owners assigned to that asset. If the ownership type has a reference set (to user or group), you’ll be able to click on the magnifying glass next to the owner name to search within those inventories for matching results. From the asset details page, you can go to Manage > Asset ownership to manually update the owner for that specific device.
Searching the inventory for assets based on owners
Now that you have asset ownership data in your inventory, you can search for assets that match specific ownership criteria. To enable searching based on ownership attributes, the following new keyword terms have been added:
- owner – Filter by asset owner name, such as
Tim. - has_owner – Filter assets by whether or not they have an owner. Use
torfas your input. - owner_count – Use a comparison operator (>, >=, <, <=, =)to filter assets by count.
- ownership_type – Filter by ownership type, such as
IT owner.
Here are a few useful queries (based on some common use cases):
has_owner:f– Searches for assets that don’t have an owner assigned.ownership_type:"IT owner"– Searches for assets by ownership type.owner_count:>1– Searches for assets that have more than one owner.
For example, if you need to gauge the number of unowned (and likely unmanaged) assets in your inventory, the query has_owner:f would help identify assets that don’t have an owner. Inversely, you can use has_owner:t to see all the ones that do have an owner. Between these two results, you can discern how well you’ve got your asset ownership data covered. To see how well your organization is tracking asset owners, you can also check out the asset ownership goal from the dashboard.
Zero in on unowned assets on your network
Imagine: there’s a new security threat. Thankfully, you have an asset inventory that includes asset ownership data. With a solid program and solution in place to track asset owners, you’ve eliminated unnecessary time spent chasing down people. You can focus on remediation.
If you’re a runZero Enterprise customer, you can check out the ownership capabilities by going to the new Ownership page in your console. You’ll notice a new menu item for it under Global Settings. Otherwise, if you’re new to runZero, sign up for a free trial to test out this new feature for 21 days.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About runZero
runZero, a network discovery and asset inventory solution, was founded in 2018 by HD Moore, the creator of Metasploit. HD envisioned a modern active discovery solution that could find and identify everything on a network–without credentials. As a security researcher and penetration tester, he often employed benign ways to get information leaks and piece them together to build device profiles. Eventually, this work led him to leverage applied research and the discovery techniques developed for security and penetration testing to create runZero.
The LastPass Data Breach and How NordPass Keeps Your Data Safe
On December 22, 2022, LastPass announced that a data breach first disclosed in August 2022 was far more extensive than initially thought. The news sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving many password manager users — especially LastPass users — concerned about the security of their sensitive information.
The breach serves as a stark reminder that no online service provider may be completely bulletproof breach-wise. So today, let’s get into the LastPass data breach and what it means for NordPass users.
The LastPass data breach breakdown
Cybercriminal activity has been on a steady rise for the last decade, and it looks that the trend is not about to change. In fact, today, cybercrime is the most lucrative criminal activity and is estimated to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.
So as our personal and financial information is increasingly getting stored online, it is critical that companies take all necessary steps to protect their customers’ data. Unfortunately, the recent LastPass data breach shows that even well-known companies can fall short security-wise.
The company’s latest statement explains that an unauthorized party was able to access LastPass’ cloud-based storage environment and copy customer vault data along with information from a backup of customer account information.
The extent of the breach is not yet clear, but it is likely that it included some personally identifiable data such as email addresses, phone numbers, and billing information for some users.
The response from LastPass to the breach has been met with criticism from both industry experts and customers. In fact, it has already led to a class-action lawsuit, with one plaintiff alleging that the data breach resulted in the theft of around $53,000 worth of Bitcoin.
Did the LastPass data breach affect all password manager users?
Let’s be clear — the LastPass data breach does not have any direct effect on NordPass, its users, or users data.
After all, we’re two different companies and products with completely different security approaches and mindsets. However, we admit that seeing a competitor affected by a breach of this magnitude is an acute reminder to stay vigilant and prepared at all times.
Is NordPass a secure place for your digital valuables?
Given the severity of the LastPass data breach, it’s only natural that people are questioning the security of their password manager, including NordPass.
First, one of the key elements of NordPass is that it is a zero-knowledge password manager equipped with an advanced encryption algorithm known as XChaCha20 to ensure protection of everything you store in NordPass.
This means that all data stored in the NordPass vault is first encrypted on your device and only then sent to the cloud-based server. Because of the way NordPass is set up, it is only you — the user — who holds the decryption key and has access to everything stored in their vault.
The NordPass team can’t see or access anything. The same principle applies in situations of breaches. Even if a bad actor were able to get their hands on your vault data, they would still need your device, which holds the decryption key, to access the actual contents of the vault data.
NordPass CTO Tomas Smalakys offers a more detailed explanation:
Each NordPass user has a unique public-key cryptography key pair. The Public Key is always stored in plaintext form. The Private Key, on the other hand, exists in plaintext form only on the user’s end device for a limited period of time and never leaves it.
When we need to store a user’s Private Key, it’s encrypted with secret-key cryptography (XChaCha20-Poly1305-IETF) on the user’s device and only then passed to us. While the app is unlocked, the unencrypted Private Key is stored in the secure memory accessible only to the NordPass application. When the application is locked, either by the user or automatically after a set period of inactivity, the Private Key is deleted from the secure memory.
For the user’s Private Key encryption, the Master Key is used. The Master Key is derived from the Master Password and a 16-byte unique-per-user cryptographic salt using the key derivation function (Argon2id). We ask the user for the Master Password every time we need to decrypt the user’s Private Key.
– Tomas Smalakys
NordPass CTO
Tomas further explains that in addition to the encryption principles above, every item (folder, password, credit card, etc.) has two types of data:
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Metadata (title, website address, cardholder name, etc.)
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Secret data.
For secret-key (symmetric) cryptography, we use an authenticated encryption algorithm:
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XChaCha20 stream cipher encryption.
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Poly1305 MAC authentication.
For public-key (asymmetric) cryptography, we use an authenticated encryption algorithm:
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X25519 key exchange.
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XSalsa20 stream cipher encryption.
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Poly1305 MAC authentication.
User data is encrypted on their devices and never leaves the device in plain text. This means that when the data is in transit or at rest, it is fully encrypted. In the database, both metadata and secret data is encrypted. This means that if bad actors are able to get access to the database or any of its backups, no user data can be accessed.
Furthermore, at NordPass, we feel that due to the nature of our product, our security practices should be transparent. Both NordPass and NordPass Business have had their security posture thoroughly audited by Cure53, a renowned German auditing firm.
NordPass Business has also successfully passed the SOC 2 Type 1 Audit, which ensures that NordPass Business provides proper security controls to manage customer data and protect their interests with regard to privacy.
All these measures help to ensure that the sensitive data stored in NordPass vaults is protected at all times. However, these days bad actors are creative and no longer function as a one-person operation. So it’s always important to be vigilant with your own security and use strong, unique passwords for each account as well as enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Bottom line
It remains to be seen how the LastPass breach will impact the company and the password management industry as a whole, but one thing is clear: it has shaken user trust and serves as a cautionary tale for the importance of data security.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
Regulatory Compliance and NordPass Business
Designed to ensure the safety and security of an organization’s operations and protection of its customers, regulatory compliance standards are a fact of life in today’s business world. Fail to comply and be ready to face serious financial, legal, and reputational harm to your organization.
Today, we’re taking an in depth look at regulatory compliance, exploring different standards, and looking into how NordPass Business can help your organization meet the requirements in an easier and more efficient way.
What is regulatory compliance?
Regulatory compliance refers to various processes and procedures of adhering to the laws, regulations, and standards set by various governing bodies. The regulations can come from numerous sources such as local, state, federal, or even international agencies, industry groups, and professional associations. The intention behind various regulatory compliance is to protect consumers and other stakeholders.
Importance of regulatory compliance
The aim of regulatory compliance is to make sure that businesses and organizations operate in a secure, responsible, and ethical manner. Regulatory compliance can also provide businesses and organizations with a competitive advantage by helping to create a culture of transparency and credibility with customers, employees, and other involved parties. Furthermore, adhering to regulatory compliance can improve internal processes, risk management procedures, and mitigate potential legal issues, which in turn lays a great foundation for a sustainable organization.
However, it’s critical to remember that most regulatory compliance is mandatory. Failing to comply with any of the mandatory regulations can result in hefty fines. For instance, Google has been fined nearly $57 million by French regulators for violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Meta — the company formerly known as Facebook — recently has been fined over $400 million by top EU regulators for forcing users to accept targeted ads.
Besides financial losses, non-compliance can cause major damage to the organization’s reputation as clients may lose trust in the organization. This can even lead to serious legal issues.
Below are some of the most common regulatory compliance standards.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a US federal agency that develops technology, metrics, and standards to drive innovation and ensure operational security within a business environment. NIST compliance is mandatory for all US-based federal information systems except those related to national security. However, the standard can be adopted by any organization.
To be NIST-compliant, a company needs to implement access controls to limit the risk of unauthorized access, develop a comprehensive incident response plan, and devise audit procedures and schedules.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a data protection law that applies to businesses and organizations operating within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). It sets out rules for how organizations can collect, use, and store personal data, and provides individuals the right to access and control their personal data.
To adhere to the GDPR, organizations and businesses need to implement measures such as obtaining consent from individuals before collecting their data, providing clear and concise information about their data collection practices, and implementing appropriate security measures to protect personal data.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US law that sets out standards for the protection of personal health information. The law applies to healthcare providers and all other entities that handle personal health information in the US.
To meet the requirements set out by the HIPAA, organizations need to implement secure systems for storing and transmitting personal health information, providing training to employees on HIPAA requirements, and implementing access controls to prevent unauthorized access to personal health information.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards that apply internationally to organizations that handle credit card transactions. The regulatory standard sets out requirements for protecting cardholder data and preventing unauthorized access to such data.
The PCI DSS regulations require businesses and organizations that process payment card information to implement secure systems for storing and transmitting cardholder data, conduct regular security assessments, and implement further security controls to prevent unauthorized access to cardholder data.
ISO/IEC 27001
The ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard that outlines best practices for an information security management system (ISMS). The standard has been developed to help organizations protect their information assets and manage risks related to information security. The ISO/IEC 27001 is not a mandatory requirement.
To meet the ISO/IEC 27001 compliance, organizations need to conduct regular risk assessments, implement controls to protect against unauthorized access, and regularly review and update their information security management systems.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a privacy law that in many ways mimics its European counterpart — the GDPR. However, the CCPA applies to businesses operating in California and it provides California residents with the right to access and control their personal data, and imposes certain requirements on businesses that collect and handle personal data.
For an organization to be CCPA compliant, it needs to implement security measures to protect customer data. Furthermore, companies are also required to provide clear and concise information about data collection practices, allowing California residents to request access to and deletion of their personal data.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is a US law that applies to financial institutions within the US. Like many of the regulatory compliance standards we already discussed, GLBA requires financial institutions to implement safeguards that would protect personal information as well as to disclose their data collection and sharing practices to customers.
To comply with the GLBA regulatory standards, financial institutions may need to implement secure systems for storing and transmitting personal financial information, providing customers with information about their data collection and sharing practices, and implementing access controls to prevent unauthorized access to personal financial information.
Center for Internet Security (CIS)
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a nonprofit organization that provides cybersecurity guidance and best practices to help organizations protect their systems and data. The CIS comprises 18 Critical Security Controls for identifying and protecting against the most common cyber threats.
To be CIS compliant, companies and organizations need to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity perimeter to ensure protection of their data and information management systems.
Opinion 498
The Formal Opinion 498 outlined by the American Bar Association (ABA) provides guidance for US-based lawyers and law firms with regard to virtual practice. While the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct permit virtual practice, the Formal Opinion 498 provides an additional set of guidelines for virtual practice.
To follow the guidelines set out by the Opinion 498, organizations or individuals are urged to establish secure information management systems and protect them with complex passwords to ensure secure storage and access to client data.
Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information (ANSSI)
ANSSI compliance combines a set of security standards set by the French National Cybersecurity Agency. The ANSSI has been developed as a regulatory standard in France to protect sensitive information and systems from cyber threats such as hacking, malware, and data breaches. Companies that store and handle sensitive information may be required to comply with the ANSSI standards in order to ensure the security of that information.
Compliance with the ANSSI standards may involve regular audits, penetration testing, and other security measures to identify and address vulnerabilities in a company’s systems.
How can NordPass help with regulatory compliance?
Meeting regulations and staying compliant can be a complex and time-consuming process, as businesses and organizations must stay up-to-date with the latest regulatory requirements and implement appropriate policies, procedures, and tools.
However, with the right tools at your disposal compliance can be less of a hassle than you might think. One such tool is NordPass Business — a secure and easy-to-use password manager designed for business use and it can help your organization comply with the security guidelines and requirements outlined in the regulatory compliance standards listed above. But how exactly can it help?
Strong passwords and secure password storage
Most regulatory compliance standards require organizations to implement some sort of security measures to limit the possibility of unauthorized access.
For instance, PCI DSS, GLBA, GDPR, and CIS Controls all have outlined guidelines for ensuring the security of personal data processing and storage.
This is where NordPass comes in as a tool that can help. Designed by the principles of zero-knowledge architecture and equipped with an advanced XChaCha20 encryption algorithm, NordPass offers a secure way to store and access business passwords and other sensitive information in line with regulatory requirements.
Password Policy — a NordPass Business feature — can also play a critical role in compliance. Using Password Policy, companies can set certain specifications for password complexity for the entire organization, which can significantly fortify the overall security of the organization.
To easily follow Password Policy rules and specifications, users can use our very own Password Generator — a tool that can generate a password adhering to all the specifications outlined in the Password Policy in just a few clicks.
On top of that, NordPass Business can ensure that all of your organization’s passwords are stored securely and in line with the regulatory requirements.
Secure access management
Some compliance standards require organizations to implement secure access management solutions. For example, this is the case with ANSSI compliance as well as with HIPAA and NIST.
Here NordPass Business and its Admin Panel can play a major role because it is designed to provide organizations a way to effectively and easily manage access privileges across the entire organization.
Via the Admin Panel, solution owners and admins can grant or revoke access to systems as well as monitor member activity within the organization. The Admin Panel is also the place where you can set the Password Policy for the organization, ensuring that passwords throughout the company adhere to certain specifications.
Breach Monitoring
Regulatory compliance standards also tend to outline best practices for responding to a security incident such as a data breach. This is explicitly outlined in the GDPR’s Article 33, which states that data breach including personal data breach should be reported within 72 hours to the supervisory authority. Failing to do so may result in a fine of 10 million or 2% of annual revenue.
NordPass Business is equipped with a Data Breach Scanner — a tool that can scan the entire company’s domain list for potential breaches. Because the Data Breach Scanner issues a notification to all members of the organization, the company potentially affected by a breach can act quickly and efficiently to contain it.
The NordPass Password Health tool can help you detect potentially weak, old, or reused passwords throughout the organization and significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Bottom line
These days, regulatory compliance is an inseparable part of running a business. Fail to comply and be ready to face hefty fines and serious reputational damage. However, compliance is never easy. But with the right tools at your disposal, the whole process can be a lot smoother.
NordPass Business can be a tool to assist organizations in meeting various requirements in an easier and more efficient way. By staying compliant, organizations can not only avoid costly fines and legal issues, but also gain a competitive advantage by building a culture of transparency and credibility with their customer base or investors.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
You Are Concerned About Data Privacy – but Are You Doing Anything About It?
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t care about their privacy. It’s human nature. You want control over what private information you share and who you share it with. Unfortunately, you can lose this control with a careless click.
What is private data?
Private data is anything that reveals information about you. It can be your name, your photos, your posts on social media, your email addresses, or your IP.
Some of these details are highly sensitive, including your banking information, genetic data, health records, social security number, and home address. As a rule of thumb, any information that could cause you financial or reputational damage can be considered sensitive.
What is data privacy and why is it important?
Data privacy, also known as information privacy, generally refers to a person’s right to choose for themselves when, how, with whom, and to what extent they want to share their private data with others.
As internet usage has become ubiquitous over the years, so has the importance of data privacy and protection. Various websites and applications often collect your private data in exchange for its services.
Some platforms and applications may exceed their reach when it comes to data collection, storage, and usage. Others may have a lax attitude toward private data protection.
The key questions to ask when talking about data privacy are:
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Who has access to information about you?
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Who controls this access?
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Is it secure?
When private data falls into the wrong hands, consequences can be dire. A data breach on an online platform could put your sensitive information into the hands of cyber crooks. Users whose data is leaked are put at risk of identity theft, bank fraud, and other online-related scams and crimes. These days, data is king and there’s no way around it. Thus, it’s not surprising that protection is paramount.
Your privacy in the hands of the government
Various entities handle your private data. First – the government and its institutions. Let’s take the justice system as an example. You cannot go to court or file a claim without revealing your identity. And that’s fine — it wouldn’t be fair to the other side if you were suing them anonymously.
Similarly, you can’t get public services (for example, electricity, a high school education, or healthcare) without identifying yourself.
In a perfect world, the government does not infringe upon your privacy more than necessary. In the real world, some governments store every bit of data they can get their hands on. Even worse, others engage in mass surveillance of their citizens.
Your privacy in the hands of businesses
You can buy apples at a fruit stand and remain a stranger to the vendor. But buy apples online, and you’ll give away private information about yourself. It may be a fact as simple as you liking apples. This information will be sold to an advertiser, and the next time you go online, an ad for apples will pop up on your screen.
Almost everything you do online leaves a data footprint. You have little control over how your digital footprint is collected.
Usually, it works like this. Before you start using a new online service, you have to read a wall of fine print. But you don’t, because who has time to wade through paragraphs of legal jargon? You click “Agree,” and that’s how you begin to give away your private data. The agreement can’t be changed, and you cannot bargain — take it or leave it. This service will collect your data and use it for marketing purposes or sell it to the highest bidder. And there’s nothing you can do.
It’s easy to say “Don’t use these services.” The problem is that most online services collect information. If you want none of your private data on the internet, you have to quit using the internet. And that’s a price most people find too high to pay.
Data protection laws
Over the years, as technology and the internet came to be an inseparable part of our lives, governments around the globe took part in creating and passing laws regulating private data. Most countries today have various laws governing data collection, storage, and usage. Here are some of the most important and impactful ones:
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR regulates data privacy laws across all EU member countries. It was designed to replace previous data regulation laws and provide greater protection and rights to individuals, essentially giving subjects the right to control their personal data and ensuring the right to be forgotten. The GDPR also outlines how individuals’ private data should be collected, stored, and used as well as outlining the limitations. The GDPR is one of the most impactful and comprehensive regulations developed in the past decade.
Data privacy laws in the US
At the moment, the United States has no federal law or legislation that comprehensively addresses data privacy. However, individual states have enacted their own laws and regulations to address issues of data privacy in different industries such as healthcare, finance, and marketing. But, even with all these different laws and regulations, there’s still one important agency that helps to make sure everyone is following the rules.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the agency that oversees data privacy regulations and ensures consumer protection. The FTC Act grants the organization the authority to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices and enforce privacy laws.
The FTC can take action against organizations that fail to implement reasonable data security measures, violate consumer data privacy rights, or engage in misleading advertising practices.
There are also other federal laws that govern the collection of information online, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA), the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These laws focus on ensuring the protection of specific types of information, such as data related to children, health, and finances.
National data protection laws
Many countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, and Japan have comprehensive data protection laws in place that outline the ways personal data should be handled, much like the GDPR.
Important data privacy and protection trends for 2023
Increasing use of AI and ML in data protection
As we move into 2023, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in data security and privacy is becoming increasingly prevalent. AI can be a powerful tool for protecting consumer privacy.
In 2023 we’ll start seeing an increase in the use of both AI and ML to proactively identify and prevent cyber threats and detect patterns that may indicate a potential data breach.
However, data protection through automation has not yet advanced as much as we would like. Nevertheless, in 2023 and beyond, we can expect to see significant improvements in this area as the technology matures and becomes more suited for ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive data.
Data security and privacy will be a priority for consumers
Because data breaches are more common and sophisticated than ever, consumers are unsurprisingly becoming more vigilant about the security of their personal information. Increasingly more people these days are being selective about who they trust with their data. A company’s data-sharing practices and policies now are a crucial factor for many consumers.
In 2023, businesses should be ready for increased scrutiny around their data security and privacy practices. If you are a company that looks to succeed this year, it is vital for you to earn and maintain the trust of your clientele by being transparent about your data protection approach. Trust is a two-way street, and in today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever.
Increasing collaboration between government entities and private companies
Because a decrease in cyber criminal activity is nothing we can bet on in 2023, expect to see heightened levels of collaboration between private companies and government entities aiming to improve data security and privacy.
The collaboration between private and government entities may take many forms, from joint research and development of new security technologies and processes, to more information-sharing in an effort to craft well-rounded regulatory mechanisms.
The rise of passwordless authentication and regulation of biometric data
Passwordless authentication methods are already gaining popularity due to their convenience and security benefits. In 2023, we can expect to see more online service providers adopting various forms of passwordless authentication.
The major advantage of passwordless authentication is that it eliminates the need for users to remember and manage multiple passwords. Additionally, passwordless authentication greatly reduces the risk of password-related security breaches. However, most passwordless technology leverages biometric data for authentication purposes and 2023 might be the year when we will see more regulatory entities coming up with standards and requirements to ensure the secure storage and handling of biometric data. We might see laws and regulations establishing best practices as well as penalties for entities that fail to comply with such standards.
What can you do to protect your data privacy?
Information privacy will become an even hotter topic once technologies create more invasive tools. You’ll be surrounded by facial-recognition cameras, smart speakers that listen to your conversations, e-textiles, wearable health monitors, and other data-gathering gadgets.
That means you must take action now:
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Foster healthy online habits. Refrain from publicly sharing your personal information on social media. Leverage privacy settings and make your social media profiles private to limit exposure. Be weary of attachments or links in emails that come your way from unknown senders. Make use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enable it on your online accounts whenever possible. Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and employ a password manager to securely store your passwords and other sensitive information.
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Use tools and services that enhance your privacy. Choose private search engines, private email providers, and privacy-focused browsers. And use encryption tools — they’re much more user friendly than they sound. NordPass itself uses state-of-the-art encryption to protect your passwords. In addition, NordVPN makes sure your traffic is invisible to your internet service provider.
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Don’t need it? Then don’t use it. Don’t sign up if you don’t really need the service. And if you do need it, read the fine print before clicking “Agree.” If the fine print is too complicated, look for comments and reviews regarding the service’s privacy policies.
Fight for information privacy and make the internet better for all.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.