Counting the Cost

The financial loss from cybercrime during the holidays is staggering. In the UK alone, shoppers lost a jaw-dropping £10.6 million ($13 million) during the 2022 festive season. Norton’s 2022 findings reveal that about one in three adults (34%) in the U.S. are taking more risks with online shopping as the holidays draw near, echoing a global trend where 32% of adults admit that they are more lax about online security during the festive season.

Why Cyber Attacks Surge During the Holiday Season

Festive Mood: The holiday season brings a range of emotions, from joy to stress. People may be more susceptible to cyber threats when they are distracted or emotionally charged, making them an easy target for phishing attacks.

Holiday Shopping Season: The holiday season sees a significant increase in online shopping as people search for the perfect gifts. Cybercriminals are capitalizing on this surge using tactics such as creating fake online stores, phishing emails, and malicious links.

Travels & Public Networks: With many people traveling during the holidays, the use of unsecured networks and devices has become prevalent. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in public Wi-Fi, compromising the security of those transmitting sensitive information while on the go.

Holiday Edition Scams: Scammers, hackers, and criminals are taking advantage of the goodwill surrounding the holidays by launching fake charity websites or gift cards and fraudulent travel offers to exploit people’s generosity and trust.

Social Media Sharing: Holiday travels or family celebrations are often shared on social media. Cybercriminals may use this information to craft targeted attacks, such as phishing attempts or account takeover schemes.

Most Common Types of Holiday Season Attacks

Recommendations to Reduce Cybercrime Risks

• Stick to well-known and reputable online retailers to minimize the risk of consumers falling victim to fake websites.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to protect your accounts from unauthorized access.
• Regularly update antivirus and security software to stay protected against the latest threats.
• Avoid entering sensitive information anywhere when using public Wi-Fi, especially when traveling.
• Before making donations or taking advantage of holiday deals, verify the legitimacy of the company on the websites and offers to prevent falling for scams.
• Proactively safeguard yourself against malicious websites, phishing attempts, and harmful content using web filtering that blocks access to dangerous resources and provides one more layer of security.
• Educate yourself and stay informed about common cyber threats and scams to recognize and avoid potential risks.

By understanding the reasons behind the increase in cyber attacks, recognizing specific threats, and implementing recommended security measures, you can protect yourselves from the Grinches of the cyber world.

Let’s celebrate the holidays with joy, warmth, and a commitment to protecting ourselves and our digital cheer.

May 2024 be a year of growth, success, and new opportunities for you and your loved ones.

At SafeDNS, we are committed to continuing our journey of innovation and excellence, providing you with cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to keep you safe in the digital world. Your safety and security are our top priorities, and we look forward to serving you with even greater dedication in the coming year.

Thank you for being an integral part of the SafeDNS family. We wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a holiday season filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

The Significance of HIPAA Compliance

The primary purpose of HIPAA is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of patients’ protected health information (PHI) created, maintained, processed, transmitted, or received electronically. PHI covers eighteen kinds of data including names, geographic information, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, social security and medical record numbers, biometric identifiers, and any other unique identifying number, code or characteristic, etc.

Organizations Subject to HIPAA

HIPAA does not require specific technologies for protecting health information. However, implementing a web filter can greatly enhance security and help in complying with the act.

Web Filtering for HIPAA Compliance

Today the majority of healthcare organizations rely heavily on digital platforms for communication, research, and patient care. However, this increased connectivity also brings the risks of cybersecurity threats, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of PHI. Here’s where web filtering steps in as an important component of HIPAA compliance.

1. Blocking Malicious Content: The internet is full of malicious content, and healthcare organizations must shield their networks from potential threats. Web filtering capabilities extend to blocking websites hosting malware, ensuring a secure online environment for accessing patient records and other sensitive information.
2. Mitigating Phishing Threats: Phishing attacks remain a prevalent threat to healthcare data security. Quality web filtering services employ advanced threat intelligence to identify and block phishing websites, reducing the risk of employees falling victim to schemes aiming to obtain PHI.
3. Bandwidth & Productivity Control: Web filtering services allow healthcare organizations to set filtering policies that restrict access to non-work-related websites, ensuring that employees remain focused on their tasks. This enhances productivity, reduces the risk of accidental data breaches resulting from distractions and bandwidth wasting so that all employees can enjoy fast Internet.
4. Detailed Reports: Modern solutions provide admins with detailed reports on users’ online preferences which allows organizations to make rational decisions on further restricting access to the network.
5. Easy Scheduling: A feature that is provided by rare web filtering services (SafeDNS among them) is scheduling. This allows filtering to be tailored to staff schedules and needs.

The digital transformation in healthcare comes with great benefits but also introduces security challenges. HIPAA compliance is non-negotiable, and web filtering emerges as a robust solution to address cybersecurity concerns. By leveraging web content filtering, healthcare organizations can not only meet HIPAA requirements but also fortify their defenses against evolving threats.

Access Options & Use Cases

We offer three convenient ways to access the SafeDNS database.

The first way of accessing the database is Categorization API, designed to provide developers and third-party systems with an online way to get the data they need. This type of access allows seamless integration with other systems that require site category verification. There are 2 subtypes of Categorization API: X-API and Y-API.

X-API is the easiest one in terms of incorporation and use. Its processing speed is 1000 requests per second. In order to maintain it, the data provided by X-API can be cached on the side of the integrated system for a period of no more than 12 hours. Besides, AI is integrated into the system, which enhances its capabilities. With the database being refreshed every 24 hours, it ensures that users have the most up-to-date information at their disposal.

Y-API is a combination of SDK и X-API, possessing all the best features these two options have. It is deployed locally within the client’s circuit and installed in the client’s Docker container. Y-API can be a perfect choice in case you need online access with a higher processing speed (up to 15000 requests per second) than X-API demonstrates.

The third option is Categorization SDK. This offline version is ideal for those who prefer to have a local database that can be downloaded onto devices, granting quick and convenient access without the need for a constant internet connection. SDK is easy enough to integrate into the final software product developed in C or Python. An advantage of this option is an increased network bandwidth. Its processing speed is 70 000 requests per second.

What Is This Solution for?

SafeDNS provides the option of using the database as an independent product in several areas. It can be particularly useful for internet service providers, endpoint protection vendors that have their own infrastructure but need a full-fledged and regularly updated database to be integrated into their filtration systems.

Another use case is database integration into DLP (Data Loss Prevention) and DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) systems via SDK in particular, and Internet providers in general. This option can be helpful in categorizing decrypted traffic to get deeper analytics and meet regulatory requirements. New Generation Firewalls and UTM providers can also have the SDK-type database integrated.

Since the processing speed of SDK is much higher, it is a perfect solution for service providers and platforms that need to handle a huge number of requests.

Our database, especially the X-API option, can be used both as a primary categorization tool and as a supplement for local market actors to enhance protection and the quality of foreign domain categorization. It is also suitable for solutions with parental control functions.

How Much Does It Cost?

Our billing system is flexible, it allows users to pay as they go based on their specific business needs and the number of requests they make. This ensures that customers only pay for the services they use, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.

SafeDNS offers a powerful database that assists companies in managing web access effectively. By leveraging the SafeDNS solution, businesses can enhance their security measures and ensure a safer and more controlled web browsing experience for their users.