Security

Today I want to talk about a security threat known as “browser session hijacking.”

This is an attack where a hacker steals the information that identifies you on the internet. Once successful, the attacker has unchallenged access to your online banking, social media, and other online accounts — without ever needing your password. The scary part? You’d never know it was happening.

Vulnerabilities old enough to vote…

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Many cyber incidents do not begin with sophisticated hacking techniques. Instead, they often start with something much simpler: software that has not been updated. When operating systems, browsers, and applications fall behind on security patches, attackers can use publicly known vulnerabilities to gain access to a computer or network.

As the number of disclosed vulnerabilities continues to grow each year, keeping systems updated has become one of the most important parts of cybersecurity. Regular patching, combined with monitoring for unusual behavior, helps reduce the chances that a known weakness can be used to compromise a system. According to Cisco Talos vulnerabilities from 2007, which would be old enough to vote in many countries, were actively causing problems.

Ai and the threat landscape

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Artificial intelligence is beginning to change how cyber threats are created and delivered. Instead of replacing attackers, AI is helping them work faster, generate more convincing scams, and develop malware more efficiently. At the same time, the number of known software vulnerabilities continues to grow each year, creating more opportunities for attackers when systems are not properly updated.

For home users and small businesses, this means that traditional protection like antivirus is still helpful but no longer sufficient on its own. Modern protection increasingly depends on keeping software patched, monitoring systems for unusual activity, and investigating early warning signs before they turn into larger problems.

When Ransomware Appears, It’s Usually Already Too Late

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Imagine sitting down at your computer and seeing a message saying your files have been encrypted and payment is required to unlock them.

Most people assume the attack just happened. In reality, ransomware usually starts much earlier. In many cases an attacker has already been inside the system for hours — sometimes even days — before the lock screen appears.

The good news is that these attacks are preventable and usually leave warning signs long before files are ever encrypted.

There is a recently identified security vulnerability in the Microsoft Notepad application included with Windows 11. Modern versions of Notepad allow formatted text features that support clickable links within documents. In certain situations, clicking one of these links could trigger harmful behavior, potentially leading to malicious software being downloaded or run.

This does not mean Notepad itself is dangerous — rather, attackers may try to exploit how links are handled when users open and interact with untrusted files.