What is Email Signing?

Email signing, also known as email authentication or digital signing, is a process used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an email message. It is a way to ensure that an email comes from the claimed sender and has not been tampered with during transmission. Email signing uses cryptographic techniques to add a digital signature to the email message.

Here’s how email signing typically works:

Digital Signature Generation: The sender’s email client or server uses a private key to generate a unique digital signature for the email message. The private key is a piece of cryptographic information known only to the sender and is used to create the signature.

Public Key Publication: The sender’s public key is usually stored in a digital certificate, which may be provided by a Certificate Authority (CA) or self-signed. This public key is used by the recipient to verify the digital signature.

Appending the Signature: The digital signature, along with some metadata about the signing process, is appended to the email message.

Sending the Signed Email: The signed email is sent to the recipient.

Verification by Recipient: When the recipient’s email client or server receives the signed email, it uses the sender’s public key (retrieved from the digital certificate) to verify the authenticity of the digital signature. If the signature matches the content of the email and the sender’s public key, it indicates that the email has not been altered in transit and is genuinely from the claimed sender.

Email signing is primarily achieved using cryptographic algorithms, such as asymmetric encryption (RSA or ECC), and digital certificates (like X.509). Common email signing standards include DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions).

By using email signing, organizations, and individuals can protect against email spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks. It helps recipients identify genuine communications from trusted senders and avoid falling victim to phishing scams.

Oppenheimer

The Atomic Boam maker

“Whatever the enemy may be planning, American science will be equal to the challenge.”  —Franklin Delano Roosevelt, June 29, 1943

J. Robert Oppenheimer, born on April 22, 1904, and died on February 18, 1967, was an American theoretical physicist and one of the key figures in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. He is often referred to as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his significant contributions to the Manhattan Project.

Oppenheimer was born in New York City and showed early academic promise in science and mathematics. He attended Harvard University and later earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at the University of Göttingen in Germany.

During World War II, Oppenheimer led the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, where scientists and engineers worked on the development of the atomic bomb. The successful testing of the first atomic bomb took place on July 16, 1945, in the Trinity test. This event marked a significant turning point in history, leading to the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, hastening the end of World War II.

Despite his pivotal role in the development of nuclear weapons, Oppenheimer also advocated for civilian control of atomic energy and opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb during the early stages of the Cold War. His stance on these matters led to a controversial security clearance hearing in 1954, during which he faced accusations of being a security risk due to his left-wing political affiliations in the past. As a result, his security clearance was revoked, and he was effectively barred from further government work related to nuclear weapons.

After his troubled period, Oppenheimer focused on teaching and research, and he made significant contributions to theoretical physics and astrophysics. He received many honors and awards throughout his lifetime, recognizing both his scientific achievements and his leadership during the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer’s life and work continue to be subjects of great historical and scientific interest.

CyberSecurity

The most terrifying thing is anyone can be targeted by cybercriminals.

Whether you are just an individual or a company or an organization. No matter what your size is! Here are some cybersecurity basics and putting them in practice will help us protect our business and the risk of a cyber-attack.

Let’s protect our files and devices;

Keep your software up to date whenever new updates are available.

Secure your files by backing up important data offline, on an external hard drive, or in the cloud. Also, ensure the safety of physical paper files.

For enhanced security, password-protect all laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Avoid leaving these devices unattended in public areas.

How we can protect our wireless network?

We can secure our router by doing those primanry steps;

  • By changing the default name and password.
  • Turn off remote management.
  • Log out as the administrator once the route is set up.

Make Smart Security your business as usual

Require strong passwords
  • At least 12 characters.
  • A mix of numbers, symbols, and capital lowercase letters.
  • Never reuse passwords.
  • Don’t share them on the phone, in texts, or by email.
  • Limit the number of unsuccessful log-in attempts to limit password-guessing attacks.
Train all staff

Encourage a secure culture by regularly training employees on security practices. Keep employees informed about new risks and vulnerabilities as they arise. If employees fail to attend these updates, consider restricting their access to the network.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the U.S. Department of Commerce recommends a framework that helps businesses of all sizes better understand manage, and reduce their cybersecurity risk and protect their network.

There are 5 areas NIST cybersecurity framework suggests. Those are;

Identify

Identify starts with making a list of all equipment, software, and data being used, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and point-of-sales devices.

Create and share a company cybersecurity polity that covers;

Roles and responsibilities for employees, vendors, and anyone else with access to sensitive data.

Steps to take to protect against an attack and limit the damage if one occurs.

Protect

  • Control who logs on to your network and uses
    your computers and other devices.
  • Use security software to protect data.
  • Encrypt sensitive data, at rest and in transit.
  • Conduct regular backups of data.
  • Update security software regularly, automating
    those updates if possible.
  • Have formal policies for safely disposing of
    electronic files and old devices.
  • Train everyone who uses your computers,
    devices, and network about cybersecurity.
    You can help employees understand their
    personal risk in addition to their crucial role
    in the workplace.

Recover

Repair and restore the equipment and parts of your network that were affected.

Keep employees and customers informed of your response and recovery activities.

Why should we use SSL certificate?

We should use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for our websites and web applications for several important reasons.

The following are some reasons why we should use SSL;

1. Data Integrity.

2. Authentication.

3. Trust and Confidence.

4. Compliance Requirements.

5. SEO Benefits.

Data Encryption: SSL provides encryption for the data transmitted between a web server and a client, such as a web browser. Encryption ensures that the information exchanged remains confidential and cannot be intercepted or read by unauthorized parties. This is particularly crucial when handling sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card details, or personal information, even our activities online.

Data Integrity: SSL helps maintain the integrity of data during transmission. It uses cryptographic algorithms to create a message digest, or hash, of the data being sent. This hash is then encrypted and sent along with the data. Upon receiving the data, the recipient can verify the integrity by decrypting the hash and comparing it to the calculated hash of the received data. If they match, it indicates that the data has not been tampered with during transit.

Authentication: SSL enables the authentication of web servers and verifies that the client is connecting to the intended, legitimate server. This authentication is done through digital certificates issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs). Certificates contain information about the server, such as its public key, domain name, and issuer details. By validating the certificate, users can be confident that they are connecting to a genuine and trusted website.

Trust and Confidence: SSL helps establish trust and confidence between website visitors and the site owner. When a website is secured with SSL, modern web browsers display visual cues such as a padlock icon or a green address bar, indicating that the connection is secure. This reassures users that their data is protected, which can enhance their trust in your website and increase their confidence in sharing sensitive information.

Compliance Requirements: SSL is often required to meet compliance regulations and industry standards. For example, if you handle online payments, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandates the use of SSL/TLS to secure sensitive cardholder data during transmission. Similarly, regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may require the protection of personal data using appropriate security measures, including encryption.

SEO Benefits: Search engines like Google consider SSL as a positive ranking signal. Websites using SSL/TLS may have a slight advantage in search engine rankings compared to those without SSL. Additionally, some browsers and search engines may display warnings or label non-secure websites explicitly, which can deter visitors.

Overall, using SSL is essential for securing data, maintaining privacy, establishing trust, and meeting compliance requirements. It helps protect sensitive information, prevents unauthorized access, and ensures a safer browsing experience for users.

What is ssl cerfificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and enables a secure encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser. It ensures that the data transmitted between the server and the browser remains private and cannot be intercepted or tampered with by unauthorized parties.

When a website has an SSL certificate installed, it activates the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol, which uses encryption algorithms to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the data being exchanged. This is particularly important for sensitive information such as login credentials, financial transactions, or personal data that users submit on websites.

SSL certificates are issued by trusted third-party organizations known as Certificate Authorities (CAs). These CAs verify the identity of the website owner before issuing the certificate. The certificate contains the website’s information, such as its domain name, organization name, and the public key necessary for encryption.

When a user visits a website with an SSL certificate, their web browser checks the validity and authenticity of the certificate. If it is trusted and valid, the browser establishes a secure connection with the website, indicated by a padlock icon or a green address bar, depending on the browser.

In summary, SSL certificates provide secure communication between websites and users, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access. They play a crucial role in establishing trust and security on the internet.

Exit mobile version