Tony Anscombe

Tony Anscombe

Chief Security Evangelist


Education: Cobol and Fortran programming, it was a long time ago.

Highlights of your career: Appearing on the BBC News, the live appearance was regarding an article about a hacker that was 12 years old and stealing game data. The cool part was that it remained the number one article on the BBC News app for four days, it seemed that just about everyone I know saw it! The only thing that could top this is to be on Good Morning America or on the BBC Breakfast sofa.

What malware do you hate the most: Potentially unwanted applications, deceiving consumers and destroying their computer is wrong.

Favorite activities: Motorbikes, cycling, concerts and family (not in that order).

What is your golden rule for cyberspace: Don’t get sucked in and addicted to the world of social media, and never post pictures of food.

When did you get your first computer, favorite computer game/activity: My first computer was a Sinclair ZX81 Spectrum, back around 1983/4. It was my first introduction to programming and inspired me to go to college and learn how to code. As for a favorite game, my son and I play two games frequently, Driver (Xbox) and Fifa (PS4), it is a very competitive pastime and not good for my blood pressure.


99 articles by Tony Anscombe

Digital Security

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

Digital Security

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

As you down tools for the holiday season, be sure to also switch off the standby lights – it’s both cost effective and better for the environment

Tony Anscombe20 Dec 20213 min. read


Scams

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

Scams

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

‘Tis the season to avoid getting played by scammers hijacking Twitter accounts and promoting fake offers for PlayStation 5 consoles and other red-hot products

Tony Anscombe25 Nov 20216 min. read


Scams

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

Scams

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck. Now, how do you apply the duck test to defend against phishing?

Tony Anscombe13 Oct 20215 min. read


COVID-19

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

COVID-19

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

Vaccination passports may facilitate the return to normalcy, but there are also concerns about what kinds of personal data they collect and how well they protect it. Here’s what you should know.

Tony Anscombe31 Aug 20219 min. read


Ransomware

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Ransomware

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Ransomware payments may have greater implications than you thought – and not just for the companies that paid up

Tony Anscombe19 Aug 20212 min. read


Scams

Deepfakes – the bot made me do it

Deepfakes – the bot made me do it

Scams

Deepfakes – the bot made me do it

As deepfakes become indistinguishable from reality and the potential for the misuse of synthetic content is virtually endless, what can you do to avoid falling victim to deepfake fraud?

Tony Anscombe10 Aug 20213 min. read


Digital Security

Black Hat 2021: Lessons from a lawyer

Black Hat 2021: Lessons from a lawyer

Digital Security

Black Hat 2021: Lessons from a lawyer

Why companies and their security teams need to engage with a lawyer before an incident occurs

Tony Anscombe06 Aug 20213 min. read


Privacy

Is your personal information being abused?

Is your personal information being abused?

Privacy

Is your personal information being abused?

Drowning in spam? A study presented at Black Hat USA 2021 examines if sharing your personal information with major companies contributes to the deluge of nuisance emails, texts and phone calls.

Tony Anscombe05 Aug 20213 min. read


Ransomware

Ransomware: To pay or not to pay? Legal or illegal? These are the questions …

Ransomware: To pay or not to pay? Legal or illegal? These are the questions …

Ransomware

Ransomware: To pay or not to pay? Legal or illegal? These are the questions …

Caught between a rock and a hard place, many ransomware victims cave in to extortion demands. Here’s what might change the calculus.

Tony Anscombe08 Jul 202115 min. read