Dictionary.com defines trust as both a noun and a verb, including the following definitions: In AV Land, the idea of trust can often be fleeting. Stories of backstabbing or stealing AV projects are not uncommon. Marketing can often be misleading, using words like “zero latency” in digital audio or video systems, when most require to […]

Day One of LAVNCH WEEK 13 got off to a roaring start. Tuesday, April 7, was all about security as we did a deep dive on AV and security convergence and how it’s impacting our industry. The Evolving Role of Physical Security in a Connected Technology Ecosystem Security Day kicked off with a keynote from […]

i-PRO Co. Ltd. expects rising demand in 2026 for edge-based artificial intelligence, expanded channel education and stronger cybersecurity practices as the security industry continues shifting from concept-driven discussions to real-world deployment. The company said advances in edge AI performance, combined with growing cyber risk and skills gaps across the channel, will define the year ahead. […]

Genetec has released its predictions for the physical security market in 2026, pointing to increased demand for flexible deployment models, practical AI-driven automation and unified, connected systems that support both security and operational goals. According to the company, the next phase of cloud adoption will emphasize choice rather than a single deployment path. Organizations will […]

This month’s survey is now CLOSED. Keep an eye out for next month’s survey!  As AV systems become increasingly networked, the line between AV and IT security continues to blur. From unsecured endpoints to overlooked firmware updates, vulnerabilities can creep in anywhere — and attackers know it. This month’s Temperature Check explores how AV professionals […]

I recently attended a few cybersecurity education sessions at InfoComm 2025. (Yes, there were multiple sessions focused on security — that alone is pretty newsworthy.) During one of the classes, someone in the audience said something along the lines of: Government security regulation isn’t necessary — eventually, the less secure vendors will gain a bad […]

In late May, I did something to my neck and shoulder that caused significant pain. After a few visits to the doctor, they ordered an MRI. MRIs are a fascinating tool in modern medicine that continues to amaze me. However, four weeks later, I’m still in pain and have no answer as to what the […]

A new study by Cybernews researchers has found that 71% of iOS apps leak sensitive data, including API keys, cloud storage credentials, and financial information. The analysis, which examined 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps — representing 8% of the Apple App Store — raises concerns about cybersecurity risks even under Apple’s stringent app evaluation guidelines. […]

October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and with the AV industry’s increasing reliance on connected systems, the timing couldn’t have been better. From corporate boardrooms to large-scale event spaces, the security of AV systems has become a pressing issue in the industry. In our October Temperature Check, we asked industry professionals about their experiences with cybersecurity […]

BY: Theresa Payton Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity have sparked an ongoing debate about whether they’re the ultimate duo or a dangerous combination. As someone who has spent years navigating cybersecurity, I see both sides. AI offers incredible opportunities but opens up new vulnerabilities that we, as cybersecurity professionals, must address. AI & Cybersecurity: The […]

The October 2024 Temperature Check survey is now closed. Keep an eye out for next month’s survey! Hi #AVtweeps! There is a chill in the air, the leaves are turning beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange, and coffee shops are churning out pumpkin spice lattes as fast as they can! You know what that […]

I have been working in “tech” for roughly 30 years. I started in IT, then went into live audio, then AV integration, and eventually, cybersecurity. I now engineer secure audiovisual systems, KVMs and video walls for the United States military. One might think my home is full of the latest technologies, that I have smart […]

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, a ransomware attack launched by a hacking group called BlackSuit took down the operations of approximately 15,000 North American auto retailers. The hackers did not actually attack the individual car dealerships, but rather, they attacked a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider named CDK. The CDK Dealer Management System software handled everything from […]

A new study conducted by cybersecurity and compliance expert Kiteworks has identified the U.S. states where businesses are most at risk of cyberattacks, with Colorado topping the list. Kiteworks created a points-based index to analyze various factors, including annual victim counts, financial losses from cyberattacks, increases in both victims and losses and the types of […]

By: Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb As technological advancements continue to reshape industries, so do the tactics of cybercriminals, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. Recent data highlights the industries most targeted by cyberattacks and the substantial financial toll they exact, emphasizing the urgency for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity. Most Targeted Industries by CyberCriminals Rank […]

When I departed Bradley International Airport on Tuesday, the temperature was a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When I landed in Las Vegas 5 hours later, it was about 700 degrees. Okay, it wasn’t 700, but it was 101. I don’t know about you, but I dread this sort of heat. But I am here for […]

The news hit the headlines on a cool, rainy April 2024 morning. I grabbed my sweater. Bitdefender was the first to report the four security vulnerabilities discovered in LG’s WebOS TV operating system, allowing a potential cyber attacker to gain root access to the TV after bypassing the proper authorization.  The second paragraph of the […]

By: Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb Personal identification numbers (PINs) serve as gatekeepers to our online financial accounts, devices and sensitive information. While the concept of a four-digit PIN may seem simple, with only 10,000 possible combinations, achieving true uniqueness can be a challenge. A weak or predictable PIN can leave you vulnerable to unauthorized access — […]

By: Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb In an era defined by connectivity, the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. From smart thermostats to wearable fitness trackers, IoT devices have seamlessly integrated into our homes and businesses, offering convenience, efficiency and innovation. However, alongside these advancements comes a significant uptick in […]

In the summer of 2023, a Chinese hacking group tracked as Storm-0558 compromised Microsoft’s cloud, eventually leading to the breach of hundreds of thousands of emails, including those email accounts of U.S. government officials in charge of managing our relationship with China (Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, United States Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China […]

A new study conducted by researchers at TorGuard, an online protection company, has revealed the states most at risk of internet crime — and Alaska ranks #1. The TorGuard team analyzed data from the recently updated FBI Internet Crime Report to produce a list of the states most at risk of a cyberattack. The research […]

New data reveals which U.S. states search for cybersecurity-related issues the most. The data, compiled by the research team at cloud security company AccuKnox, analyzed search terms related to cybersecurity across every U.S. state to establish which states are the most worried about cybersecurity. Vermont takes the crown as the state most worried about cybersecurity, […]

BY: Joe Davies While many of us rely on our voice assistants like Siri and Alexa for things like checking the weather or setting a timer while cooking, it might not be such a good idea to rely on them in more serious situations. Here are six things you should always avoid asking voice assistants if […]

Today, April 9, is Identity Management Day, which is designed to inform about the dangers of casually or improperly managing and securing digital identities. “Identity Management Day is an opportunity for all of us to evaluate our role in protecting our digital ecosystem,” said the day’s organizers in a statement. “Whether acting as consumers or […]

By: Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb Thirty percent of internet users have been victims of a data breach as a result of having a weak password; with over five billion people using the internet today, that means one and a half billion have had their data stolen by scammers taking advantage of their bad password. With this […]

Back in 2021, I wrote a rAVe column entitled “SecuringAV: The Remote Desktop Attack on a Florida Water Treatment Plant.” In this article, I talked about the different forms of infrastructure being targeted by cyberattacks, and connected the attack on the water treatment plant to similar vulnerabilities in AV systems. I also shared some lessons […]

In a world where digital interactions have become the norm, safeguarding your personal information online is paramount. Recent cybersecurity analyses, coupled with a Forbes Advisor survey conducted in 2024, have shed light on a concerning reality: many individuals still rely on easily compromised passwords, leaving their online accounts susceptible to hacking. Trevor Cooke, the online […]

It does not take much time browsing the internet recently to find an instance of a cyber breach, data theft, invasion of privacy, or to read the expectations of an impending threat. Just Google what the FBI director told Congress recently about the threat that China poses to our critical infrastructure. I often find that […]

A few weeks ago, a Swiss newspaper story about “3 million hacked toothbrushes” went viral. I personally shared a link about the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack with my cybersecurity coworkers via Teams message, prompting a number of comments and “Jurassic Park” memes. We all fell for it, but there is very little evidence that this […]

On Oct. 1, 2023, a small percentage of 23AndMe user profile information was improperly accessed and downloaded from individual 23andMe.com accounts on its website. The company found out after an anonymous hacker began advertising “millions” of stolen genetic profiles that were supposedly from 23andMe customer accounts. The profiles included emails, photos, gender, date of birth […]

In my last rAVe column, I summarized some recent cyberattacks on MGM and Caesars’ casinos. In that article, I tried to drop some social engineering science and some lessons learned from Scattered Spider (aka 0ktapus, UNC3944, Starfraud, Scatter Swine, Muddled Libra and most recently, Octo Tempest). I warned #AVtweeps about their aggressive social engineering Tactics, […]

Approximately 2 in 5 survey respondents say they either “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never” install software updates, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA). One of the easiest ways to protect accounts and information is to keep software and applications updated. Updates are periodically released to fix software problems and provide security patches for known vulnerabilities. […]