Stay Sharp: Your Phishing and Smishing Survival Kit Body
Cybercriminals are getting smarter but so can you. The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT‑BS) has launched the Phishing and Smishing Survival Kit to help you spot
CIRT‑BS Advisory: Beware of Fraudulent NIB Smart Card Renewal Text Scam
CIRT‑BS warns the public about fraudulent messages impersonating the National Insurance Board (NIB). These scams aim to deceive recipients into clicking unsafe links or sharing personal information under the guise
Smishing vs Phishing: Understanding the Dual Threat
Cyber‑criminals continue to evolve their tactics, targeting both mobile and desktop users. Smishing uses SMS or messaging apps to lure victims into clicking fraudulent links or sharing sensitive data. Phishing
Advisory: Fake Traffic Fine Payment Scam
The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) is aware of fraudulent websites impersonating legitimate government services and attempting to collect fake traffic fine payments. These scams use
Bahamas Election Security Awareness 2026
Daily Election Checklist: Stay Informed. Stay Secure. Verifying information is everyone’s responsibility: Follow updates from official government channels and the Parliamentary Registration Department Rely on verified Bahamian news outlets for
Child Online Protection Webinar: A Conversation That Matters
On May 20, 2026, the National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT‑BS) will host the Child Online Protection Webinar, uniting international experts to explore how we can build
Data Privacy Week: 4 Ways to Protect Your Data
So what’s the big deal about privacy, anyway? When you avoid taking measures to take control of your data, you make yourself susceptible to identity theft, which can lead to several issues, including financial loss and damage to your online footprint. Throughout this Data Privacy Week, CIRT-BS covered topics around practising discernment in sharing specific data with various services and taking action on our decisions through
Data Privacy Week: Get Comfortable with Privacy
We may feel despair about how our data is collected and used by our apps and web services—especially as they often request more data than necessary. But here’s the silver lining, thanks to privacy rules like the GDPR and Data Protection Act: you have some control! Privacy rules help protect us, the users. Websites and apps are now increasing transparency around the info they collect and how
Data Privacy Week: The Privacy & Convenience Trade-off
Think about the last application you downloaded on your mobile phone. It could be a messaging tool, an engaging social media platform, or even a GPS navigator. Whatever the app may be, mobile applications add considerable value to our lives… but at what cost? The truth is, while these apps may provide convenience, they also infringe on your privacy by collecting extensive data on you and
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Imagine the chaos of a world where your online financial systems are compromised daily, you have difficulty accessing email accounts when you want to, and your local meteorologists cannot detect the next storm before it happens. This is a glimpse into the reality of a world without cybersecurity. CISA, the United States’ Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, defines cybersecurity as the art of protecting networks,
Understanding Akira Ransomware and Ransomware Trends: A Comprehensive Analysis
Author: Marcus Knowles Jr. CIRT Analyst In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, ransomware attacks have emerged as one of the most pervasive and damaging threats to businesses worldwide. Among the myriad ransomware families, one name has been making headlines – Akira. Understanding the origins, evolution, and tactics employed by Akira is crucial in the fight against this potent digital adversary. Ransomware families reported in
Cyber Steward’s Guide to Online Christmas Shopping
Cyber Steward’s Guide to Online Christmas Shopping Spot the Real Deals Learn the difference between genuine offers and too-good-to-be-true scams. Secure Your Transactions Use trusted payment methods and ensure the website’s security before entering your details. Keep Software Updated Running the latest security software is your first defence against cyber threats. Watch Out for Fake Reviews Rely on verified purchase reviews and be wary of
Safer Students — Get Safe Online
Keep Your Students Safer Students spend much time online in today’s digital world. Online is great fun, but cyberbullying, oversharing, and clickjacking may cause them harm. Get Safe Online provides valuable information to prepare students to navigate the online world. We want every student while online to say with confidence #lAmSafer. Visit getsafeonline.bs to find out how students can stay safe online. Choose Secure
Keep Your Online Identity on Lock
11 April 2023 is recognised as Identity Management Day. Below are some practical tips on keeping your online identity on lock. Protect personal information. Don’t post NIB cards, Driver’s Licences, and other identifiable info. Close old accounts. Unused accounts are easier to hack. Stay alert for scams. Beware of giveaways, quizzes and surveys soliciting banking info. Avoid app sharing. If one app is hacked, linked
World Backup Day
Did you know that 31 March has been dubbed the day to backup and better protect your data? Losing important digital files happen way more than you think! CIRT-BS is here to help you avoid being fooled with the 3-2-1 Backup Rule.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Enable MFA; Disable the Hackers
Last week, we kicked off Cybersecurity Awareness Month, detailing strong passwords as your first line of defence against a cyber attack; this week, we cover the second: multi-factor authentication (MFA). Multi-factor Authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring two or more methods of verification to access your accounts. Rather than relying solely on a password, MFA can come in several forms. These include
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Use a Strong Password + a Password Manager
Cybersecurity professionals always say it, but it’s true: passwords are your first line of defence against data breaches. Because of this, it is crucial to make them strong and difficult to crack. Remember these three keys to make your passwords stronger: Make them long. The longer a password is, the more challenging to crack. CIRT-BS and other industry experts recommend passwords of 16 characters minimum.
Help Secure Our World this Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Welcome to Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative that educates everyone about online safety and empowers individuals and organisations to protect their data from cybercrime. Amidst large-scale data breaches and cyber-attacks, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us about simple, effective ways to remain safe online, protect personal data, and ultimately help secure our world. The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) is proud
Cash or Card? 10 Tips to Outsmart Card Fraud
In its 2022 Annual Report, the Bahamian monetary regulator, Central Bank of The Bahamas, reported over $15M in fraud complaints from debit and credit card users.[1] In many instances, better handling of financial cards could help to protect potential victims. This article shares ten practical but effective recommendations for protecting your financial accounts through your bank cards. (1) Invest in an RFID-blocking wallet to store
Don’t Get Reeled In! Recognising and Reporting Phishing
Have you ever received an email from a foreigner requesting financial assistance? How about a text message claiming you’ve won a particular prize for a competition you’ve never entered? In cybersecurity, these scams are commonly known as “phishing” attempts. Believed to come from the term “phoney fishing,” the Internet Engineering Task Force defines phishing as a technique for attempting to acquire sensitive data (e.g.
Spring Forward into Cyber Hygiene
Remember that time changes this Sunday! We move forward one hour. As you take time to update your clocks and declutter your homes this weekend, CIRT-BS reminds you to ensure that your cyber hygiene is being taken care of, too! Organise Your Files Clean folders make spotting malicious files and viruses easier. Review Bank Statements Check for unauthorised transactions and query them.
Build Better Passwords for Online Security this “Change Your Password Day”
What do your bank, social media, and email accounts share? A password! Passwords are one of the most critical lines of defence against cyber attacks. They help ensure our data is only accessed by authorised users, even in the event of device theft or loss. Many people choose passwords found in the dictionary and reuse them across multiple accounts, meaning that once a cybercriminal has
Data Privacy Week: 4 Ways to Protect Your Data
So what’s the big deal about privacy, anyway? When you avoid taking measures to take control of your data, you make yourself susceptible to identity theft, which can lead to several issues, including financial loss and damage to your online footprint. Throughout this Data Privacy Week, CIRT-BS covered topics around practising discernment in sharing specific data with various services and taking action on our decisions through
Data Privacy Week: Get Comfortable with Privacy
We may feel despair about how our data is collected and used by our apps and web services—especially as they often request more data than necessary. But here’s the silver lining, thanks to privacy rules like the GDPR and Data Protection Act: you have some control! Privacy rules help protect us, the users. Websites and apps are now increasing transparency around the info they collect and how
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