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
New Advisory: (Critical) Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (FortiOS, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitch Manager)
ⓘ This advisory addresses a critical vulnerability impacting FortiOS, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager platforms. Attention constituent: CVE-2022-40684 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability impacting Fortinet’s FortiOS, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager platforms. This flaw enables attackers to gain unauthorised administrative access, potentially leading to system compromise, data theft, and operational disruption. A leaked list of 15,000 vulnerable IP addresses has heightened the risk of exploitation. Immediate action is
New Advisory: (Critical) FortiOS Vulnerability
ⓘ This advisory addresses a critical vulnerability impacting FortiOS systems (CVE-2024-55591). Attention constituent: A critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-55591) has been identified in Fortinet’s FortiOS systems. This vulnerability stems from an authentication bypass flaw in the FortiOS web management interface. Exploitation of this vulnerability allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorised administrative access and execute arbitrary actions on affected systems. CVE: CVE-2024-55591 Severity: Critical (CVSS: 9.8) Affected Platforms: FortiOS systems
WhatsApp Account Hijacking Scams Advisory
ⓘ This advisory addresses an increase in compromised WhatsApp accounts. Attention constituent: CIRT-BS is advising members of the public to stay alert as a sophisticated scam targeting WhatsApp users is on the rise. Cybercriminals are hacking accounts and deceiving users’ friends and family into sending money by posing as trusted contacts. How the Scam Works Scammers make contact, sometimes with a WhatsApp call, and use fake
CrowdStrike Update (Phishing Attempts)
ⓘ This advisory addresses new phishing attempts related to CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor crash. Attention Constituents: Since CrowdStrike deployed its international Falcon sensor fix last Friday, 19 July 2024, Crowd Strike Intelligence has identified that threat actors are leveraging this event for malicious purposes such as: Distributing a malicious zip file named “crowdstirke-hotfix.zip”; Establishing fraudulent domains to mimic CrowdStrike; Sending phishing emails posing as CrowdStrike support
New Advisory: CrowdStrike Update Crashes Windows Systems Worldwide
ⓘ This advisory addresses a recent update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor which has led to widespread Blue Screen of Death errors. Attention Microsoft service users: A recent update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor has led to widespread Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors on Windows hosts, resulting in disruptions locally to several services, including payment processing, and global disruptions. CrowdStrike has deployed a fix for this
“Free Money” WhatsApp Scam
ⓘ This advisory addresses an uptick in “free money” scams on WhatsApp. Attention constituent: CIRT-BS is observing an uptick in “free money” scams on WhatsApp involving threat actors impersonating the “Ministry of Labour and [Public Service]” and offering mobile device “top-ups” to solicit personally identifiable information like internet protocol (IP) addresses and telephone numbers from members of the general public. In the attacks, actors are
Parcel Delivery Scams
ⓘ This advisory addresses an uptick in parcel delivery scams. Attention constituent: CIRT-BS is observing an uptick in parcel delivery scams involving threat actors impersonating Bahamas Postal Services’ (BPS) website to solicit payment and personally identifiable information from members of the general public. Actors are sending SMS messages from the telephone number “+0123456789” advising recipients that their “delivery” is on hold and requesting they visit
Consumer Loan Scams
Attention Constituent: We would like to inform you about a series of consumer loan scams originating from actors posing as third-party representatives of financial institutions, including Central Bank of The Bahamas and Bank of The Bahamas Limited. Sources: https://www.centralbankbahamas.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/BOBBankofSolutions/ CIRT-BS reminds you that scammers often attempt to draw on your emotions by creating a sense of urgency and appearing to be trustworthy. Remember to do
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: 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.
Don’t become victim to cyber attacks.
Don’t become victim to cyber attacks. Protect sensitive data and improve your digital privacy. Password-protect your devices. Keep software and apps updated. Choose incognito or private browsing. Login with two-factor authentication. Manage unique passwords with a password manager. Browse public Wi-FI with a VPN. Disable unnecessary mobile app permissions. Backup & encrypt sensitive data.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Online dating is becoming increasingly popular in our communities and while many may be searching for their Valentine via dating apps and social media platforms, unexpected dangers are always present! Be careful of the following: ‘Catfishers’ who create fake online dating profiles. Romance scammers asking for money. Scammers phishing for personal information. Fake online dating sites. Sharing private/sensitive photos online. Accepting friend requests from unknown
- RFC 2350