Stay Secure in the Digital World

Updated weekly with real-world security incidents

View Live Global Attack Map
  • Real-time threat tracking
  • Guides for secure setups
  • Hacker News top stories

Phone Scams Explained

How scammers get your number, use AI voices, and why it keeps happening.

View the Phone Scam Page

What Hackers Actually Steal

It’s not just passwords. It’s the data that lets attackers move silently.

See what’s inside today’s data package

Global Attacks (Live)

Open Live Map

Real-time cyber activity from top threat intel sources.

Is Your Network Exposed?

Most hacks start with one thing: settings nobody ever changed.

The mistake
Default passwords and “setup later” settings.
How they find you
Bots scan the internet for open devices and logins.
Then what happens
Access can be silent — no pop-ups, no warnings.
Read the full story

Every day, normal people — including families — are targeted through unsecured Wi-Fi, exposed devices, and weak default settings. Most never realize it's happening.

For example, many people never change the default usernames and passwords on their home routers, cameras, or smart devices. Attackers scan the internet specifically for these defaults.

When they find them, access can happen quietly — without alerts, warnings, or obvious signs. That's why simple changes (strong passwords, updates, and turning off unused access) matter.

A Real-World Security Incident

One device. One night. A reminder that “smart” doesn’t always mean safe.

The device
A cheap Wi-Fi baby camera.
The moment
A voice came through the speaker.
The lesson
Default settings can become open doors.
Read the full story

A family installed an inexpensive Wi-Fi baby camera to monitor their three-year-old daughter. It worked — until one evening the child told her parents:

“A man talked to me from the camera. He said my name.”

They assumed it was imagination. Later that night, they heard it too.

At approximately 2:14 AM, a distorted male voice came through the speaker:

“I can see you… why aren’t you asleep?”

The family disconnected the device immediately and contacted their internet provider.

Incidents That Changed Security Forever

Moments that proved cyber risk can become real-world harm.

Medical devices
When “wireless” became a safety risk.
Cars
A steering wheel became hackable.
Public systems
Incidents that affected communities.
Read the full list
2011
Insulin Pumps

Wireless insulin devices raised concerns after security weaknesses were demonstrated.

2012
Pacemakers & Defibrillators

Heart devices became part of the cybersecurity conversation — with real safety implications.

2015
Connected Cars

A public demonstration proved remote control risks were not theoretical.

2019
SIM Swaps

Phone numbers became keys to accounts — and attackers learned to steal them.

2021
Water Treatment Controls

Critical systems incidents showed cyber issues can impact communities directly.

These moments pushed cybersecurity beyond “IT” and into everyday safety.

This Week’s Tool

Tools commonly used during the early stages of real-world attacks.

Nuclei how attackers find weaknesses at scale

Before exploits are launched or data is stolen, attackers often scan targets for known weaknesses.

Nuclei allows attackers to quickly test systems against thousands of vulnerability templates to see what responds.

No passwords are guessed. No systems are broken into. The danger is how fast exposed flaws can be identified.

  • Misconfigurations are detected in seconds
  • Outdated software stands out immediately
  • Large networks can be scanned quietly

Speed is often the difference between being secure and being compromised.

Popular Guides

Secure Your Wi-Fi

View Guide

Step-by-step instructions for securing your home network and router.

Setting up MFA

View Guide

Learn how to secure accounts using hardware keys and authenticator apps.

Generate Strong Passwords

Open Generator

Create strong, unique passwords using a trusted generator with high entropy.

Cyber Hygiene Checklist

View Checklist

Beginner-friendly security practices recommended by CISA for staying protected online.

Top Hacker Gadgets You Can Actually Buy (2025)

Real tools used by ethical hackers and pentesters. These are popular for learning, labs, demos, and legitimate security testing in controlled environments.

Flipper Zero

View on Amazon

Pocket-sized multi-tool for hackers. Reads, emulates, and tests RFID, NFC, Sub-GHz, IR, and more—with a huge community behind it.

  • RFID & NFC badge testing
  • Sub-GHz signal replay & analysis
  • Infrared control & GPIO exploration
More details

Widely used by pentesters and hobbyists. The ecosystem of custom firmware and plugins makes Flipper Zero a long-term learning platform, not just a toy.

USB Rubber Ducky

View on Hak5

A keystroke injection tool disguised as a USB drive. Used to safely demonstrate how fast a system can be compromised if left unlocked.

  • Scriptable keystroke payloads
  • Great for red team demos
  • Shows why device policies matter
More details

Recognized as a keyboard, not storage—so endpoint protection often behaves differently. Best used in lab environments and with clear permission.

HackRF One

View on Amazon

Software-defined radio (SDR) for serious wireless research. Covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz to explore a huge range of protocols.

  • Wireless protocol analysis
  • SDR labs & replay testing
  • IoT & RF security research
More details

Ideal for learning SDR tools like GNU Radio, SDR#, and GQRX. Best used with a good antenna and within legal RF testing rules in your region.

Proxmark3

View on Amazon

Professional RFID/NFC research tool for testing badges, tags, and access control systems in a lab or authorized assessment.

  • LF & HF tag support
  • Clone, emulate, & analyze cards
  • Physical security audits
More details

Often used by red teams to validate how resilient an organization’s access badges are to cloning or replay attacks—always with written permission.

ALFA AWUS036ACH

View on Amazon

Classic Wi-Fi adapter for Kali Linux wireless auditing. Supports monitor mode and packet injection out of the box.

  • Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz
  • Monitor mode & injection
  • Perfect for Wi-Fi labs
More details

Ideal for capturing WPA/WPA2 handshakes and practicing Wi-Fi hardening by attacking your own lab networks, then locking them down.

Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit

View on Amazon

Tiny but powerful computer that turns into a full portable hacking lab with Kali, Parrot, or your favorite Linux distro.

  • Portable pentest workstation
  • Great for homelab projects
  • Runs Linux security tools
More details

Use it as a network sensor, honeypot, VPN gateway, or recon box. The Raspberry Pi has huge community support and endless security tutorials.

WiFi Pineapple Field Guide

View on Amazon

A practical guide to wireless network auditing with the Hak5 WiFi Pineapple platform.

  • Rogue AP & man-in-the-middle labs
  • Credential harvesting demos
  • Practical Wi-Fi attack flows
More details

Great companion for building a Wi-Fi security lab and understanding what modern wireless attacks look like from the defender’s point of view.

Ubertooth One

View on Amazon

Open-source Bluetooth research platform for analyzing classic and BLE traffic.

  • Bluetooth/BLE protocol analysis
  • Traffic capture & inspection
  • Great for IoT and wearable security
More details

Helps you understand how Bluetooth devices beacon, pair, and exchange data—essential if you care about wireless privacy.

USB Data Blocker

View Options on Amazon

Simple but powerful. Blocks data pins while letting power through—so you can safely charge in public without exposing your device.

  • Prevents “juice-jacking” attacks
  • Great for travel & airports
  • Cheap, easy security upgrade
More details

Pair a data blocker with a power-only cable and you dramatically reduce the risk of malicious USB charging stations exfiltrating data or dropping malware.

Portable SSD (1–2 TB)

View Options on Amazon

Fast external SSD for VMs, OS images, capture files, and CTF data. Every hacker lab needs solid storage.

  • Run VMs & portable labs
  • Store captures & logs
  • Keep backups off your main drive
More details

Use a dedicated SSD for hacking and lab work to keep sensitive data separated from your daily system, and to quickly move environments between machines.

Hacker Gadgets Under $20

Budget-friendly tools used by ethical hackers, beginners, and cyber hobbyists — all under $20.

USB Data Blocker

View on Amazon

Protects your devices from malicious charging ports and juice-jacking attacks.

RFID Blocking Sleeves

View on Amazon

Blocks unauthorized NFC/RFID scans of credit cards or badges.

Mini Faraday Bag

View on Amazon

Blocks all wireless signals — ideal for phones, key fobs, or small devices.

USB Payload Protector Case

View on Amazon

Protects pentesting USB drives & payload devices from damage or accidental misuse.

Dual-Band WiFi Antenna

View on Amazon

Boosts signal for WiFi pentesting adapters like Alpha or TP-Link.

433 MHz SDR Antenna

View on Amazon

Great for experimenting with SDR, IoT sensors, and radio exploration.

USB-C Voltage Tester

View on Amazon

Lets you analyze USB ports for power anomalies, tampering, or unsafe chargers.

Clear Lock Pick Trainer

View on Amazon

Transparent practice lock for beginners learning physical security concepts.

Anti-Static Wrist Strap

View on Amazon

Prevent static damage when building DIY hacker labs or working on boards.

RJ45 Network Cable Tester

View on Amazon

Useful for diagnosing Ethernet issues in home labs and penetration test setups.

Beginner Hacker Starter Kit (Suggested Combo)

A budget-friendly but powerful starter kit for learning real cybersecurity and pentesting techniques. These items work together to create a complete hands-on lab environment.

Top Hacker News

Port / Protocol of the Day

Every device has 65,535 network ports. Today we look at one — because seconds are all it takes to get noticed.

Loading today's port…

How to close unused ports (any router)

Think of your home network like a house.
Ports are doors that let things in.
Most homes only need a few doors open.

Extra open doors don't help — they just make it easier for strangers to walk in.

  1. Open your router controls
    Connect to your Wi-Fi and open your router's settings page or mobile app. (This is usually listed on the router itself or in the box it came in.)
  2. Find where outside access is managed
    Look for sections named:
    • Port Forwarding
    • Remote Access
    • Firewall
    • Advanced or Internet Settings
  3. Ask one simple question
    “Did I set this up on purpose?”
    If the answer is no, it usually doesn't need to be on.
  4. Turn it off and save
    Disable the setting, save changes, and restart the router if asked.

If your internet still works normally, you likely closed an unnecessary door.

Takes about 2-5 minutes
No tech knowledge required

Local Exposure Analyzer

Scan what your browser and connection might be exposing — all checks run locally in your browser.

This tool runs private, client-side checks to reveal:
• Your visible public IP
• WebRTC IP leaks
• Cookie / privacy settings
• Connection security

Press Run Exposure Check to analyze your setup.

Latest Ransomware Victim Announcements

View live breach victim postings.

View Live Ransomware Feed

HaveIBeenPwned — Breach Lookup

Safe, fast, trustworthy breach exposure search.

Check Breach Status

IPWHOIS Lookup

Instant IP intelligence and ownership records.

Run IP Query

Greynoise Explorer

Visual real-time scanner activity — no login required.

Open GreyNoise Viewer

Exposed Cloud Buckets Finder

Recently discovered open AWS S3 buckets, Azure blobs, GCP storage, and misconfigured cloud servers. Anonymized but shocking to explore.

View Exposed Cloud Assets

☕Thank you for visiting! If you’d like to support the site, you can buy me a coffee — it’s always appreciated.