WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER

Cyber Scoop is KeyStone Solutions monthly newsletter about the latest trends, topics, and articles relating to cybersecurity. As a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), KeyStone’s expert team helps small to medium sized businesses with IT services including virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO), cybersecurity, help desk support, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), cloud solutions, and KeyStone’s signature service, IT Team as a Service (ITTaaS) which is an all-encompass solution.

Latest Cybersecurity News

Catch up on the latest cybersecurity headlines with a curated list of recent articles and updates. Explore expert insights and breaking developments to stay informed on the threats and trends impacting the digital landscape.

• 11/6/25 – Android malware steals your card details and PIN to make instant ATM withdrawals
• 11/4/25 – Microsoft Teams Bugs Let Attackers Impersonate Colleagues and Edit Messages Unnoticed
• 10/28/25 – Ransomware Hackers Look for New Tactics Amid Falling Profits
• 10/28/25 – Cybercriminals Trade 183 Million Stolen Credentials on Telegram, Dark Forums
• 10/27/25 – Evil scam targets LastPass users with fake death certificate claims
• 10/22/25 – Ransomware Groups’ Evolving Tactics Spur 44% Increase in Ransom Demands

Be proactive and contact KeyStone if you would like a complimentary consultation to ensure your business is fully protected.

From The Desk of the CISO

Overcoming the Compliance Labyrinth: Key Challenges for Small Organizations

By Rob Ashcraft, CISO at KeyStone Solutions

For small organizations, regulatory compliance is often a complex and resource-intensive challenge. Unlike their larger counterparts, which have dedicated legal and compliance departments, small organizations must navigate a dense web of federal, state, and local regulations with limited staff and funding. This scarcity of resources turns compliance into a significant administrative and financial burden. Small business owners juggle multiple roles, leaving them susceptible to errors and oversights.  These mistakes are not just a nuisance; they can lead to severe penalties, lawsuits, and lasting reputational damage that can threaten your organization’s survival.

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

Commentary by KeyStone’s Rob Ashcraft

An article in The Hacker News is a great read, as it challenges the long-standing advice of using complex passwords and advocates for a shift toward longer, memorable passphrases. It explains that password complexity using symbols, numbers, and mixed cases is less effective than sheer length when it comes to resisting brute-force attacks. By using three to four unrelated common words, users can create passphrases that are both secure and easier to remember, reducing the likelihood of password reuse or reliance on insecure storage methods like sticky notes.

In practice, passphrases have characteristics such as leading to fewer helpdesk tickets related to resets, providing resistance against common attack patterns, and conforming to current security recommendations from organizations, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  The article recommends a simple rule… choose 3–4 unrelated words with a separator and suggests rolling out this change gradually within organizations to minimize resistance. This approach simplifies password policies and enhances overall security posture.

Key takeaways:

• • Length beats complexity: Longer passwords are exponentially harder to crack than short, complex ones
  • Passphrases are memorable: Users are more likely to remember and securely manage longer, word-based passwords
  • Operational benefits: Fewer password resets mean reduced IT support burden
  • Better resistance to attacks: Random word combinations avoid predictable patterns exploited by attackers
  • Modern guidance alignment: NIST and other authorities now prioritize password length over forced complexity

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