Netizen Blog and News

The Netizen team sharing expertise, insights and useful information in cybersecurity, compliance, and software assurance.

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Netizen is an award-winning ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 9001:2015 certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOSB) company specializing in cybersecurity with offices and locations around the country. Our work is truly global as we support customers all across the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia. We are America’s fastest growing cybersecurity company in 2019 and a national “Best Workplace” according to Inc. Magazine. We also received the Department of Labor HireVETS Platinum Medallion for our veteran-focused hiring, training, and retention programs in addition to numerous other accolades.
  • Study Shows Deep Flaws in Healthcare Cybersecurity

    Study Shows Deep Flaws in Healthcare Cybersecurity

    A university study that focused on the practices of health-care workers showed just how vulnerable the industry is to cyberattacks due to information security policies that lag behind clinical practice.

    Professors from University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College and University of Southern California studied the work of nurses, doctors, IT specialists and chief information officers in clinics and hospitals and found major gaps between policies and practice that saw health-care workers bend and break security policies in order to get their work done. The health-care industry is frequently cited as one of the industries most exposed to cyberattack due to large networks with numerous access points and vulnerable, legacy computer systems. For example, a California hospital recently had its patient data held hostage by hackers. The study indicated that following the policies in place was just as significant a factor in health-care risk. “Cybersecurity efforts in health-care settings increasingly confront workarounds and evasions by clinicians and employees who are just trying to do their work in the face of often onerous and irrational computer security rules.”

    Read full article on The Wall Street Journal Blog…

  • NETIZEN CEO NAMED TO TOP 40 UNDER 40 IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

    NETIZEN CEO NAMED TO TOP 40 UNDER 40 IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

    NETIZEN CEO NAMED TO TOP 40 UNDER 40 IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

    Allentown, PA: Michael Hawkins, the President and CEO of Netizen Corporation, an award-winning provider of secure software engineering, cyber security, and data analysis solutions for government and commercial markets, was recognized by Lehigh Valley Business, the region’s premier business news publication, as a “Top 40 Under 40” award recipient. The Lehigh Valley is the third-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania and fastest growing region in the state.

    “This awards program celebrates 40 of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s most accomplished young businessmen and women who have been making headlines in their field and who share a commitment to business growth, professional excellence and to the community,” states the website for the award. Awardees were selected through an extensive review process by an independent panel of expert judges from around the region, representing such institutions as Lehigh University, MassMutual Financial Group, and others. A formal celebration dinner will be held on June 13th at Historic Hotel Bethlehem to introduce the recipients and present awards.

    “I am immensely proud to have been selected from amongst a large, competitive group of highly-qualified professionals. However, I would like to note that all which has been achieved would not be possible without a top-notch team. I would like to especially recognize Max Harris, my business partner and the Chief of Business Development at Netizen, and my wife, Samia; both of whom have proven quite invaluable in these endeavors. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone that voted for me, as well as those who nominated me, and extend my heartfelt congratulations to the other recipients of this prestigious award,” said Mr. Hawkins.

    Netizen is a fast-growing veteran-owned company that is proudly training and hiring veterans, especially those recently transitioned from military service, for positions in highly technical fields. As a security-cleared defense and government contractor, Netizen continues to serve the nation by providing advanced cyber security and other information technology solutions that directly support our armed forces, veterans, and fellow citizens across the country.

    About Netizen Corporation: Recognized as the Lehigh Valley’s “Emerging Business of the Year” in 2015 and a recipient of Department of Defense (DoD) awards for superior customer service, we are a Security-Cleared, Pennsylvania-based, and Veteran-owned company specializing in secure software development, data analysis, and cyber security. Our CyberSecure products and solutions are also trusted by organizations of all sizes and types to protect their critical IT infrastructure and applications in a cost-effective manner. Industries served include healthcare, defense, civilian government, logistics, finance, and others. Learn more at https://Netizen.us and https://goCybersecure.com.

    POINT OF CONTACT:
    Max Harris
    Chief of Business Development
    1-800-450-1773 ext. 704
    MHarris@Netizen.us

    #####

  • NETIZEN NAMED EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY REGION

    NETIZEN NAMED EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY REGION

    Allentown, PA: Netizen Corporation, a leading Pennsylvania-based provider of software assurance, data management, and cyber security solutions for government and commercial markets, was named Business of the Year in the Emerging Business category by Lehigh Valley Business, the region’s premier business news publication.  The Business of the Year awards program celebrates the greater Lehigh Valley’s most dynamic businesses. An Emerging Business is defined as a company that is five years old or less, with no set limitations on the number of employees or total revenue.

    “It is a great honor to have been selected as Business of the Year in a highly competitive category replete with reputable organizations from across the region. This award serves to validate that our mission, message and approach to providing security-ingrained software, data and cyber solutions resonates across the marketplace as well as within our own community,” said Michael Hawkins, Netizen’s President and CEO.

    Max Harris, Netizen’s Chief of Business Development, added, “we at Netizen are extremely grateful for the contributions of our dedicated employee team members and like-minded partner companies not only locally but across the country. So much of this would not be possible without their hard work and support.”

    Criteria for the Business of the Year award include an evaluation of company and professional growth, community involvement, future potential, and other factors. Finalists and awardees were selected by an independent panel of judges from across the region with varying executive management and entrepreneurial backgrounds.

    The Business of the Year award finalists were recognized and the winner in each category was announced during a formal awards dinner on December 8, 2015 at the ArtsQuest center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, PA.

    About Netizen: Netizen Corporation is an Allentown-based, VA-Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business providing innovative IT solutions such as application security, software engineering, data management, and cyber security for a variety of commercial and government customers. Industries we serve include health care, defense & intelligence, logistics, civilian government, energy/utilities, and finance. Learn more at http://www.NetizenCorp.com or call 1-800-450-1773.

    #####

  • Lehigh Valley company enlisted for power-grid cybersecurity project

    An Upper Macungie Township cybersecurity company has been chosen to advise researchers at Lehigh University, other colleges and collaborators on a large-scale federal project to thwart cyberattacks on the nation’s energy grid.

    Netizen Corp., which provides software and cybersecurity guidance for government and business, is part of a team including Lehigh that is involved in a $12.2 million U.S. Department of Energy project designed to protect the energy infrastructure.

    Read full article on The Morning Call…

  • NETIZEN SUPPORTING $12.2M FEDERAL PROGRAM TO ENHANCE ENERGY GRID CYBER SECURITY

    NETIZEN SUPPORTING $12.2M FEDERAL PROGRAM TO ENHANCE ENERGY GRID CYBER SECURITY

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 16, 2015 

    NETIZEN CORPORATION SUPPORTING $12.2M FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR ENHANCING ENERGY GRID CYBER SECURITY AS INDUSTRY ADVISOR

    Allentown, PA: Netizen Corporation, a leading Pennsylvania-based provider of software and cyber security solutions for government and commercial markets, is part of a team of multiple universities, including the University of Arkansas, Lehigh University, Carnegie Mellon University and Florida International University, piloting a groundbreaking $12.2M Department of Energy (DOE) program, Secure Evolvable Energy Delivery Systems (SEEDS), established to support research into the prevention of crippling cyber attacks on our nation’s energy infrastructure.

    Netizen will be providing expertise and commercialization options for innovative research conducted on the identification and remediation of vulnerabilities across the country’s energy grid. In doing so, Netizen will be at the absolute forefront of the market for cutting-edge technologies designed to protect distributed networks of sensor-based systems, such as for “Internet of Things” devices.

    “We are excited to have been chosen to partner with these prestigious institutions in the development and deployment of a new generation of algorithms, devices and systems designed to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Michael Hawkins, Netizen’s President and CEO. “As a recognized expert in this field, having provided consultation and other services in related areas to federal agencies such as the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security as well as commercial customers, we shall continue to lead the way in engineering cybersecurity solutions of the future,” he added.

    The U.S. energy grid consists of a large, complex network of generating stations, pipelines, and transmission lines supplying electrical and other utility services to millions of homes, businesses and other users throughout the country. Objectives of the SEEDS program include developing solutions for everything from the protection of grid controls to the security testing of components essential to energy generation and distribution.

    About Netizen: Netizen Corporation is an Allentown-based, VA-Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business providing innovative solutions such as application security, software engineering, data management, and cyber security for a variety of commercial and government customers. Industries we serve include health care, defense & intelligence, utilities, civilian government, insurance, and finance. Learn more at http://www.NetizenCorp.com or call 1-800-450-1773.

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  • Netizen Corporation Recognized as Lehigh Valley Emerging Business of the Year Finalist

    Netizen Corporation Recognized as Lehigh Valley Emerging Business of the Year Finalist

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

    CONTACT: Michael W. Hawkins, CEO, 1-800-450-1773

    Netizen Corporation Recognized as Lehigh Valley Emerging Business of the Year Finalist

    ALLENTOWN, PA: Netizen Corporation, a trusted provider of software and cyber security solutions, has been named a finalist in the Emerging Business category of the 2015 Lehigh Valley Business of the Year awards program. The awards program, produced by Lehigh Valley Business, the Greater Lehigh Valley’s premier business news publication, is presented by Highmark Blue Shield and sponsored by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Peerless Business Advisors, ArtsQuest, Equinox and the John Yurconic Agency.

    The Business of the Year awards program celebrates the region’s most dynamic businesses and business leaders who share a commitment to professional excellence, business growth and the community. A select group of finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges in six categories:  Business of the Year (1-35 Employees), Business of the Year (36-100 Employees), Business of the Year (101+ Employees), Emerging Business of the Year, Corporate Citizen of the Year and Executive of the Year.

    “We are proud to have been selected for this prestigious honor that further distinguishes us in the Lehigh Valley area. Our expert team, innovative solutions, and dedication to White Glove customer service in the Cyber Security industry continues to propel our rapid growth and expansion both regionally and across the country,” said Max Harris, Netizen’s Chief of Business Development.

    The Business of the Year award finalists will be recognized and the winner in each category will be announced during a formal awards dinner on December 8, 2015 at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, PA.

    About Netizen Corporation:
    Netizen Corporation is an Allentown-based, Veteran-owned company providing software and cyber security solutions for government and commercial organizations across the country. Clients of all sizes across multiple industries trust Netizen to securely develop, integrate and safeguard their mission critical systems. Routine collaboration with academic researchers from renowned institutions, such as Lehigh University and Carnegie Mellon University, enables Netizen to provide the most cutting-edge and effective solutions for the prevention and investigation of data breaches and cybercrime. Learn more at http://www.NetizenCorp.com or call 1-800-450-1773.

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  • ALLENTOWN-BASED NETIZEN CORPORATION AWARDED $514,000 CONTRACT BY DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY FOR IT SUPPORT

    ALLENTOWN-BASED NETIZEN CORPORATION AWARDED $514,000 CONTRACT BY DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY FOR IT SUPPORT

    JULY 15, 2015

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    VETERAN-OWNED CYBER SECURITY FIRM NETIZEN CORPORATION AWARDED $514,000 DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY CONTRACT

    Allentown, Pennsylvania: Netizen Corporation, a leading Pennsylvania-based provider of secure software engineering, data management, and cyber security solutions for government and commercial customers, was awarded a $514,000 contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for IT Support on June 30th.

    “This contract award further demonstrates the reputation for professionalism, trust, and attention-to-detail that Netizen has earned serving customers across multiple industries.” said Max Harris, Netizen’s Chief of Business Development and a veteran of the U.S. Army. “We look forward to providing a superior level of innovation and service to this newest Federal Government customer that is befitting of our nation’s Warfighters and the sacrifices they make daily around the globe.”

    He added that the Defense Logistics Agency provides supplies and services to America’s military forces worldwide and this 26-month contract will be performed in the Puget Sound region of Washington.

    “We are proud to have Netizen’s renowned White Glove Service® supporting our country’s armed forces in such a way as to directly enhance their capabilities in the most cost effective, secure, and efficient manner possible,” said Michael W. Hawkins, Netizen’s Chief Executive Officer and also a U.S. Army veteran himself.

    Under this contract Netizen will supply an array of IT solutions including application support, network enhancement and administration, systems integration, information security, and telecommunications support for hundreds of agency personnel in the region.

    Reference: FBO Public Award Notice (https://goo.gl/ao6MMd)

    About Us: Netizen Corporation is an Allentown-based, VA-Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business providing innovative IT solutions such as secure software engineering, data management, and cyber security for a variety of commercial and government customers. Industry expertise includes health care, defense & intelligence, logistics, manufacturing, civilian government, public safety, ecommerce, and finance/insurance. Learn more at http://www.NetizenCorp.com or call 1-800-450-1773.

    Netizen Corporation Points of Contact:

    Michael W. Hawkins                                   Max Harris

    Chief Executive Officer                               Chief Business Development Officer

    1-800-450-1773 x701                                 1-800-450-1773 x704

    MHawkins@NetizenCorp.com                    MHarris@NetizenCorp.com

    ######

  • Netizen Cyber Threat Intelligence – July 8th, 2015

    Welcome to the Netizen IT Threat Intelligence Newsletter.  A complimentary service of Netizen Corporation, intended to help protect your business from the ever growing and ever changing threat of cyber attacks.

     ZERO DAY VULNERABILITY ALERT 

    Microsoft Office – OLE Packager Allows Code Execution In All Office Versions, With Macros Disabled And High Security Templates Applied

    “OLE Packager is a feature introduced in Windows 3.1, which ran “up to” Windows XP. It is still present in every version of Microsoft Office, on every Windows OS. It allows you to embed any file into Office documents.  It is also very dangerous and there is no way to disable it.”

    July 2nd, 2015 – Seclist.org

    Hacking Team Hacked, Attackers Claim 400GB In Dumped Data

    ” Specializing in surveillance technology, Hacking Team is now learning how it feels to have their internal matters exposed to the world.”

    Bug in Android ADB Backup System Can Allow Injection of Malicious Apps

    “There’s a severe vulnerability in the way that all versions of Android handle the restoration of backups that can allow an attacker to inject a malicious APK file into the backup archive.”

    July 9th, 2015 – ThreatPost.com

    Harvard Reveals It Had An IT Breach In June Impacting 8 Colleges And Administrations

    “Harvard University on Wednesday announced that on June 19, it discovered a breach in the IT systems of its Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Central Administration, currently impacting eight different schools and administrative organizations at the university.”

    July 2nd, 2015 – TechCrunch.com

    In Other News:
    Orlando Health, Cuesta College, Firekeepers Casino Acknowledge Data Breaches – Esecurityplanet.com, 7/8/2015
    Card Breach At Trump Hotel Properties – KrebsOnSecurity.com, 7/2/2015

    Now Is The Time To Be Proactive In Protecting Your Business.  We Can Help:

    Netizen Corporation, with years of security expertise, can provide your business with the understanding and preparation needed to most effectively protect its valuable information. We implement dynamic and flexible solutions, establishing a proactive defense against security breaches from the human element to the cloud.  We will help safeguard  your valuable information.

  • Netizen Cyber Threat Intelligence – June 24, 2015

    Welcome to the Netizen IT Threat Intelligence Newsletter.  A complimentary service of Netizen Corporation, intended to help protect your business from the ever growing and ever changing threat of cyber attacks.

     ZERO DAY VULNERABILITY ALERT 

    HP Drops The Hammer On Unpatched Internet Explorer 11’s Zero Day Vulnerability

    ” Last year HP’s highly regarded Zero Day Initiative group found a bug in Internet Explorer 11 and reported it to Microsoft.  Microsoft refuses to fix a known flaw in Internet Explorer 11, and so HP is raising the stakes by publishing proof-of-concept code that could be used to attack the weakness.”

     

     

    600 Million Samsung Galaxy Phones Exposed To Hackers

    “Every Samsung Galaxy device — from the S3 to the latest S6 — has a significant flaw that lets in hackers.  The vulnerability lives in the phones’ keyboard software, which can’t be deleted. The flaw potentially allows hackers to spy on anyone using a Samsung Galaxy phone.”
    June 17th, 2015 – CNN.com

     

    U.S. Data Hack May Be 4 Times Larger Than The Government Originally Said  

    “The U.S. Office of Personnel Management still says the hack could affect 4.2 million Americans.  The FBI director told lawmakers the actual number could be 18 million Americans”

    June 23rd, 2015 – CNN.com
     

    In Other News:
    Healthcare Cyber Security Primer Outlines Defensive Strategies – FierceHealthIT.com, 6/22/2015
    Cybersecurity Firm LastPass Hacked; User Data Stolen – Time, 6/16/2015
    Hacker Can Send Fatal Dose To Hospital Drug Pumps – Wired, 6/8/2015
     

    Now Is The Time To Be Proactive In Protecting Your Business.  We Can Help:

    Netizen Corporation, with years of security expertise, can provide your business with the understanding and preparation needed to most effectively protect its valuable information. We implement dynamic and flexible solutions, establishing a proactive defense against security breaches from the human element to the cloud.  We will help safeguard  your valuable information.

  • Netizen Cyber Threat Intelligence – June 10, 2015

     

     

    Welcome to the Netizen IT Threat Intelligence Newsletter.  A complimentary service of Netizen Corporation, intended to help protect your business from the ever growing and ever changing threat of cyber attacks.

    Massive Data Breach Puts 4 Million Federal Employees’ Records At Risk

    “(Office of Personnel Management) says people’s names, social security numbers, dates and places of birth, and current and former addresses were hacked.”
    June 4th, 2015 – NPR.org

    Featured Image -- 712

    FBI: Hacker claimed to have taken over flight’s engine controls

    “He stated that he thereby caused one of the airplane engines to climb resulting in a lateral or sideways movement of the plane during one of these flights”

    May 18th, 2015 – CNN.com

    In Other News:

    US Healthworks Suffers Data Breach Via Unencrypted Laptop – Forbes, 6/1/2015
    Heartland Payment Systems Suffers Data Breach – Forbes, 5/31/2015
    Up to 1.1 Million Customers Could be Affected in Data Breach at Insurer CareFirst – New York Times, 5/20/2015

    Now Is The Time To Be Proactive In Protecting Your Business.  We Can Help:

    Netizen Corporation, with its years of security expertise, provides organizations with the understanding and solutions necessary to best protect valuable information, preventing security breaches with baked in solutions implemented at all stages, from the “human element” to data encryption and cloud storage.    We will help safeguard your valuable information.