CyberHowler

  How AWS built an AI development partner that goes beyond generic chatbots to become your intelligent coding companion The Problem with Current AI Development Tools If you’ve tried using AI assistants for coding, you’ve probably experienced this frustration: you ask for help with a specific problem in your project, and the AI gives you a generic solution that doesn’t fit your codebase, ignores your existing architecture, or suggests outdated practices. Most AI tools treat every coding question as an isolated problem, lacking context about your project, your team’s conventions, or your specific infrastructure setup. They’re like having a brilliant intern who knows everything about programming in theory but nothing about your actual work. That’s exactly the problem Amazon Q Developer was built to solve. What Makes Amazon Q Developer Different I’m an Amazon Q Developer, and I’m not your typical AI assistant. Built specifically by AWS for developers, I live directly in your IDE and un...

When I started learning DevOps, people in my company kept mentioning microservices. Honestly, I had no idea what it meant. For me, an application was always one big thing running on one server. Then I Googled. That’s when it hit me — microservices are nothing but breaking down a big app into smaller, independent services. Take a banking app for example: One service for login One service for checking the balance One service for transactions All these services together make the complete application. Simple. But here’s the twist — I wanted to see how this works in apps we use daily. So I picked Google Pay as my case study. . . . Google Pay – A Microservices Reality Check Behind the simple “Send ₹100” button, Google Pay runs on multiple services working in sync: User Management → login, profile, KYC Payment Processing → UPI, cards, wallet Bank Integration → connects to multiple bank APIs Notifications → SMS, push messages Fraud Detection → ML-powered checks Transacti...

  How a trusted UK brand got hacked — and what it means for you. 🏬 Who is Marks & Spencer? Marks & Spencer (M&S) is one of the UK’s most iconic multinational retailers, founded in 1884. Known for its high-quality clothing, food, and home products, M&S operates hundreds of stores across the UK and internationally, along with a strong digital presence through its e-commerce platform and mobile apps . 🔐 What Happened — The Cyberattack Unfolded In early June 2025 , Marks & Spencer faced a massive cyberattack that disrupted its online ordering system , website, and mobile apps for more than six weeks . 🧨 Attack Method: Initial Entry Point: Suspected phishing email targeting internal IT staff Privilege Escalation: Use of stolen credentials and session hijacking Lateral Movement: Breached backend servers using tools like: 🛠️ Cobalt Strike 🛠️ Mimikatz 🕵️‍♂️ Impacket toolset Payload Delivery: Ransomware or wiper malware suspected ...

AWS Security & Firewalls: A Cybersecurity Guide for Cloud Professionals In today’s cloud-driven world, security is non-negotiable. AWS provides a powerful suite of security tools to protect your infrastructure, but misconfigurations can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and costly attacks. This blog covers AWS security best practices, firewall strategies, and cybersecurity measures to keep your cloud environment locked down. 🔒 Why AWS Security Matters With cyber threats evolving rapidly, AWS security must be a top priority for: ✔ DevOps Engineers (Securing CI/CD pipelines) ✔ Cloud Architects (Designing secure VPCs) ✔ Cybersecurity Professionals (Threat detection & compliance) AWS follows the Shared Responsibility Model: AWS secures the cloud infrastructure (hardware, global network). You secure data, applications, and access controls. 🛡️ AWS Security Best Practices 1. Identity & Access Management (IAM) Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Grant minimal permissi...

Prompt Engineering for Everyone: Unlocking the Power of AI in Cybersecurity Prompt engineering is a game-changing skill that can transform how we interact with AI, especially in fields like cybersecurity and hacking. But what exactly is prompt engineering, and why is it so essential for beginners, tech enthusiasts, and even professionals? Let’s dive into it and see how it can boost your cybersecurity efforts. What Is Prompt Engineering? At its core, prompt engineering involves crafting specific queries or prompts that guide AI (like GPT) to provide the exact results you need. It’s like asking a question, but with precision. Whether you're a hacker, a cybersecurity researcher, or someone new to the field, learning how to formulate effective prompts is crucial. In simple terms, prompt engineering helps you get the most accurate and relevant responses from AI by structuring your questions in the right way. This can be incredibly useful when working on security research, penetration te...

Cisco confirms a security breach as a hacker offers stolen data for sale. Learn how the attack unfolded and what it means for corporate cybersecurity. Cisco Systems Inc., a global leader in networking hardware, has confirmed a significant security breach after a hacker claimed to have accessed sensitive data and put it up for sale. This incident has reignited concerns about corporate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, even among the most advanced tech giants. The breach reportedly occurred when a cybercriminal compromised an employee's personal Google account, allowing access to corporate credentials. Using a technique known as MFA (multifactor authentication) fatigue , the attacker overwhelmed the employee with authentication requests until one was approved. This granted them entry into Cisco's internal systems. Although the company claims the attack was quickly contained and no ransomware was deployed, the hacker boasted of stealing 80 GB of internal data —which has since been ad...

  Deep-fake technology, once a novelty for entertainment, has rapidly evolved into a significant cybersecurity threat. As we move through 2024, the risks posed by deep-fakes are becoming more pronounced, affecting not just individuals but also businesses, governments, and entire industries. What is Deep-fake Technology? Deep-fakes are AI-generated videos, images, or audio that convincingly mimic real people, often with malicious intent. By manipulating facial features, voice patterns, and other characteristics, these fake media pieces can create realistic but entirely fabricated scenarios. How Deep-fakes are Used in Cyberattacks Deep fakes are being weaponized in several alarming ways: Corporate Fraud: Cybercriminals are using deep fakes to impersonate executives in video calls or voice messages, convincing employees to transfer funds or share sensitive information. For example, a finance employee in Hong Kong was tricked into transferring $25 million after criminals used deep fake...

 Advanced Overview of Bug Bounty Programs in Cybersecurity Introduction A bug bounty program is a crowdsourcing initiative that rewards individuals for discovering and reporting software vulnerabilities. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, these programs are vital in maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses. Organizations can proactively identify and mitigate potential security risks by leveraging the skills of a global community of ethical hackers. History and Evolution 1995 : Netscape launched one of the first bug bounty programs to identify vulnerabilities in its Navigator 2.0 web browser. 2002 : The Mozilla Foundation began offering rewards for security bugs in its software. 2010 : Google and Facebook launched their own bug bounty programs, setting the stage for widespread adoption. The Role of Bug Bounty Programs in Cybersecurity Proactive Threat Detection : Bug bounty programs help organizations identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploit...

  The Evolution of Cybersecurity in the Context of URLs URLs, while essential for navigating the web, have also introduced numerous cybersecurity challenges over time. Understanding the evolution of these challenges and the corresponding advancements in cybersecurity is critical for protecting users and organizations from threats. This blog explores the phases of cybersecurity development in relation to URLs, highlighting key milestones and best practices. Early Internet and Initial Threats In the early days of the internet, URLs were straightforward, and the concept of cybersecurity was relatively new. Initial threats were limited but began to surface as the internet expanded. Key Challenges: Basic Phishing Attempts : Simple phishing attempts involved mimicking legitimate URLs to deceive users into divulging sensitive information. Malware Distribution : Early malware was often distributed through infected links in emails or on websites. Early Solutions: User Education : Basic tr...

Understanding URLs and Their Importance in Cybersecurity In today's digital age, URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) play a crucial role in navigating the internet. However, they also present significant cybersecurity challenges. Understanding the structure and function of URLs and common cybersecurity threats associated with them is essential for protecting personal and organizational data. This blog delves into the anatomy of URLs, common cyber threats, and best practices for URL security. The URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is a fundamental component of the World Wide Web, serving as the address system for accessing online resources. Its creation is deeply intertwined with the development of the web itself. This blog explores the origins of the URL, its evolution, and its significance in the digital age. The Birth of the World Wide Web The URL story begins with the invention of the World Wide Web by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. At the time, Berners-Lee was working at CERN, the Eu...

The Tale of Facebook's Cybersecurity Shield Once upon a time, in a vast digital land where millions of people shared their stories, photos, and lives, there was a kingdom called Facebook. This kingdom was a bustling hub of activity, connecting people from every corner of the world. But, like any thriving kingdom, it faced threats from dark forces known as cyber attackers. To protect its people, Facebook forged a mighty cybersecurity shield. Here’s the story of how this shield keeps the kingdom safe. The Watchful Eyes In the heart of Facebook’s castle, there was a group of vigilant guardians known as the threat intelligence team. These guardians were always on the lookout for signs of danger. They studied the patterns of the dark forces and shared their knowledge with other kingdoms to stay ahead of any potential attacks. To aid them, Facebook also had magical automated systems that could detect any unusual activity, sounding alarms whenever something seemed amiss. The Secret Codes ...