Consent-O-Matic is an open-source extension that was built and maintained by Aarhus University in Denmark. While it offers protection against violators of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it also works well globally. Browsing the internet and being constantly bombarded by requests for cookies can get frustrating. There are some reasons why you might want to use cookies and deal with pop-ups. You may want targeted ads and to get better suggestions for your streaming options. You may also not want to type in passwords and usernames every time you visit a website. While cookies can be good, some people get bothered by them. Many times, they are meant to store data from a user's browser. Sites want to track users to serve them better. But there are plenty of sites that will do negative things, such as tracking users' data and potentially leaking it to third parties. There's a lot of malicious intent and security vulnerabilities that can come from sharing the wrong kinds of cookies. That's why I use Consent-O-Matic, a browser extension that eliminates me having to deal with any cookie pop-ups that I don't want to. https://www.makeuseof.com/cookie-pop-up-blocker-browser-extension/

Tap-to-pay credit cards and digital wallets have made everyday purchases faster and more convenient, but cybersecurity experts warn that criminals are also exploiting the technology through a rapidly growing scam known as “ghost tapping.” Ghost tapping happens when criminals use a mobile device or specialized equipment to steal credit card information simply by getting close to a victim. The scam targets near-field communication (NFC) technology found in contactless credit cards and phone wallets. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/01/29/cybersecurity-experts-warn-of-rising-ghost-tapping-scam-targeting-credit-cards-digital-wallets/

I learn from Luke Ahmed, Thor Pedersen, Miss May Brooks-Kempler and others that whether you pass or fail the CISSP, you are always one step closer into knowing the basis of cybersecurity. I will have to add that I am also learning from the mistakes of others too.

A $6,000 malware toolkit known as “Stanley” is being sold on Russian cybercrime forums, offering a malicious Chrome extension that spoofs entire websites while preserving the real domain in the browser’s address bar, complete with a promise that it will pass Chrome Web Store review. Discovered by Varonis researchers in mid-January 2026, Stanley is part of a growing trend in commercialized browser malware. The toolkit was first advertised on January 12 by a seller using the alias “Стэнли,” who promoted it with demo videos targeting cryptocurrency platforms like Binance and Coinbase. Varonis reported the campaign to Google and the extension's hosting provider on January 21; the command-and-control (C2) infrastructure was taken offline the next day, but the extension remains live in the Chrome Web Store. https://cyberinsider.com/new-6000-malware-toolkit-stanley-delivers-page-spoofing-via-chrome-web-store/

A new community-driven, European-headquartered alternative to the US-led Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program has been welcome by security experts. The open source Global Cybersecurity Vulnerability Enumeration (GCVE) initiative brings together vulnerability information from over 25 public sources. These include GCVE Numbering Authorities (GNAs), which are able to allocate and publish vulnerability identifiers independently. “By enabling GNAs and other publishers to contribute data independently, while still benefiting from global correlation, GCVE aims to reduce single points of failure and foster innovation in vulnerability management,” the GCVE said. “The goal of db.gcve.eu is to provide the community with a single, unified, and openly accessible reference point for vulnerability intelligence, enabling defenders, researchers, CSIRTs, vendors, and open-source projects to more easily track, correlate, and analyze security advisories across ecosystems.” https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/global-cybersecurity-vulnerability/