# Tayven | Cyber Security

> Cyber Security, Without the Noise


## Posts

- [How to Create Strong Passwords Without Writing Them Down](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-create-strong-passwords/): Passwords are something most of us use every day, yet they remain one of the weakest parts of our online security. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I use the same password everywhere because it’s easier to remember.” That approach is understandable. Most people have dozens of online accounts and were never given a practical way to manage them. The good news is that you don’t need to memorise a collection of complicated passwords or cover your desk in sticky notes. Passphrases, password managers and multi-factor authentication can make your accounts safer without making your life […]
- [Why Does My Text Message Say "Unverified"? Australia's New SMS Scam Protection Explained](https://tayvensec.com/unverified-text-message-australia/): You open your phone and see a text message from a company you’ve dealt with before. But instead of seeing their name at the top of the conversation, you see a label you’ve never noticed before: Unverified Is it a scam? Should you delete it immediately? Australia has introduced new protections designed to make text message impersonation scams harder to pull off. As part of these changes, you may start seeing messages marked as**”Unverified.”** Understanding what that label means could help you avoid becoming the next victim of a scam. Why Are More Australians Being Targeted by Text Scams? Text messages […]
- [Why Post‑Quantum Cryptography Matters Right Now](https://tayvensec.com/why-post-quantum-cryptography-matters-right-now/): A short briefing for leaders on why post‑quantum cryptography matters now. Quantum computing still sounds like science fiction to many people. But the reason to prepare isn’t that quantum computers will break the internet tomorrow. It’s that some of the cryptography organisations rely on today will eventually need replacing. The Real Problem The main concern is asymmetric cryptography. RSA, elliptic-curve cryptography and Diffie–Hellman underpin HTTPS, VPNs, certificates, digital signatures and key exchange. They form much of the trust layer supporting the modern internet. Modern symmetric encryption is more resilient. AES‑256, for example, is commonly recommended as part of quantum-readiness planning. Why […]
- [Why Continuous Study Shapes Your Career and Life: A Personal Journey Through IT, Burnout, and Cyber Security](https://tayvensec.com/why-you-should-keep-studying-throughout-your-career-and-life/): I’ve pretty much been studying my whole life. From school to TAFE to uni, learning has always been part of my life. But there was one stretch, about three years after finishing uni, where I completely burnt out and stopped studying IT. That break ended up teaching me more about the importance of continuous study than any course ever could. Early Momentum: How Continuous Study Opens Doors When I finished Year 12, I went straight into TAFE, then directly into uni. That decision paid off big time. The TAFE diploma gave me real networking and technical skills that translated perfectly into […]
- [How to Think About the CIA Triad During Real Security Work](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-think-about-the-cia-triad/): Most people learn the CIA Triad as a textbook definition: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability. Three pillars. Three bullet points. Three exam terms. But the triad isn’t just something you memorise, it’s something you use. It’s a mental model you carry with you while you investigate alerts, respond to incidents, assess risks, and explain security issues to non‑technical people. Once you start thinking in CIA terms, security work becomes clearer, faster, and more structured. This article isn’t about what the CIA Triad is. It’s about how to think with it. The CIA Triad as a Practical Lens Whenever you’re dealing with a security […]
- [Incident Response Series Round‑Up: IRP, PIR, Tabletop Exercises & NIST CSF 2.0](https://tayvensec.com/incident-response-series-round-up/): My interest in incident response started years ago during my first university course on the subject. It was the first time I’d seen how structured, disciplined, and genuinely powerful a well‑designed Incident Response Plan could be. That early exposure stayed with me. Later, when I began studying NIST CSF 2.0, I noticed something interesting: the new framework reorganised many of the familiar IRP elements, but there wasn’t much guidance on how the old structure translated into the new one. That gap became the starting point for this series. The first article explores exactly that transition: Once I mapped the old IRP […]
- [What Seven Months of Publishing Taught Me About Security Communication](https://tayvensec.com/writing-every-week-made-me-a-better-writer/): After seven months of publishing consistently, I’ve learned more about communication than I did during years of simply doing the work. Writing forces clarity. You can work effectively while only partially understanding a concept. You cannot explain something clearly to someone else without understanding it properly yourself. The gap between knowing and explaining is where much of the learning happens. The Power of Showing Up Every Week The biggest turning point was committing to publish every week. Even on the weeks when motivation was low, I wrote something and hit publish. Looking back, that consistency mattered far more than any individual […]
- [How to Use Your IRP During an Incident (Aligned to NIST CSF 2.0)](https://tayvensec.com/use-incident-response-plan-during-live-incident/): My role as an analyst is managing incidents end‑to‑end, escalating when needed, and often acting as the point of coordination during active events. So I wanted to walk through how an Incident Response Plan is actually used during a live incident, the practical, real‑time steps that matter when you’re the one guiding the response. Most organisations have an IRP, but very few people ever learn how to operate it under pressure. When an alert fires, when a credential is compromised, when a system behaves strangely, you don’t have time to study the document. You need to run it. This guide explains […]
- [“Hi Dad, I Dropped My Phone”: How to Spot This Scam And What To Do If You Get One](https://tayvensec.com/hi-mum-hi-dad-scam-australia/): A late‑night buzz from an unknown number. A message that sounds exactly like your child. A believable accident, a broken phone, a new SIM card arriving at the exact moment you’re tired, distracted, and least likely to double‑check anything. That’s why the “Hi Mum / Hi Dad” scam works. It doesn’t rely on hacking. It relies on timing, psychology, and catching you in the one moment where emotion overrides logic. This guide shows you how to recognise the scam instantly, what to do, and what steps to take if you’ve already responded. If you want the complete real‑world message sequence behind […]
- [The Complete Guide to NIST CSF 2.0 Mappings: Functions, Categories & Outcomes (And How to Use Them)](https://tayvensec.com/nist-csf-2-0-functions-categories-outcomes-guide/): Series Introduction Every IRP, PIR, playbook, and tabletop in this series maps back to NIST CSF 2.0. If you want your security work to look mature, consistent, and defensible, you can’t just say “we follow NIST CSF 2.0.” You need to understand how Functions, Categories, and Outcomes actually fit together and how to use those mappings in real work. This is the master reference that explains that structure and shows you how to apply it. Articles in the series: The Three-Layer Pyramid: Functions, Categories, Outcomes NIST CSF 2.0 is built like a three‑layer pyramid. Each layer becomes more specific as you […]
- [Known Exploited Vulnerabilities + End‑of‑Life Tracking Tools](https://tayvensec.com/two-free-security-tools-kev-eol-tracker/): One of the Github projects I started this year was a Known Exploited Vulnerabilities and End‑of‑Life tracking tools, a small engine that pulled CISA KEV entries and vendor EOL timelines, and highlighted assets that were both vulnerable and unsupported. KEV tells you what’s being exploited. EOL tells you what can’t be patched. Putting them together gives you a real‑world risk picture that most organisations never see. The KEV Tracker and EOL Tracker are two companion tools built alongside the Patch Tuesday Tracker as part of the TayvenSec open-source patch management suite. The KEV Tracker runs daily and monitors the CISA Known […]
- [ATO Tax Scams: How to Spot One and What to Look Out For](https://tayvensec.com/ato-tax-scams-how-to-spot-one/): Tax season is when Australians are most vulnerable to scams, and scammers know it. Every year, thousands of people receive fake ATO and myGov messages designed to steal refunds, personal information, or access to accounts. If you work, lodge, or claim anything through myGov, these scams are aimed directly at you. I write a lot about everyday cyber security, and ATO impersonation scams are one of the most common real‑world threats people bring to me. The good news? Once you know the red flags, these scams become much easier to spot. This guide breaks down the most common ATO tax scams, […]
- [Patch Management Automation Tool](https://tayvensec.com/patch-tuesday-tracker-free-automated-patch-intelligence/): Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with building small automation tools to support my Patch Management Series. One of those experiments was a patch ingestion and normalisation tool, a lightweight script designed to pull vendor advisories, clean the data, and present it in a consistent format for analysis. It worked surprisingly well. The Patch Tuesday Tracker is an open-source security patch monitoring tool built to support the TayvenSec Patch Management Series. It runs daily via GitHub Actions and automatically collects security patch data across nine major platforms including Windows, Apple, Android, Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian, Chrome OS, Palo Alto […]
- [How to Create a Participant Handout for a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise](https://tayvensec.com/cybersecurity-tabletop-participant-handout/): A participant handout sets the tone for the entire exercise. It gives everyone the same starting point, removes uncertainty, and helps people focus on the scenario rather than trying to remember process details. This one is designed to be read in under two minutes, just enough to orient the room without overwhelming it.
- [How to Write an After Action Report (AAR) for Cyber Tabletop Exercises](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-write-an-after-action-report-cyber-tabletop/): An After‑Action Report is where a tabletop exercise turns into something real. It’s the moment where the conversation becomes clarity, and clarity becomes improvement. This AAR captures not just what happened in the scenario, but how the team thought, reacted, hesitated, and learned, because that’s where the real value sits.
- [How to Run a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise: Facilitator Script with Discussion Prompts](https://tayvensec.com/cybersecurity-tabletop-facilitator-script/): A good tabletop lives or dies on facilitation. A script doesn’t remove spontaneity, it creates psychological safety. It gives the facilitator a structure to fall back on, keeps the room aligned, and ensures the exercise stays focused on process rather than personalities. This script is written so that even a first‑time facilitator can run the scenario confidently while still leaving space for natural discussion and team dynamics.
- [How to Run a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise: A Complete Example Scenario and Facilitation Guide](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-run-cybersecurity-tabletop-exercise/): Whenever I run a tabletop exercise, the first thing I do is set the tone for the room. I tell everyone that this is not a test and it’s not about catching anyone out. It’s a safe space to walk through our policies, procedures, and decision‑making as a team. The goal is to explore how we work, not judge how anyone performs.
- [How to Write a Post-Incident Review (PIR) Report (With Real-World Example)](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-write-a-post-incident-review-pir-report/): A PIR isn’t just paperwork. It’s where the real learning happens. It’s the document that turns an incident into improvement. To show you what a mature, well‑structured PIR looks like in practice, here’s a full example based on a realistic MFA fatigue and OAuth compromise scenario.
- [How to Remove Old Wi‑Fi Networks (and Why Your Devices Keep Reconnecting to Them)](https://tayvensec.com/remove-old-wifi-networks-iphone-android-windows-mac/): Tayven Tech – Practical Device Tips Old Wi‑Fi networks cause all kinds of annoying problems: your phone auto‑joins a weak café hotspot, your laptop clings to a neighbour’s guest network, or your Mac keeps trying to connect to a router you replaced years ago. The fix is simple, remove the old networks. But to stop the behaviour for good, it helps to understand why devices reconnect in the first place. This guide gives you both: a clear explanation and step‑by‑step removal instructions for iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac. Why Devices Reconnect to Old Wi‑Fi Networks Devices aren’t being stubborn, they’re following […]
- [How I Got Into Cyber, Got Uni for Free, and Passed the SC‑900](https://tayvensec.com/tayven-cyber-security-magazine-issue-1/): Tayven Cyber Security Edition #1: The Education Arc Inside: Uni for Free, Getting Into Cyber, Passing the SC‑900, and the HTB Web Exploitation Pathway You step into the digital frontier, not a void, but a living expanse of systems, signals, and unseen architecture. The paths ahead aren’t labeled; they shift and shimmer with possibility. Cloud, IT, Cyber… each one demands something different from you. You study with intention, not hesitation. Every concept you grasp sharpens your direction. Every late night, every lab, every failure that forces you to try again, they’re not signs of doubt, they’re proof of momentum. You’re not […]
- [How I Passed the SC-900 on My First Attempt (Using 4 Free Tools + 2 Paid)](https://tayvensec.com/how-i-passed-the-sc-900-on-my-first-attempt/): I’ve been working with Microsoft systems for years, but this year I finally decided to take the Microsoft certification pathway seriously. Everywhere I looked, job ads, cyber roles, cloud positions, Microsoft certifications were becoming a baseline expectation. They’re affordable, the learning material is free, and they map directly to real‑world work. It just made sense to commit and start building the credentials that match the skills I already use every day. I started with the Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals SC‑900 because it’s the perfect entry point: foundational, approachable, and a great way to get comfortable with Microsoft’s exam […]
- [June 2026 SECURITY PATCH ROUNDUP – Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux](https://tayvensec.com/june-2026-security-patch-roundup/): June’s Patch Tuesday delivers a heavy month across all major platforms, with critical kernel vulnerabilities, remote code execution risks, and multiple privilege‑escalation vectors affecting Windows, Apple, Android, and Ubuntu systems. This month’s updates include several container‑escape paths, Secure Boot certificate changes, and high‑impact vendor component fixes across mobile ecosystems. Below is the full breakdown for June 2026. Windows Updates – June 2026 Windows Server 2025 KB5094125 – OS Build 26100.32995 Release date: 9 June 2026 Key improvements Servicing Stack Update KB5094137 – OS Build 26100.32985 Windows 11 (26H1) KB5095051 – OS Build 28000.2269 Release date: 9 June 2026 Key improvements Servicing […]
- [How to Build an Incident Response Plan: A Complete NIST CSF 2.0 Example](https://tayvensec.com/incident-response-plan-nist-csf-2-0-guide/): This article isn’t just a guide, it’s a complete, modern Incident Response Plan aligned to NIST CSF 2.0. A full, real‑world IRP you can use as a reference, benchmark, or starting point for your own organisation.
- [How to Write a Modern Incident Response Plan (IRP) Using NIST CSF 2.0](https://tayvensec.com/modern-incident-response-plan-nist-csf-2-0/): Most organisations have an IRP. Most discover it doesn’t work the moment they actually need it. Not because the document is wrong, but because it was written for the organisation they used to be, not the one responding to an incident today. Incidents in 2026 are cloud‑distributed, identity‑driven, SaaS‑entangled, and business‑impacting. Modern incident response is no longer a linear technical workflow, it is an organisational capability built on governance, resilience, and continuous improvement. NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 reflects this shift. Instead of treating incident response as an isolated technical lifecycle, CSF 2.0 uses the overarching Govern function to shape how […]
- [The Evolution of Incident Response: Updating the Classic NIST IRP to the 2026 Framework](https://tayvensec.com/evolution-of-incident-response-nist-irp-2026/): For years, cybersecurity teams followed the traditional NIST Incident Response Process: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. This model shaped how organisations built response capabilities and how students learned incident handling. The threat landscape has shifted dramatically, with cloud‑identity attacks defying linear phases, ransomware spreading before containment can begin, and supply‑chain compromises blurring the boundaries between preparation, detection, and response. And organisations now require governance, resilience, and business alignment, not just technical reaction. In 2025, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released Special Publication 800‑61 Revision 3, formally retiring the classic lifecycle and replacing it with a […]
- [How to Safely Clean the Charging Port on Your iPhone](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-safely-clean-the-charging-port-on-your-iphone/): Important Disclaimer: This is practical, real‑world advice. If you’re not comfortable cleaning the port yourself, it’s safer to get it done professionally. If your iPhone cable won’t click in and just bounces, that soft, spongy resistance is almost always pocket lint packed into the port. It builds up slowly until the cable can’t reach the contacts and charging becomes unreliable or stops completely. Here’s the safest, simplest way to clear it. Why you should never use metal tools The inside of your iPhone’s port has delicate pins. Metal tools (paperclips, SIM ejectors, needles) can: Once that happens, you’re looking at a […]
- [Welcome to Tayven Tech - Practical Tech Tips From 15 Years on the Front Line](https://tayvensec.com/tayven-tech-introduction/): Before Tayven Sec existed… before the cyber articles, the patch roundups, and the creator workflow… there was Tayven Tech. Fifteen years ago, I launched my first blog under this name. It was small, rough, and inconsistent but the instinct was already there. I wanted to share the real‑world fixes I’d learned from working in IT every day. I didn’t realise it then, but I was laying the foundation for what this space would eventually become. Now, Tayven Tech is back rebuilt with experience, clarity, and purpose. Why Tayven Tech exists I spent 15 years on the front line of IT: If […]
- [10 Real Blue Team Triage Tools: The Simple Tools That Actually Get Used](https://tayvensec.com/blue-team-triage-toolkit-practical-tools-real-stories/): Continue Reading
- [MAY 2026 SECURITY PATCH ROUNDUP - Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux](https://tayvensec.com/may-2026-security-patch-roundup/): Windows Updates – May 2026 Patch Tuesday Official Microsoft links Priority actions Apple Security Updates – May 2026 Android – May 2026 Security Bulletin Linux – Ubuntu Security Updates Practical Guidance Explore the full Patch Management Series Explore The Patch Management Series New Patch Roundup published every Patch Tuesday.
- [Retro: The Day the Internet Tried to Reboot Me: My Blaster Worm Story (2003)](https://tayvensec.com/blaster-worm-2003-story/): When My PC Suddenly Turned Into a Countdown Timer If you were online in 2003, you probably remember this moment. I was sitting at my computer, Windows XP humming away, dial‑up screeching in the background when suddenly my screen froze and a Windows dialog box popped up: “Windows must now restart because the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly.” And then the countdown started. Sixty seconds. No warning. Just a digital guillotine slowly dropping. I hadn’t clicked or installed anything. I was just connected to the internet. That was the day the Blaster worm arrived. My Life at the Time: […]
- [Privacy Awareness Week 2026: Privacy Is a Skill, Not a Setting](https://tayvensec.com/privacy-awareness-week-2026/): Most people still treat privacy like a checkbox. A toggle. A once‑off task you do when you set up a new phone or download a new app. But in 2026, in a world where AI is woven into every tap, swipe, scroll, and “Allow access” privacy has evolved into something else entirely. It’s no longer a setting buried in a menu. It’s a skill. A daily practice. And that’s exactly why Privacy Awareness Week (4–10 May) matters more than ever. Across Australia, the OAIC, OVIC and IPC NSW are all championing the national theme. Act I: The World Has Changed (Quietly, […]
- [Build Log #2 - Designing for Real People, Not Just Screens](https://tayvensec.com/build-log-2-website-redesign/): Version 1 of the site is officially live, and this week was all about turning a rough layout into something that actually works for real people. Not just on a big desktop monitor, but on the device most visitors will use first: their phone. Accessibility and usability aren’t optional anymore, they’re the baseline so this build log is all about the changes I made to get there. Making the site work everywhere When I first pushed the layout live, it looked great on desktop… and then I opened it on my phone. Instant reality check. The hero image didn’t scale properly, […]
- [“Hi Dad, I Dropped My Phone”: How a Simple Text Stole $3600 And Why This Scam Is Exploding](https://tayvensec.com/hi-dad-phone-scam-text-message/): A Real Incident Response Case This wasn’t a hypothetical scenario or a second‑hand story, it was a real incident I handled during an incident response call. These impersonation scams are not targeted attacks; they’re mass‑sent messages blasted out to thousands of numbers at once, hoping that one or two people respond at the wrong moment. This case became a perfect example of how timing, psychology, and social engineering can override even the strongest security controls and it’s exactly the kind of scenario I’ll be breaking down in future incident response articles. One of his daughters was travelling overseas. Different time zone. […]
- [The Essential 8 Explained Like You’re New to Cyber (But Want to Actually Understand It)](https://tayvensec.com/essential-eight-explained/): If you work in Australia, you’ve probably heard someone mention the ACSC Essential 8 in a meeting, usually right before everyone nods like they understand what’s going on. Spoiler: most people don’t. The Essential 8 is Australia’s baseline cyber security framework, a minimum and a voluntary baseline standard organisations can adopt to meet their cyber security goals. But because cyber loves jargon, the Essential 8 often gets explained in a way that makes normal humans switch off. So let’s fix that. Here’s the Essential 8, explained like you’re new to cyber but actually want to understand what’s going on. The Essential […]
- [The Build Log #1 - How This Project Started](https://tayvensec.com/build-log-1-project-beginnings/): When I first set out to build a website, the plan was simple: create a clean cyber security profile I could link on a résumé. Nothing ambitious. Nothing long‑term. Just a place to put my work. But the moment I started building, the idea stopped behaving like a “portfolio” and started growing into something bigger. I began on GitHub Pages because it felt technical and lightweight. The kind of place a cyber profile should live. But writing there never felt natural. Everything required friction: commits, theme quirks, constant tweaking. I found myself maintaining the site more than actually publishing on it. […]
- [How to Get Into Cyber Security: How I Broke In After 15 Years in IT](https://tayvensec.com/how-to-get-into-cyber-security/): People love to say you can “break into cyber in 90 days.” Others act like you need a decade of networking experience, a CCIE, and a blood oath under a full moon just to be considered. The truth sits somewhere in the middle, and my story lives firmly in the slow, steady, human category. I didn’t get into cyber because I was strategic or ahead of the curve. My career started one afternoon, while I was studying my first IT course at uni, my dad handed me a page he’d ripped out of the newspaper and said, “Thought you might want […]
- [APRIL 2026 SECURITY PATCH ROUNDUP - Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux](https://tayvensec.com/april-2026-security-patch-roundup/): This month’s roundup covers the latest security updates from Microsoft, Apple, Google, and the major Linux distributions. Inside you’ll find the new Windows KB release, Apple’s iOS and macOS security fixes (including the DarkSword patch), Google’s April Android bulletin, and the current security advisories from Ubuntu. The report outlines the key vulnerabilities addressed across each platform, links directly to the official vendor advisories, and highlights the priority actions worth taking for individuals, businesses, and admins. Windows Updates – April 2026 Patch Tuesday Latest cumulative update: KB5083769 OS Builds: 26200.8246 / 26100.8246 Release date: 14 April 2026 Key improvements Official Microsoft links […]
- [Introducing the Patch Management Series](https://tayvensec.com/patch-management-series-introduction/): Every month, the major platforms we rely on release security updates that quietly close the gaps attackers love to exploit. Most people never read the advisories. Most organisations don’t have time to track five different ecosystems. That’s why this series exists. Threat‑intel from early 2026 shows attackers are exploiting critical vulnerabilities twice as often and in a fraction of the time, turning unpatched systems into the fastest path to compromise. That’s why this series exists, a monthly opportunity to break down the biggest risks, highlight the patches that matter, and help you stay ahead of the exploitation curve. What This Series […]
- [4 Ways I Got Uni for Free and Got Paid to Study (Without Being a Genius or Gaming the System)](https://tayvensec.com/free-university-australia-paid-to-study/): Most people enter tech with a HECS debt, a personal loan, or a quiet sense of financial dread. I accidentally did the opposite. Every qualification I’ve earned, TAFE, university, under‑grad and post‑grad ended up costing me almost nothing. Not because I’m a genius. Not because I gamed the system. But because I learned one simple truth: Education is only expensive if you don’t know where the free doors are. Here are the four doors I walked through and how you can walk through them too. 1. The Traineeship: A Fully Paid IT Degree (Plus a Paid Study Day Every Week) This […]
- [Hack The Box Web Exploitation Pathway: 4 Ways I Strengthened My Cybersecurity Toolkit](https://tayvensec.com/hack-the-box-web-exploitation-pathway-review/): If you want to become a stronger defender, learn to think like an attacker. That mindset is what led me to the Hack The Box Web Exploitation Tester Pathway, a hands‑on, challenge‑driven experience that expanded the way I understand, analyse, and secure modern web environments. What began as curiosity quickly became one of the most valuable learning investments I’ve made in my cybersecurity career. This pathway didn’t just build technical capability. It deepened my defensive intuition, sharpened my analytical process, and gave me a clearer view of how vulnerabilities form and how attackers exploit them and insights that now directly strengthen […]
- [The Toll Scam Text Message That Hit Me Inside the Tunnel](https://tayvensec.com/toll-scam-text-message-in-the-tunnel/): The Everyday Cyber Security series is a practical, jargon‑free guide to staying safe online with small, easy habits. There’s a moment in every horror movie where the character realises the threat isn’t outside, it’s already inside the house! My version of that happened in the NorthConnex tunnel. I’m sitting in the passenger seat, enjoying the smooth ride, blue lights glowing, whale mural doing its thing… when suddenly my phone lights up with a toll scam message: “Your NorthConnex toll has not been paid. Please settle immediately.” And all I could think was: “But… I’m still inside the tunnel.” That was the […]
- [How to Build a Vulnerability Management Program](https://tayvensec.com/vulnerability-management-program/): Series: Vulnerability Management This article outlines practical steps for developing a modern vulnerability management program, based on real-world experience, covering free tools, patching, and reporting. Read my previous article in the series: Free Vulnerability Scanning with OpenVAS: Essential Eight. A Real-World Guide A vulnerability scanner alone will not secure your organisation. Effective security requires a structured plan to identify assets, prioritise risks, enhance patching, and demonstrate measurable results. This guide details a practical, cost-effective approach I used to establish a vulnerability management program, including asset discovery and automated reporting. 1. Identify Your Assets Through Stakeholder Conversations Before initiating scans, engage key […]
- [How to Build a Cyber Aware Workplace Culture](https://tayvensec.com/build-cyber-aware-workplace-culture/): How to Build a Cyber Aware Workplace Culture (With Real Examples That Actually Work) Creating a cyber‑aware workplace isn’t about fear, compliance, or forcing everyone through another annual training video. It’s built through people, their habits, their values, and the everyday choices they make without thinking. Real security culture is when people don’t just know what to do… they actually do it. And they do it because it feels normal, expected, and supported. Here’s a practical, human‑centred guide to building that kind of culture, with real examples that actually worked. 1. Start With People, Not Policies Policies matter, but people shape […]
- [Everyday Cyber Security: Your Social Media Privacy Reset](https://tayvensec.com/social-media-privacy-reset/): Social media is part of everyday life, but it also exposes more personal information than most people realise. Scammers, data harvesters, and identity thieves rely on the small details people casually share. A social media privacy reset is a simple way to take back control of your accounts and reduce your risk. It only takes a few minutes and makes a meaningful difference. Everyday Cyber Security is a practical series designed to help you stay safe online without needing technical expertise. Each guide focuses on simple, high-impact habits you can apply in minutes. Why a Privacy Reset Matters Oversharing fuels scams. […]
- [Everyday Cyber Security: Think Before You Click](https://tayvensec.com/think-before-you-click/): Scams aren’t the clumsy, typo-filled emails they used to be, they now look exactly like the messages you trust every day. Today’s cybercriminals use AI-powered tools to create emails, texts, calls, and even fake videos or voice recordings that look and sound real. These scams are polished, personalised, and designed to catch you off guard. In 2024 – 25, Australians reported a cybercrime every six minutes. With scams becoming more convincing, the most powerful defence you have is simple: pause, verify, and protect yourself. This week in Everyday Cyber Security, we’re breaking down how to recognise modern scams, including deepfakes and […]
- [Everyday Cyber Security: Strong Authentication Made Simple](https://tayvensec.com/strong-authentication-made-simple/): Why Strong Authentication Matters Most cyber incidents still begin the same way: someone gets into an account they shouldn’t. Weak passwords, reused credentials, and unsecured devices make it easy for attackers to impersonate you, steal data, or access your workplace systems. Strong authentication isn’t complicated, it’s a set of small, everyday habits that make your accounts dramatically harder to break into. This guide walks you through the essentials. 1. Build Strong, Unique Passphrases Short, complex passwords are outdated. Passphrases are longer, easier to remember, and far more secure. How to create a strong passphrase Choose four or more random words (aim […]
- [Everyday Cyber Security: Protect Your Devices](https://tayvensec.com/everyday-cyber-security-device-protection/): Cyber criminals are always looking for weaknesses in our devices. Software developers and phone manufacturers regularly release free security updates to fix these vulnerabilities. By installing these updates, you close off an easy entry point attackers could use. Updating your devices is one of the quickest and easiest ways to protect yourself online. Why It Matters Security patches: Close known gaps before attackers can exploit them. Performance improvements: Keep your devices running smoothly. Compatibility fixes: Ensure your apps and systems work together. What You Should Do Turn on automatic updates for all your devices – phones, laptops, tablets, and smart tech. […]
- [Everyday Cyber Security: Travel Safety Tips](https://tayvensec.com/travel-cyber-security-tips/): Travel is one of the best ways to reset your mind, but it’s also one of the easiest times to slip up with your digital security. New countries, new networks, new risks. On my recent overseas trip, I treated cybersecurity the same way I treat my passport: non‑negotiable. These are practical, field‑tested steps I used to stay secure while travelling. They’re simple, effective, and perfect for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. 1. Use a VPN on Public Wi‑Fi Public Wi‑Fi is convenient, but it’s also where attackers love to lurk. I used a VPN (Proton VPN, NordVPN etc) to encrypt my traffic and […]
- [Introducing: Everyday Cyber Security](https://tayvensec.com/introducing-everyday-cyber-security/): Simple habits. Strong protection. No jargon. Welcome to Everyday Cyber Security, a new series designed to make online safety feel human, practical, and genuinely doable. Cyber security shouldn’t feel like a specialist sport reserved for experts. It’s part of everyday life now, woven into the way we work, travel, shop, bank, and stay connected. But most people don’t need a lecture on encryption algorithms or threat intelligence feeds. They need clear steps, real examples, and habits they can build without stress. That’s exactly what this series delivers. Why I Created This Series Over the years, I’ve seen the same pattern: people want […]
- [Free Vulnerability Scanning with OpenVAS: Essential Eight](https://tayvensec.com/vulnerability-scanning-free/): When it comes to the ASD Essential Eight (E8), one of the hardest parts isn’t implementing the controls, it’s proving you’re actually maturing. Auditors want evidence, not promises. The good news is that you don’t always need expensive vulnerability management platforms to get there. I’ve previously used OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System), a completely free, open‑source scanner, to help an organisation uplift its E8 maturity. It wasn’t perfect, and I learned a few lessons the hard way, but it worked. Here’s how. The Problem We Needed to Solve We were aiming to uplift maturity for: Patch Applications Patch Operating Systems But […]

## Pages

- [Tools](https://tayvensec.com/tools/): I’m currently experimenting with a few open‑source cyber tools. You can follow the progress on my GitHub.
- [Round-Ups](https://tayvensec.com/magazine/)
- [Themes](https://tayvensec.com/themes/)
- [Retro Tech](https://tayvensec.com/retro/)
- [Tayven Tech](https://tayvensec.com/tayven-tech/)
- [The Build Log](https://tayvensec.com/the-build-log/): Latest Articles
- [Blue Team](https://tayvensec.com/blue-team/)
- [Cyber Strategy, Architecture & GRC](https://tayvensec.com/cyber-strategy/): Latest Articles
- [Home](https://tayvensec.com/): Cyber Security, Without the Noise Featured Articles Latest Articles More to Explore Explore more of the ideas, stories, and themes shaping my work. Browse Themes
- [Cyber Security Career and Education](https://tayvensec.com/cyber-career-and-education/): Latest Articles
- [Patch Management](https://tayvensec.com/patch-management/)
- [Vulnerability Management](https://tayvensec.com/vulnerability-management/): Latests Articles
- [Cyber Security Culture & Awareness](https://tayvensec.com/cyber-security-awareness/): Latest Articles
- [Privacy Policy](https://tayvensec.com/privacy-policy/): Tayven Cyber Security – Privacy Policy Last Updated: 1 March 2026Location: New South Wales, Australia 1. Introduction Tayven Cyber Security (“we”, “our”, “the site”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have when interacting with tayvensec.com. By using this website, you agree to the practices described in this policy. This site is intended for a general audience and is not targeted at children. 2. Who We Are Tayven Cyber Security is an independent cyber security blog based in New South Wales, Australia. Our mission is to provide practical, […]
- [Contact](https://tayvensec.com/contact/)
- [About](https://tayvensec.com/about/): About TayvenSec Cyber Security, Without the Noise After two decades working across IT and cyber security, I wanted a place to continue learning, document practical experience, and share the lessons that often get lost between frameworks, projects, and day-to-day operations. TayvenSec is that place. Originally created as a personal learning and writing project, the site has evolved into a professional portfolio of cyber security knowledge, practical guidance, and independently developed resources. It provides a space to explore ideas in greater depth, develop reusable materials, and contribute back to the cyber security community through clear, practical content. Throughout my career I have […]

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