December 29, 2015

You know you’re getting old when you can’t remember your own birthday (a reader tipped me off). Today is the sixth anniversary of this site’s launch! KrebsOnSecurity turns 6! I’m pretty sure that’s like middle age in Internet years.

sixfingersAbsolutely none of this would be possible without you, Dear Reader. You have supported, encouraged and inspired me in too many ways to count these past years. The community that’s sprung up around here has been a joy to watch, and essential to the site’s success. Thank you!

I tried for at least one post per weekday in 2015, and came close, publishing some 206 entries this year (not counting this one). The frequency of new posts suffered a bit from September to November, when I was on the road nearly 24/7 for a series of back-to-back speaking gigs. Fun fact: Since its inception, this site has featured some 1,200 stories that generated more than 62,000 reader comments.

Here’s wishing you all a very happy, healthy, wealthy and safe New Year.  Below are some of the KrebsOnSecurity posts that readers found most popular in 2015 (minus the Ashley Madison and Lizard Squad stuff), along with one or two of my personal favorites in no particular order.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace the Security Freeze — Credit monitoring services offered in the wake of umpteen breaches this year won’t stop ID thieves from stealing your good name.

What’s in a Boarding Pass Barcode? – Sometimes the stories intended to be written in a “hey-did-you-know” format turn into national news. Who knew?

How Carders Can Use eBay as a Virtual ATM – “Triangulation fraud” is big business.

Sign Up at the IRS Before Crooks Do It For You – This story about how ID thieves used the IRS’s own site to steal taxpayer data was published three months before the IRS acknowledged that some 330,000 taxpayers had been impacted.

Intuit Failed at Know-Your-Customer Basics – Much of the tax refund fraud problem can be traced back to poor or non-existent authentication at online tax preparation firms, like TurboTax.

Hacker Who Sent Me Heroin Faces Charges in the U.S. – A stranger-than-fiction story about a cybercrime kingpin who tried to frame me for drug possession and failed spectacularly.

Bluetooth ATM Skimming Series in Mexico – I traveled to Cancun in September to chronicle the work of an ATM skimming gang that was bribing ATM technicians to get access to the insides of the cash machines.

Gas Theft Gangs Fuel Pump Skimming Scams – It’s truly remarkable how much effort crooks will put into extracting value from stolen credit and debit cards.

Inside Target Corp., Days After 2013 Breach – I got to look at a confidential, internal penetration test that Target commissioned just days after learning it had lost 40 million credit cards. It wasn’t pretty.

A Day in the Life of a Stolen Healthcare Record – Healthcare organizations have some serious and difficult security challenges ahead of them. I think that explains the reader interest in this story, coupled with the fact that there are so few stories out there about stolen medical info showing up for sale in the cybercrime underground.

This entry was posted on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 11:37 AM


96 thoughts on “Happy 6th Birthday, KrebsOnSecurity!

  1. Michael McNamara

    Congratulations Brian.

    It’s been a pleasure to follow this site and read your stories, looking forward to many more in 2016. Happy New Year!

    Cheers!

  2. Isabelle Green

    Happy Birthay… ♫♪♫ Thank you for all the informative posts. Wishing you a wonderful 2016.

  3. Alejandro

    Congratulations, it’s always a thrill to read your posts, look forward to 2016 new stories.

  4. William Cole

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    Hope to read your newsletter for many more years. It is so informative.

  5. John C.

    Congrats on your achievement and may you have continued success! As an IT Mgr, I very much appreciate your timely insights on tech security.

  6. Henry S. Winokur

    What everyone else has said, Brian. Mazel Tov. Keep up the great work. What would we do without you? (Well, we’d all be in some deep poop, would be my guess!)

    Happy new year!

  7. Anon

    Happy Birthday. Enjoyed your book and regular updates. Feel like as long as I know what you are worried about, I myself know what to be worried about.

  8. FB

    Your definitely middle aged from an internet perspective. Welcome to the club of receding hair line, cell deterioration around eye’s and sagging body parts. Happy Birthday and congratulations on 6 successful years. Hoping to read your blog for many years to come.

  9. PJ

    Happy Birthday!

    A visit to your site is part of my daily ritual!

    Looking forward to getting the scoop days before the general tech media hears about it! Thanks for keeping the midnight oil burning!!

    Got another book up your sleeve?

  10. meh

    I always like to read your unique detailed analysis of the events that everyone else gives the 20 second ‘magic’ reporting about. If I wasn’t strapped for cash I’d donate but I do spread the word to a lot of other people who have found this site helpful. Keep up the good work!

  11. Likes2LOL

    Brian Krebs, you’re the best! Thanks so much for all you do.

    I wish you continued great success as a security guru, and will always think the Washington Post royally screwed up when they lost you! 😉

  12. CJ

    KOS one of the best security sites. Lots of very high quality information. Thank you. Good luck. Happy birthday. Looking forward to the coming year.

  13. John Cali

    Happy Birthday, Brian! Thanks so much for all you do. I’d be lost in the security maze if it was not for you. Happy New Year!

  14. cc

    Congrats Brian, (and your wife!)

    So glad you took the leap those 6 years ago, and that you have a wonderful spouse to support you.

  15. Dave

    Happy Birthday. Thanks for all the very informative emails. Look forward to seeing more

  16. Lindy

    SIX YEARS??? Why isn’t the cybersecurity issue under control already!!!??

    Just Kidding.
    Congrats and I hope you keep KOS going for us for a long time. Thanks so much for all you do.
    Lindy

  17. John

    Happy birthday, Brian! Thanks for all you do, so proud of your accomplishments!!!

    Your FHS alumnus guy

  18. Emily Booth

    Congratulations Brian! I enjoy your blog immensely! I’ve learned a lot from reading you.

  19. Dirgster

    Congratulations, Brian! My day never ends without reading your blogs that taught me so much about staying safe!

    Happy New Year to you! Peace!

  20. David

    Congratulations! and thank you for the essential service you provide to us all.

  21. Cynthia

    As others have said congratulations, and thanks for your hard work, perseverance, humor and ability to communicate complex things to those of us who follow KOS, who lack your skills and experience. As a average Jane, I trust you like us older folks use to trust Walter Cronkite…and that’s saying a lot!

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