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Author: Clive Catton

Clive Catton MSc (Cyber Security)

Clive is the CISO at Octagon Technology Ltd with special responsibility for data privacy and cybersecurity. The world of business technology is constantly changing and to meet this challenge he recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with an MSc in Advanced Computer Security and Digital Forensics - this course is certified by the Nation Cyber Security Centre. His dissertation was on data privacy and classification in small businesses using Microsoft 365 for Business.

The degree is not the end of the studying – to keep current Clive spends some of his time at work simply reading and studying the latest technology trends and threats so our clients can benefit from this knowledge. This knowledge also shapes and supports the products and services Octagon delivers to clients.

To make full use of Clive’s Master’s degree in cybersecurity, Clive and Diana have a joint venture with an international research company to get access for our clients to up to date information, schemas, analytics, templates, actionable tools and guidance. Whatever the size of your organisation if you are not approaching IT, cybersecurity and information privacy in a way that supports and benefits you, they can help, from the boardroom to the shop floor.

Clive and Diana are also working on a project to provide flexible online cyber security training for businesses at CyberAwake - Train Your Team To Protect You Against Cyber Attacks. Clive is the cybersecurity consultant for the project.

Clive has a long running personal blog at Clive's Blog. Here he publishes articles about photography, walking, camping, technology, stuff he just likes and since January 1, 2012, he posts "a photo a day" on the blog.
Posted on 25 April 202526 April 2025

Because It’s Friday – What is a planet?

The Planet picture

Here is NASA’s answer for “what is a planet?”. What is a Planet? – NASA But because it’s Friday, it is much more fun is to see what Randall Munroe does, when asked “what is a planet?”‘ xkcd: Planet Definitions Something Extra Marks and Spencer are in the middle of …

Continue reading “Because It’s Friday – What is a planet?”

Posted on 24 April 202524 April 2025

Signal app in the news.

Signal secure messaging app

I use, and recommend to clients, the secure messaging app Signal, for those communications that do not require accountability but do require good cyber security. However, it is not an app suitable for government communications that usually require a higher level of security and should always include accountability to the …

Continue reading “Signal app in the news.”

Posted on 23 April 202524 April 2025

Another improvement in Android security

reading our newsletter

I have written about the difference between Apple iOS cyber security and Android OS security before. In my opinion, Apple has the edge for a variety of reasons: But Android is catching up… Recently Google has taken a number of steps to improve the cyber security of Android devices: A …

Continue reading “Another improvement in Android security”

Posted on 22 April 202526 April 2025

Marks and Spencer Cyber Attack

cyber attack

There are no details about the attack yet, or whether customer information has been compromised – but the attack has impacted the online shopping and “click and collect” service – which probably use customer information to function. Marks & Spencer confirms a cyberattack as customers face delayed orders No ransomware …

Continue reading “Marks and Spencer Cyber Attack”

Posted on 21 April 202524 April 2025

This is a good question…

a phishing attack needs to tempt you with bait

It’s 2025… so why are obviously malicious advertising URLs still going strong? – SANS Internet Storm Center The article by Jan Kopriva makes a number of excellent points about why threat actors continue with these types of social engineering attacks – but the bottom line is that lack of training …

Continue reading “This is a good question…”

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