The Small Business
Cyber Security Guy
Welcome to my blog and podcast, where I share brutally honest views, sharp opinions, and lived experience from four decades in the technology trenches. Whether you're here to read or tune in, expect no corporate fluff and no pulled punches.
Everything here is personal. These are my thoughts, not those of my employer, clients, or any poor soul professionally tied to me. If you’re offended, take it up with me, not them.
What you’ll get here (and on the podcast):
Straight-talking advice for small businesses that want to stay secure
Honest takes on cybersecurity trends, IT malpractice, and vendor nonsense
The occasional rant — and yes, the occasional expletive
War stories from the frontlines (names changed to protect the spectacularly guilty)
I've been doing this for over 40 years. I’ve seen genius, idiocy, and everything in between. Some of it makes headlines, and most of it should.
This blog and the podcast is where I unpack it all. Pull up a chair.
The Meat Rots While the Firewalls Fail: How a Hack Took Out the Backbone of UK Chilled Logistics
A ransomware attack just crippled one of the UK’s key cold chain hauliers, leaving thousands of pounds’ worth of meat to rot before it ever reached supermarket shelves. Peter Green Chilled, who proudly promote their “bespoke IT systems,” couldn’t even keep order processing online. The result?
Spoiled stock, supply chain chaos, and radio silence from a company with £25 million in turnover and not a single cybersecurity certification.
This isn’t just an embarrassing IT failure. It’s a wake-up call. If you're still treating cybersecurity like a nice-to-have instead of a must-do, pull up a chair. Because you're not just vulnerable. You're on the menu.
Snap, Crackle, Compromise: How Kellogg's Quietly Served Up Employee Data to Hackers
Think your breakfast is safe? Think again. WK Kellogg Co.—yes, the cereal giant—just had employee data spilled thanks to a third-party software breach. Hackers from the Clop ransomware gang waltzed in via Cleo’s "secure" file transfer platform and helped themselves to names, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
It’s another textbook example of supply chain negligence dressed up as digital transformation.
If your business relies on vendors without grilling their security, you might as well start pouring milk on your firewall and calling it breakfast. Here's how it happened—and why it should scare the cereal out of you.
Lazarus Strikes Again: North Korean Hackers Crash the NPM Party
North Korea's Lazarus hackers are back, gleefully slipping malicious code into popular NPM packages—think razor blades hidden in your Halloween sweets. Hundreds of developers unwittingly invited cybercriminals into their digital lives, losing sensitive data and perhaps some self-respect. This latest supply-chain fiasco underscores a crucial lesson: trust no package blindly.
Treat your code dependencies like milk—check regularly, or risk finding something unpleasantly chunky in your morning coffee. Vigilance isn't optional; it's essential.
⚠️ Full Disclaimer
This is my personal blog. The views, opinions, and content shared here are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect or represent the views, beliefs, or policies of:
My employer
Any current or past clients, suppliers, or partners
Any other organisation I’m affiliated with in any capacity
Nothing here should be taken as formal advice — legal, technical, financial, or otherwise. If you’re making decisions for your business, always seek professional advice tailored to your situation.
Where I mention products, services, or companies, that’s based purely on my own experience and opinions — I’m not being paid to promote anything. If that ever changes, I’ll make it clear.
In short: This is my personal space to share my personal views. No one else is responsible for what’s written here — so if you have a problem with something, take it up with me, not my employer.