Celebrating 16 Years of KrebsOnSecurity: A Milestone for Awareness and Accountability
Introduction
Today marks a meaningful milestone in the cybersecurity world: KrebsOnSecurity is celebrating its 16th birthday. It’s a moment to reflect on how independent reporting, reader engagement, and a relentless focus on the mechanics of cybercrime help us all stay safer online. The celebration isn’t just about cake and congratulations; it’s a reminder that thoughtful journalism and an active, informed community can shine a light on the shadowy parts of the internet. In 2025, the site leaned into a strong theme: calling out entities that enable complex and globally dispersed cybercrime services, and highlighting the people who work to disrupt them.
What happened
KrebsOnSecurity marked 16 years of covering cyber threats, breaches, and the evolving ecosystem of cybercrime. The anniversary post thanks newcomers, long-time readers, and even drive-by critics for contributing to a conversation that is at once challenging and necessary. Alongside the celebration, the year’s reporting focused on the infrastructure and players that enable sophisticated criminal operations—an effort to connect the dots between seemingly distant incidents and the services that empower them. The underlying message: understanding the players, tactics, and supply chains behind cybercrime helps readers recognize risk and demand accountability.
Why it matters
– Independent journalism matters in cybersecurity. Clear, evidence-based reporting helps uncover who is behind cyber incidents and why certain services—the “enablers” of crime—exist and prosper.
– Awareness drives resilience. When readers understand how cybercriminals operate, they’re better equipped to spot warning signs, avoid common traps, and demand better security practices from products, services, and policymakers.
– Accountability fuels change. By examining the entities that enable crime, the community can push for safer technologies, stronger defenses, and responsible disclosure, reducing overall risk.
How readers can stay safe
– Strengthen passwords and use 2FA: Use unique, strong passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
– Keep software up to date: Apply updates and patches promptly to reduce vulnerability windows.
– Be cautious with email and links: Verify sender identities, hover to preview URLs, and avoid clicking unsolicited links or attachments.
– Verify sources before acting: Cross-check information from trusted outlets and official channels, especially around security alerts or incident reports.
– Use trusted security tools: Maintain reputable antivirus/antimalware, a modern firewall, and a secure browser with protections against phishing and known-bad sites.
– Back up important data: Regularly back up files to a separate location and test recovery procedures.
– Practice good digital hygiene on all devices: Keep devices encrypted, limit unnecessary app permissions, and disable features you don’t use.
– Plan for incidents: Have a simple, practiced response plan for potential breaches or scams, including how to report suspicious activity.
For the curious and engaged reader, the anniversary post is a nod to the ongoing work of uncovering how cybercrime operates and championing safer online practices. If you want the full reflective note from KrebsOnSecurity, you can read the anniversary piece here: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/12/happy-16th-birthday-krebsonsecurity-com/
In short: celebrate the milestone, learn from the insights, and stay vigilant. Here’s to another year of stories that inform, empower, and protect.