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.

Man wearing glasses and a light gray sweater, smiling
Middle East Conflict Escalation Creates Immediate Cyber Threats for UK Small Businesses
Threat Intelligence Mauven MacLeod Threat Intelligence Mauven MacLeod

Middle East Conflict Escalation Creates Immediate Cyber Threats for UK Small Businesses

Last Friday, it was someone else's war. Over the weekend, Iranian hackers considered your Microsoft 365 account enemy infrastructure.

American B-2 bombers dropped 14 bunker-busters on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. The cyber retaliation has already begun, and UK small businesses as we all use US cloud services are the in the firing line primary targets.

Remember NotPetya? Ukrainian attack, global devastation. Windows is Windows regardless of location.

Your customer database could be wiped tomorrow because you use American cloud services in a conflict between Washington and Tehran.

Most UK business owners have no idea they're now combatants in a cyber war they never signed up for.

➤ Why Iranian hackers are targeting YOUR business specifically
➤ The 7 things you must do TODAY (before they find you)
➤ How to tell if your MSP is protecting you or just taking your money
➤ Why "it won't happen to me" thinking will destroy your business

This isn't theory. The attacks started over the weekend. Your business is already on their target list.

From the creators of The Small Business Cyber Security Guy Podcast - emergency episode available now

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Tonight at Midnight: The Password Archaeology Begins

Tonight at Midnight: The Password Archaeology Begins

Picture this: It's midnight, crisis hits, you need email access urgently. Staring at the login screen, mind completely blank. Was it your dog's name plus random numbers? Your old football team with an exclamation mark? Welcome to digital archaeology - the art of excavating your own memory for password variations you can't quite remember. Tonight's podcast reveals why we've become amateur archaeologists in our own digital lives, managing 250+ passwords while 78% of us reuse them. The midnight password panic is about to get much worse before it gets better.

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⚠️ 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.