Author/Source: Tonya Riley See the full link here
Takeaway
This article is about a cybersecurity company, Fortinet, that waited a long time to tell people about a serious security problem in its products. You’ll learn how this delay allowed hackers to break into computer networks, including one belonging to the Dutch military.
Technical Subject Understandability
Intermediate
Analogy/Comparison
Imagine a car company finds a brake problem in one of its car models, but instead of telling the public right away, they wait nine months while some drivers get into accidents. This is similar to Fortinet finding a security flaw and not immediately warning everyone.
Why It Matters
It matters because delayed warnings about computer security problems can leave organizations unprotected and allow hackers to cause significant damage. For example, Chinese state-sponsored hackers used this specific Fortinet flaw to stay hidden in a Dutch military network for at least a year, collecting information.
Related Terms
vulnerability, exploited, patch, firewalls, web proxies, disclosure. Jargon Conversion: A vulnerability is a weak spot in computer software that hackers can use. When a vulnerability is exploited, it means hackers are actively using that weak spot. A patch is a software update that fixes a security problem. Firewalls are security systems that protect computer networks from outside threats. Web proxies are servers that act as a middleman for internet requests, also providing security. Disclosure is when a company publicly announces a security flaw.
Tech Teacher 
Leave a comment