INTRODUCTION
With cyber-attacks on the continuous rise, organizations public and private must address computer security vulnerabilities. SANS Institute has revealed “unpatched client-side software applications” as the top priority vulnerability for organizations globally. In conjunction with unpatched client software, vulnerable “Internet-facing web sites” can result in an organizations infrastructure to be compromised. In this study I will address the issue of unpatched client software, the impact to an organizations infrastructure, and patch management as a vital mitigation solution. (http://www.sans.org)
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CLIENT SIDE “UNPATCHED” SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS VULNERABILITIES
Newly released software inevitably has glitches or “bugs”. Over time, software programmers will address detected with a patch. A patch is a piece of programming that “fixes” the glitch in software applications. Most patches are downloadable over the Internet via a manufacturer’s website. They are also incorporated in upgrades and updates. Computer software programs will always have flaws “bugs” that must be continuously secured (patched) to ensure proper functionality. A client workstation with unpatched software can promote the propagation of malicious software. Web browsers, office software, and email are the weapons used to exploit unpatched client-side vulnerabilities.
Web browser plug-ins is a double edge sword with regard to vulnerable unpatched client workstations and malicious attacks to gain access to an organization system. Plugins typically support client side web scripting language. They are staples in a web browser, used to view files and multimedia. Unpatched plugin not updated can potentially allow hackers to install malicious viruses on a u...
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...trols for Effective Cyber Defense: Consensus Audit Guidelines
http://csis.org/files/publication/Twenty_Critical_Controls_for_Effective_Cyber_Defense_CAG.pdf
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technical Administration of US Dept. of Commerce
Creating a Patch and Vulnerability Program
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-40-Ver2/SP800-40v2.pdf
PRIORITIZING CYBER VULNERABILITIES FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS, BY THE COUNCIL
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/niac/NIAC_CyberVulnerabilitiesPaper_Feb05.pdf
DOD Strategy for Operating in Cyber Space
http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Cyberspace_Policy_Review_final.pdf
nytimes Sony data breach
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/technology/27playstation.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=sony%20data%20breach&st=cse
Data breach
http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=8534
After coming home from a long day at school, I turn on my computer and go to the Internet to see "What's New!" Then all of a sudden I hear, "You've Got Mail!" I check my e-mail and it's a message from my friend in Alabama. It is warning me about a computer virus that is being spread, and that I should watch out. Thank goodness someone warned me about this. I said to myself, "This kind of stuff must be the work of those hackers that I hear so much about." But what exactly is a hacker, and what are they out to do?
In the operation Aurora case, the attack utilized a combination of attacks that comprised of stealth hacking, an unknown loophole in internet explorer (also known as the Zero- Day exploit), and the use of complicated encryptions. This led to companies like McAfee, Microsoft, and Symantec to resolve the breach with providing patches and updates to the browser as well as security software. As the investigation progressed, Microsoft quickly and quietly pushed out security advisories and security products. They also urged users to perform the IE patch updates. At the...
Vulnerabilities occur when corrupted code or misconfigured hardware are on a network. This is why it is important for an organization to have an effective vulnerability assessment plan that includes regular scans of the network and annual penetration tests. These scans are very important to prevent hackers from “utilizing these flaws to gain access to your machines” (Houghton, 2003). An excellent source of information to get “summaries, technical details, remediation information, and lists of affected vendors” (US-CERT) is the Vulnerability Notes Database. Please view Appendix B for current threats.
"Evolutions in Browser Security." NSS Labs. N.p., 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <https://www.nsslabs.com/reports/evolutions-browser-security>.
Most robberies are easy to do because the security guard does not care if the artwork, money, or anything thing else is stolen because it is not his. Some security guards do take their job seriously and try their best to keep the valuables safe. But they do not have the training to do so. Why is security at major events or places so lax?
A public utility company employed SecureState to repair their internal and external network security. Consequently, SecureState was able to access the network due to a variety of exploits. Many threats would not be present if systems were updated with the latest operating software and patches and were properly configured. This engagement revealed several critical problems within the client’s system, allowing SecureState to gain access to more resources than intended. The improperly segmented networks combined with easily exploitable vulnerabilities can allow attackers to gain access to entire networks potentially causing untold levels of damage.
The use of hacking to identify weaknesses in computer security has become an increasingly controversial issue in recent years. Awareness of this issue is important, because our ever increasing reliance on technology means that breaches in computer security have the potential to have wide-ranging and devastating consequences to society, worldwide. This essay will begin by clearly defining the term ‘hacking’ and will examine the type of people who hack and for what reasons. There will then follow a discussion of the moral argument on hacking before examining a few brief examples. The essay will then conclude by arguing against the use of hacking as a means of identifying weaknesses in computer security.
Summary Report for: Computer Security. (2010). January 10, 2011, from O*net Online: retreived January/15/2011 http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/15-1071.01
As electronic commerce, online business-to-business operations, and global connectivity have become vital components of a successful business strategy, enterprises have adopted security processes and practices to protect information assets. But if you look at today's computing environments, system security is a horrible game of numbers: there are currently over 9,223 publicly released vulnerabilities covering known security holes in a massive range of applications from popular Operating Systems through to obscure and relatively unknown web applications. [01] Over 300 new vulnerabilities are being discovered and released each month. Most companies work diligently to maintain an efficient, effective security policy, implementing the latest products and services to prevent fraud, vandalism, sabotage, and denial of service attacks. But the fact is you have to patch every hole of your system, but an attacker need find only one to get into your environment. Whilst many organisations subscribe to major vendor's security alerts, these are just the tip of the security iceberg and even these are often ignored. For example, the patch for the Code Red worm was available some weeks before the worm was released. [02]
The increasing proliferation and complexity of technology are creating new "opportunities" for cyber criminals to exploit. In addition, cyber crime techniques are getting ever more sophisticated. For businesses, this adds up to an increasingly more dangerous cyber threat environment. It doesn't help that human factors add to the risk. These include simple blunders, such as exposing sensitive data to the open Internet, as well as network security misconceptions and oversights. Here are two network security mistakes that invite devastating data breaches:
In this report, the author endeavours to present the how the security issues generally presented on the B2C web sites can assured by technical controls and educating customers. The report presents levels of end-to-end security components that include: physical system security, operating system security and network security. With advent of web applications that are now being used extensively for deploying e-commerce applications, author also presented the web security threat profile of web services that is currently an active research topic. All of the discussed components are attached with advice that can be provided to customers that may not apparent to them, but can help reduce security issues.
In this globalized arena, with the proliferating computer users as well as computer networks, risks associated like Malware attacks are also multiplying. As the proverb
Today in present, with the improvements in technology and science new concepts are integrated in our lives. Cyber crime is among those concepts that did not exist 15 to 20 years ago. In the old days only conventional crime was discussed, which refers to those traditional, illegal behaviors that most people think of as crime. In today one has to be careful not only against conventional crime but also cybercrime also known as “faceless crime” it’s the latest and the most complicated problem in the new century. Cybercrime consists of all criminal actions against communication devices in a network such as Internet, telephone lines or mobile network. Cyber crime can be observed among people at various age groups as it is easier to commit compared to other types of crime like murder, kidnapping or human trafficking.
Malicious code is a real danger to modern systems. Most systems nowadays do not work in isolation; they are more likely to be connected to other systems and sometimes they can even be dependent on them. Therefore an attack on one of the systems in the network is a potential attacking attempt to any other systems, with which it is interacting. Therefore, it is inevitable for any networked or Internet-connected computers to deal with malicious code attacks at some point. Businesses lose billions of dollars each year because of malicious code attacks. Responding to the attack and restoring all the data on the computers is a time-consuming and expensive task. It is a much better practice to try preventing it through organizing and maintaining effective defenses. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is no one general solution that can help to prevent all the attacks. Attackers are constantly looking for new ways to take advantage of systems’ vulnerabilities and find new ones. That’s why organizations have to not only defend themselves against existing attack methods, but also try to predict and prevent new attacking techniques. It means that computer and network security is a never-ending challenge and expense.
Terrorism is a vicious act that influences any criminal beyond the next victim. The plan of terrorists is to cause severe acts of violence that draws the attention of the local citizens, the government, and the world to their demise. The terrorists plan their attack to obtain the greatest power, choosing targets that represent what they hate. The effect of the terrorist act lies not in the act , but in the public’s or government’s response to the act. But the real target is the 1 million people watching the televised event. The irony of this fear can be from the threat of physical harm or mental harm, Cyber terrorism harming the technological of society and psychological terrorism made to enhance people 's behaviour. Terrorism is made to produce