The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is Microsoft’s user-friendly software vulnerability assessment tool intended for IT security professionals from small to medium-sized organizations used to scan one or more computers, and provide a detailed security assessment report with specific recommendations and guidance on correcting any found deficiencies (Vacca 2013). The MBSA used for this assignment was the MBSA version 2.3, which performed scans for missing patches, missing/weak passwords, and assess the holistic security status to determine any associated potential risks to the computer. MBSA utilized the Microsoft update catalog and determined which security updates required updating, provided a report on specific system information, and performed Windows Security and Desktop Application Scans to report any further administrative vulnerabilities.
The resulting security assessment report indicated that the scanned computer was at potential risk due to the failure of one or more non-critical checks. The results proved surprising as the scanned computer was purchased a little over a month ago. The failures in the report included, a) a missing a service pack (Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool released March 2014) and b) non-expiring and weak passwords for the user accounts. Fortunately, the MBSA found no other issues with the scanned computer’s firewall or desktop applications. These results were informative and provided guidance on how to better improve the scanned computer’s security measures. Using the recommendations for a solution to mitigate the potential risks, I installed the Malware Removal Tool software, created new more complicated passwords, and adjusted the user setting by removing the “password nev...
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...cate itself and propagate through removable media such as USB flashdrives and portable external hard drives wreaking havoc and spreading throughout the networks. Figure 3 below illustrates how the Conflicker worm infiltrated the networks.
Corporate network system administrators routinely use vulnerability assessment tools such as the popular and user friendly MBSA to scan the corporate IT systems for potential risks to the network. One of the features of the MBSA is the administrative vulnerabilities assessment as part of the Windows Scan which, among a myriad of other assessments, analyses the system’s firewall and determines if there any exceptions configured in the firewall. Unauthorized exceptions the firewall configuration could be an indicator of infiltration in the network.
Works Cited
http://www.sans.org/security-resources/policies/Password_Policy.pdf
DWP Systems performed an outer security helplessness evaluation of ABC association. An outside appraisal takes a gander at gadgets, for example, firewalls, servers and switches that give administrations on the Internet. It likewise covers application layer appraisals on any online administrations remotely confronting. We additionally take a gander at the workstations in your association and how they are being utilized by the clients. The physical building is additionally examined for any passageways and exits. This is to guarantee that the building that is lodging the information and data is secured also.
This essay answers two questions. Question one is to describe the methods and tools used in scanning and enumerating system and network targets and how one can use the results during the rest of the penetration test. The second question concerns what is the favorite tool that this student learned about in this class, how one uses it and an explanation of why and how it enhances one’s ability to conduct a penetration test.
Security of the companies data is one of the most important components which allows the business to perform its day to day operation using various networking devices, services that absolutely needs to be protected from intruders. Some of these devices include online transactions, the exchange of data between users and clients both internal and external and external web data needs to be secured. There are several polices that would need to be configured such as a web sever and firewall configurations. However, with these configurations the first and most important task is to identify any vulnerabilities or loopholes in security within the company. The company has both LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and a web sever. These resources need to be secured at all times from hackers or anyone else by implementing the appropriate security measures.
CVSS, or Common Vulnerability Scoring System, provides a method for assessing and prioritizing previously unknown vulnerabilities in an application’s code that have been identified for IT management to address (Scarfone & Mell, 2007). CCSS, or Common Configuration Scoring System, is based off of using similar metrics to CVSS but is focused on known vulnerabilities based upon decisions regarding security configurations of the program.
The Odyssey is a famous Greek tell written by Homer about Odysseus. A hero in the Trojan War and king of the kingdom island of Ithaca along side his wife Penelope and son Telemachos, Odysseus is known to be a great man. Then there is Okonkwo, the main character in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. A story of the African Ibo tribe, Okonkwo is known as the greatest fighter in his tribe and grows to plays an important role in his village, despite his father leaving him with nothing to live off of. These two different characters from these two different books, both full of pride and reason, embark on a epic journey that will challenge who they are/have become but each will react differently based on time and experience and for that reason there are two different outcomes.
Malware, short for malicious software, is wide-spread in today’s computer market. Malware is software intended to gain sensitive information or access to a victim’s private system (“Who Creates Malware and Why?” par. 13). Many forms of malware exist: the major categories including viruses, ransom ware, worms, keyloggers, trojan horses and rootkits. Today, malware is most commonly used to steal victims’ personal information for financial gains, but malwares’ attention was not always this way. The first computer worms were written as harmless pranks.
Security helps the organization meet its business objectives or mission by protecting its physical and financial resources, reputation, legal position, employees, and other tangible and intangible assets through the selection and application of appropriate safeguards. Businesses should establish roles and responsibilities of all personnel and staff members. However, a Chief Information Officer should be appointed to direct an organization’s day to day management of information assets. Supporting roles are performed by the service providers and include systems operations, whose personnel design and operate the computer systems. Each team member must be held accountable in ensuring all of the rules and policies are being followed, as well as, understanding their roles, responsibilities and functions. Organizations information processing systems are vulnerable to many threats that can inflict various types of damage that can result in significant losses (Harris, 2014). Losses can come from actions from trusted employees that defraud the system, outside hackers, or from careless data entry. The major threat to information protection is error and omissions that data entry personnel, users, system operators and programmers make. To better protect business information resources, organizations should conduct a risk analysis to see what
The first finding was a medium priority that was a cryptcat.exe file this program can potentially be used to remote access the program. The second finding was a Psh.exe file that was a very high priority it was a Trojan Horse Dropper named Generic4.BVMA, this really do some damage to the system by crashing it or altering it. Thirdly, I found a medium priority that was a astlog.exe file that is develop by NirSoft, the file can be a harmful program Logger.IAC that is an adware software and attackers can misuse this to get your passwords on your system. The fourth malware I found on the scan was a high priority from the Isadump2...
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]
Johansson, Jesper M. "Managing the Windows Vista Firewall." TechNet 2008: n. pag. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.06.security.aspx
Due to their complexity and importance to information security, two security systems, Network Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (NIDPS) and Security Information and Event Management systems (SIEM), will be explored in this paper. Both have multiple functionalities, including threat-detecting capabilities, and are widely considered essential tools for adequate network defense, particularly in the goal of fortifying valuable assets in the face of an advanced threat. Understanding these systems is vital for any security operation tasked with defending significant networks.
When someone suspects that an unauthorized, unacceptable, or unlawful event has occurred involving an organization’s computer networks or data-processing equipment Computer security incidents are normally identified. Initially, the incident may be reported by an ultimate user, detected by a system administrator, identified by IDS alerts, or discovered
...ntial information from a user. Luckily, there are reliable ways of defending against them. The most reliable way is to install strong security software that has the capacity to defend against the multifaceted forms of threats. Avoiding P2P file sharing sites and scanning email attachments before downloading them are also a surefire way of protecting a computer against malware threats. Basic acts like using an updated browser and allowing Windows updates to install and update themselves are also necessary to keep a machine safe. Furthermore, checking validity of individual website addresses and installing authenticated software can also help a computer user remain safe from potential data theft and possible damage of useful programs. It may also pay good dividends to backup files. In case of a lethal malware attack, backed-up files can always be recovered easily.
Network management planning and security planning involves identifying the best and most appropriate systems and hardware that the firm can use to better manage network and plan security systems. Therefore, the management required me to examine the best software and hardware systems in the market place that the company can adopt to enable it to manage the network and security. The management required me to advice on the implementation procedure of various plans that are going to be adopted. My responsibility also involved finding out or predicting the impact of the plan on the future operations. They required me to evaluate the challenges the company might face while adopting the changes in the network management plan and security plans.
The first thing that we must consider about Information Security is that there is not a final destination at which we can arrive. IT Security is an ongoing set of processes and activities that requires attention and expertise on a daily basis. It is important to understand that systems are not secured by themselves and it is our responsibility to maintain and improve them periodically as required. It is of vital importance to establish the appropriate mechanisms and requirements in order to support the company’s CIA triad. The following report will provide you guidance about auditing and hardening techniques applied though the 7 Domains by utilizing IT Security Best Practices.