Ch01 Introduction to Security

Certificate in Network Security

CNIT 120: Network Security Fundamentals of Network Security Preparation for Security+ Certification Essential for any Information Technology professional

Two Hacking Classes CNIT 123: Ethical Hacking and Network Defense Has been taught since Spring 2007 (four times) Face-to-face and Online sections available Fall 2008 CNIT 124: Advanced Ethical Hacking Taught for the first time in Spring 2008

Supplemental Materials Projects from recent research Students get extra credit by attending conferences

Certified Ethical Hacker CNIT 123 and 124 prepare students for CEH Certification

Chapter 1 Introduction to Security

Objectives Describe the challenges of securing information Define information security and explain why it is important Identify the types of attackers that are common today

Objectives List the basic steps of an attack Describe the five steps in a defense Explain the different types of information security careers and how the Security+ certification can enhance a security career

Security Vulnerabilities for Sale Anyone can buy attack tools to take over computers See links Ch 1a, 1b on my Web page samsclass.info, click CNIT 120, Links

Challenges of Securing Information There is no simple solution to securing information This can be seen through the different types of attacks that users face today As well as the difficulties in defending against these attacks

Today’s Security Attacks A malicious program was introduced at some point in the manufacturing process of a popular brand of digital photo frames Nigerian e-mail scam claimed to be sent from the U.N. “ Booby-trapped” Web pages are growing at an increasing rate (link Ch 1c)

Today’s Security Attacks A new worm disables Microsoft Windows Automatic Updating and the Task Manager (link Ch 1d) Apple has issued an update to address 25 security flaws in its operating system OS X

Today’s Security Attacks Researchers at the University of Maryland attached four computers equipped with weak passwords to the Internet for 24 days to see what would happen These computers were hit by an intrusion attempt on average once every 39 seconds Link Ch 1e

Today’s Security Attacks TJX Companies, Inc. had 45 million customer credit card and debit card numbers stolen because they used poor wireless security (WEP) (link Ch 1f)

Worm infects 1.1 million PCs in 24 hours “ On Tuesday there were 2.5 million, on Wednesday 3.5 million and today [Friday], eight million” See links Ch 1g, 1l

Today’s Security Attacks The total average cost of a data breach in 2007 was $197 per record compromised A recent report revealed that of 24 federal government agencies, the overall grade was only “C−”

Security Breaches in a 3-Month Period (in text, not in lecture notes)

Difficulties in Defending against Attacks

Defining Information Security Security is a state of freedom from a danger or risk Freedom exists because protective measures are established and maintained Information security The tasks of guarding information that is in a digital format Ensures that protective measures are properly implemented Cannot completely prevent attacks or guarantee that a system is totally secure

Defining Information Security Information security protects information that has value, protecting “ CIA ”: Confidentiality Integrity Availability

Formal Definition of Information Security Information Security protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information on the devices that store, manipulate, and transmit the information through products, people, and procedures

Information Security Terminology Asset Something that has a value Threat An event or object that may defeat the security measures in place and result in a loss Threat agent A person or thing that has the power to carry out a threat

Information Security Terminology Vulnerability Weakness that allows a threat agent to bypass security Exploit Takes advantage of a vulnerability Risk The likelihood that a threat agent will exploit a vulnerability Realistically, risk cannot ever be entirely eliminated

Information Security Terminology (continued)

Data Theft and Identity Theft Preventing data theft The theft of data is one of the largest causes of financial loss due to an attack Thwarting identity theft Identity theft involves using someone’s personal information to establish bank or credit card accounts Cards are then left unpaid, leaving the victim with the debts and ruining their credit rating

Avoiding Legal Consequences A number of federal and state laws have been enacted to protect the privacy of electronic data The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbox) The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) USA Patriot Act (2001) The California Database Security Breach Act (2003) Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA)

Maintaining Productivity Cleaning up after an attack diverts resources such as time and money away from normal activities

Foiling Cyberterrorism Attacks by terrorist groups using computer technology and the Internet Utility, telecommunications, and financial services companies are considered prime targets of cyberterrorists

The NSA Hacker Gary McKinnon hacked into NASA and the US Military He was looking for evidence about UFOs Link Ch 1i

Who Are the Attackers? The types of people behind computer attacks are generally divided into several categories Hackers Script kiddies Spies Employees Cybercriminals Cyberterrorists

Hackers Hacker Anyone who illegally breaks into or attempts to break into a computer system Although breaking into another person’s computer system is illegal Some hackers believe it is ethical as long as they do not commit theft, vandalism, or breach any confidentiality Ethical Hacker Has permission from the owner to test security of computers by attacking them

Script Kiddies Unskilled users Download automated hacking software (scripts) from Web sites and use it to break into computers Image from ning.com

Spies Computer spy A person who has been hired to break into a computer and steal information Excellent computer skills

Employees The largest information security threat Motives An employee might want to show the company a weakness in their security Disgruntled employees may be intent on retaliating against the company Industrial espionage Blackmailing

Cybercriminals A loose-knit network of attackers, identity thieves, and financial fraudsters More highly motivated, less risk-averse, better funded, and more tenacious than hackers Many security experts believe that cybercriminals belong to organized gangs of young and mostly Eastern European attackers Cybercriminals have a more focused goal that can be summed up in a single word: money

Max Butler Took over the world’s market in stolen credit cards in 2006 From a San Francisco apartment in the Tenderloin Link Ch 1h

Cybercriminals Cybercrime Targeted attacks against financial networks, unauthorized access to information, and the theft of personal information Financial cybercrime is often divided into two categories Trafficking in stolen credit card numbers and financial information Using spam to commit fraud

Cyberterrorists Their motivation may be defined as ideology, or attacking for the sake of their principles or beliefs Goals of a cyberattack: To deface electronic information and spread misinformation and propaganda To deny service to legitimate computer users To commit unauthorized intrusions into systems and networks that result in critical infrastructure outages and corruption of vital data

Steps of an Attack The five steps that make up an attack Probe for information Penetrate any defenses Modify security settings Circulate to other systems Paralyze networks and devices

Defenses against Attacks Although multiple defenses may be necessary to withstand an attack These defenses should be based on five fundamental security principles: Layering Limiting Diversity Obscurity Simplicity

Layering Information security must be created in layers One defense mechanism may be relatively easy for an attacker to circumvent Instead, a security system must have layers, making it unlikely that an attacker has the tools and skills to break through all the layers of defenses A layered approach can also be useful in resisting a variety of attacks Layered security provides the most comprehensive protection

Limiting Limiting access to information reduces the threat against it Only those who must use data should have access to it In addition, the amount of access granted to someone should be limited to what that person needs to know Some ways to limit access are technology-based, while others are procedural

Diversity Layers must be different (diverse) If attackers penetrate one layer, they cannot use the same techniques to break through all other layers Using diverse layers of defense means that breaching one security layer does not compromise the whole system

Diversity: Root DNS Servers The whole Internet depends on these servers, so they are diversified geographically and in other ways They have withstood severe attacks Links Ch 1j, 1k

Obscurity An example of obscurity would be not revealing the type of computer, operating system, software, and network connection a computer uses An attacker who knows that information can more easily determine the weaknesses of the system to attack it Obscuring information can be an important way to protect information

Simplicity Information security is by its very nature complex Complex security systems can be hard to understand, troubleshoot, and feel secure about As much as possible, a secure system should be simple for those on the inside to understand and use Complex security schemes are often compromised to make them easier for trusted users to work with Keeping a system simple from the inside but complex on the outside can sometimes be difficult but reaps a major benefit

Surveying Information Security Careers and the Security+ Certification Today, businesses and organizations require employees and even prospective applicants To demonstrate that they are familiar with computer security practices Many organizations use the CompTIA Security+ certification to verify security competency

Types of Information Security Jobs Information assurance (IA) A superset of information security including security issues that do not involve computers Covers a broader area than just basic technology defense tools and tactics Also includes reliability, strategic risk management, and corporate governance issues such as privacy, compliance, audits, business continuity, and disaster recovery Is interdisciplinary; individuals who are employed in it may come from different fields of study

Types of Information Security Jobs Information security, also called computer security Involves the tools and tactics to defend against computer attacks Does not include security issues that do not involve computers Two broad categories of information security positions Information security managerial position Information security technical position

CompTIA Security+ Certification The CompTIA Security+ (2008 Edition) Certification is the premiere vendor-neutral credential The Security+ exam is an internationally recognized validation of foundation-level security skills and knowledge Used by organizations and security professionals around the world The skills and knowledge measured by the Security+ exam are derived from an industry-wide Job Task Analysis (JTA)

CompTIA Security+ Certification (continued) The six domains covered by the Security+ exam: Systems Security, Network Infrastructure, Access Control, Assessments and Audits, Cryptography, and Organizational Security

Ch01 Introduction to Security

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Ch01 Introduction to Security