The Real Vulnerabilities in Network Security

The Real Vulnerabilities in Network Security. Situation: You work in a setting where network security is something you are at least somewhat responsible for. Your machines are all up to date with updates and security fixes, and you have installed a firewall, virus, and spyware protection. As you sit there, you reflect on the wonderful job you have done to protect yourself from hacking. SSD R2 Site

• You have taken what most people consider to be the key actions in creating a secure network. This is just partially true. What about the additional elements?
• Have you considered employing social engineering tactics?
• What about the users who regularly access your network?
• Are you equipped to handle any assaults from these people?

1. Unbelievably.

Unbelievably, the users of your network are the weakest link in your security strategy. The majority of users lack knowledge about how to spot and stop a social engineering attack. What’s to stop a user from grabbing a CD or DVD they find in the break room, bringing it to their workstation, and accessing the files? A spreadsheet or word processing document with a harmful macro inserted could be found on this drive. Before you realize it, your network has been attacked.

2. This issue is especially prevalent.

This issue is especially prevalent in settings where help desk staff members change passwords over the phone. Nothing would prevent someone trying to break into your network from calling the help desk, posing as an employee, and requesting a password reset. It is not extremely difficult to determine usernames because most organizations employ a method to do it.

3. Prior to resetting a password.

Prior to resetting a password, your company should have stringent standards in place to confirm a user’s identity. Asking the user to visit the help desk in person is one straightforward action to take. The alternative approach, which is great if your offices are spread out geographically, is to assign one person in the office as the phone contact for password reset requests. Everyone who works at the help desk will be able to identify this person’s voice and be certain that he or she is whom they or claim to be.

The Real Vulnerabilities in Network Security.

4. Why would an attacker call the help desk?

Why would an attacker call the help desk or come to your office? Simple, it usually represents the least amount of effort. When the physical system is simpler to exploit, there is no need to spend hours trying to hack into an electronic system. The next time someone enters the room behind you and you do not recognize them, pause and find out who they are and why they are there. If you do this and someone who is not supposed to be there is present, he will almost always leave as soon as possible. The guy will almost certainly be able to provide the name of the person he is there to see if he is supposed to be there.

5. You do realize that you are calling me crazy.

You do realize that you are calling me crazy, don’t you? Now consider Kevin Mitnick. One of history’s most honored hackers, he. The US administration believed he was capable of invoking a nuclear attack by whistling into a phone. He mostly used social engineering to carry out his hacking. He carried out some of the greatest hacks to date, whether he did it by making phone calls or going to the offices in person. Google his name to learn more about him or read the two novels he has published.

The Real Vulnerabilities in Network Security. I don’t understand why people try to minimize such assaults. I suppose some network engineers are simply too proud of their network to acknowledge how easily it may be infiltrated. Or is it that people don’t believe they should be in charge of teaching their staff members? Most businesses don’t grant their IT departments the authority to support physical security. The facility manager or building manager typically deals with issues like this. But even if you can only educate your staff a little, you might be able to stop a network breach brought on by a physical or social engineering attack. SSD R2 Site 

• What are the 4 main types of security vulnerability?
• What are the types of vulnerabilities in network?
• What are the top 10 vulnerabilities?
• What is the known vulnerabilities to computer information security?

The Real Vulnerabilities in Network Security - SSD R2 Site

Is it still necessary to network cable your home?

Is it still necessary to network cable your home? It is incredibly tempting to cut the cord in order to save a considerable amount of money in light of the widespread use of wireless networking and communication equipment. But can a typical computer networking user accomplish all of their tasks via a wireless network? We should see a few benefits and drawbacks. SSD R2 Site

1. The amount of bandwidth, or simply speed.

The amount of bandwidth, or simply speed, that is available with a cabled network, is a significant benefit. CAT5E cable, one of the numerous varieties of Wi-Fi, can currently connect devices at speeds of up to 1000Mbit/sec, but IEEE802.11g, one of the many flavours of Wi-Fi, can only deliver 54Mbit/sec. If you only plan to use the Internet to browse, and the fastest DSL speed that is accessible to you is 1.5Mbit/sec, it might not seem like a big deal.

However, if you must print to a distant printer using your network connection, you should be aware that the print jobs may easily total dozens or even hundreds of megabytes, depending on the amount of graphic data they contain. One 100MByte print job will take 15 seconds to transmit over a Wi-Fi wireless connection (1 minute or less in reality), and one second or less over a wired 1000MBit/s Ethernet connection because 1Byte=8bit. The same idea applies for transferring data, backing up files on other network machines, etc.

2. It is not currently possible.

It is not currently possible and most likely won’t be in the future to transmit the power required for your networking equipment via the wireless link. Unless, of course, you’d be willing to be exposed to extremely high microwave radiation levels. Therefore, a device that was advertised to you as “un-tethered” will in fact be strongly tethered by the power cord or require periodic recharge. For equipment that is supposed to be constantly online, like phone sets, the power requirements are becoming more and more crucial. Therefore, it works best when linked via a wire that can simultaneously transmit power and the communication signal.

3. To transmit multi-media signals.

To transmit multi-media signals, wireless communications are highly proprietary and need for a wide range of equipment conversion. The same CAT5E cable may accommodate phone, computer network, balanced line level audio, baseband video, as well as a variety of other, more specific control application signals, without requiring any modifications. The same cable can transmit a substantial number of broadband television channels or a baseband video signal across long distances using affordable adapters called “baluns.” If any of those applications required to be transmitted over a Wi-Fi link, they would all necessitate specialized expensive conversion equipment, with the exception of course of the computer network.

4. The financial savings.

The financial savings of not having wires run throughout the house are not as clear-cut as they first appear. You have only completely done away with the requirement for wiring in your home by installing a wireless network for your computer network. But even without computers, a modern home needs a variety of wiring to function. The power and phones, as well as thermostats and security systems, are obvious examples. Pre-wired speakers are ubiquitous and most homes today have intercom systems as a desirable option, and those too require substantial wiring.

Is it still necessary to network cable your home?

The same contractor that runs the intercom or security wires is probably qualified to run computer cables, CAT5E or greater. If you’re building a house, you should absolutely find out if computer cabling is an option. Our recommendation is to buy it now, before the walls are finished. Installing the cables subsequently will be a time-consuming and costly process. The latest models ship with 1000MBit/sec cards that are basically free to the machine’s owner, which is another cost advantage of a connected computer network. All modern computers come with wired Ethernet network interface cards already installed.

5. On how to properly plan and construct.

On how to properly plan and construct a residential cabling system for voice, data, audio, video, and other applications, there are many resources available. The TIA/EIA-570B standard, whose most recent release was released in 2004, is one of the better sources. The suggested cable types, distribution principles for single- and multi-family dwellings, and the recommended number of cables to install depending on the size of the house are all outlined in the standard.

 

Is it still necessary to network cable your home? In conclusion, breaking the wire appears to be a step forward, some kind of release for the computer from the infrastructure’s constraints. But before joining the wireless revolution, I would advise the reader to be more thoughtful and well-informed. There are still good reasons to include a professionally built cabling system in your list of dream home alternatives, and there probably always will be. SSD R2 Site

• Do I need Ethernet cables in my house?
• Is it worth running network cable?
• Do people still use Ethernet cable?
• Do you need a network cable for WiFi?

Is it still necessary to network cable your home? - SSD R2 Site

How To Secure Your Wireless Network

How To Secure Your Wireless Network. Due to wireless networks, people’s schedules are extra flexible. Thanks to wi-fi technology’s development. Nowadays, humans are capable to work from home whilst caring for their kids or performing housework. No longer careworn out by traffic. Is this amazing? SSD R2 Site

 

You must be aware of something, though. If vital precautions aren’t taken, working from domestic while utilizing a WLAN may want to end result in the theft of confidential information and hacker or virus intrusion. Due to the reality that WLANs transmit facts over radio waves, it is viable for anybody close by to acquire the transmission and get entry to your computer. When you return to work, they can put viruses on your laptop that spread to the company’s network.

 

You higher consider it! Up to 75% of WLAN users lack primary safety elements installed, and 20% have their networks configured through default with no safety at all in order to get them up and strolling as quickly as possible. It is recommended to use a wired patron each time configuring a wi-fi router or get entry to point.

 

These steps can help you set up your security:

 

1. Replace the access point’s default administrative password with a tightly closed one.

2. Set the card and the get entry to point’s WEP encryption to at least 128 bits.

Alternate your WEP keys frequently. Consider altering equipment if it cannot assist at least 128-bit WEP encryption. Even though WEP has safety flaws, it still affords a minimal level of safety and must be enabled.

3. Make your router’s or access point’s default SSID a name that is challenging for humans to guess.

Set up your laptop or other machine to routinely connect to this SSID.

4. Configure the router or get right of entry to point so that the SSID is now not broadcast.

On the purchaser side, the same SSID must be explicitly configured. It’s feasible that now not all tools support this capability.

5. Block pings or queries made anonymously on the Internet.

Network connection properties on each computing device with a wireless community card be set up to solely allow connections to get admission to factor networks. Peer-to-peer (computer-to-computer) connections shouldn’t be permitted.

Switch on MAC filtering. Deny affiliation with wi-fi community for MAC addresses that are not listed.

Mac or physical addresses are physically written on network cards and are accessible via the network connection settings of your laptop equipment. Their MAC addresses must be registered with the router or get entry to factor when adding new wireless playing cards or computer systems to the network. Demilitarized quarter (DMZ) functionality on the community router have to be disabled.

In addition to a hardware firewall, each and every laptop also have a precise configured personal firewall.

When new versions of the firmware for routers and get right of entry to factors are released, you must also improve them. It is also really helpful to place the router or get admission to point away from outsiders so that they can’t reset it to its default settings. To limit signal insurance backyard of the building, you can even strive to place the router or get entry to factor in the center of the structure instead of next to windows.

How To Secure Your Wireless Network. Although there is no assurance that your wireless network will be definitely protected, enforcing these recommendations will limit your exposure to attackers searching for out susceptible networks. SSD R2 Site

• How do I secure an unsecured wireless network?
• What is the most secure method for a wireless network?
• How do I know if my wireless network is secure?

How To Secure Your Wireless Network - SSD R2 Site

Secure Your Windows XP Home Computer in 5 Easy Steps

Secure Your Windows XP Home Computer in 5 Easy Steps. Discover the easy actions you must take to shield your PC from common internet security threats. It is simple and won’t set you back a lot of money. SSD R2 Site

The majority of people are aware that Microsoft’s Windows operating system and other products frequently have security concerns. Most people are unaware of how simple it is to greatly enhance your computer’s security and lessen your risk of falling prey to the sophisticated attacks that lurk on the internet. These procedures shouldn’t take more than a few hours to complete and shouldn’t empty your bank account.

1. Windows Update

Windows Update is the first and most important action you must do to ensure that all of your Microsoft software are up to date. These “patches” or upgrades take care of various problems, including security flaws. These updates are typically released by Microsoft on a monthly basis. Activate automatic updates from the Windows Control panel or go to the Microsoft website. This is a crucial initial step even if your “new” PC is used. Make sure Service Pack 2 (SP2) is installed if you purchase a used computer running Windows XP.

2. Strong Passwords

Strong Passwords – Having well considered passwords is a crucial component of your computer security, yet it is frequently overlooked. A sturdy password ought to be at least eight characters lengthy and incorporate a aggregate of letters, numbers, and symbols. You should at the very least ensure that the services that are most vulnerable have secure log-in credentials. Your bank, credit card, other financial services like PayPal, email address, and any other services like ebay that hackers could use to make money are among these services.

3. Anti-Virus Protection

Anti-Virus Protection – While it is true that the threat posed by computer viruses has diminished over the past several years, they are still capable of causing significant harm to your computer. Because PC manufacturers are now more regularly incorporating anti-virus packages with their new systems, the threat has diminished in part. For instance, a 90-day trial of McAfee’s Internet Security Suite was included with the purchase of my new Dell last year. The best option in this case is to get a security package that at the very least contains firewall and anti-virus software. Products from Symantec Norton and McAfee are among the best brands. Microsoft, on the other hand, has just lately entered the market with their “OneCare” product, which offers relatively low prices.

4. Firewall

Firewall – A firewall is unquestionably necessary if you have a broadband connection to control the traffic that goes between your computer and the internet. Your computer’s ports are monitored by a firewall as inbound internet traffic flows through them. Better products additionally keep an eye on the internet traffic that leaves your machine. The ideal option in this case, as mentioned above, is to purchase a firewall application as part of a security package, which most providers include by default. You don’t need anything extra if your router bundle has a hardware firewall. Zone Labs, a firm, provides a fantastic free firewall program called Zone Alarm, which ought to be utilized as a minimum. The free firewall that comes with Windows XP nowadays does not monitor outbound communication, thus I don’t think it provides sufficient security.

5. Anti-spyware tool

The last component of your basic internet security setup is the anti-spyware tool. By preventing malware and adware, this tool helps. A nice balance of free and premium versions are available. Microsoft’s Windows Defender, Spybot S&D, or Ewido Anti-Malware are examples of good free software. Computer support forums usually suggest Ewido Anti-Malware. If you choose to buy a solution, exercise caution.

 

There are a lot of dishonest sellers out there who aggressively promote goods that are of little use to you. Keep to well-known brands like PC Tool’s Spyware Doctor or Webroot’s Spy Sweeper. Independent tests always show positive results for these products, and these are secure Your Windows XP Home Computer in 5 Easy Steps. Other articals SSD R2 Site 

• How do I make Windows XP secure?
• What are the basic steps to secure the operating system?
• How do I secure my Windows operating system?
• What are the five new features of Windows XP?

Secure Your Windows XP Home Computer in 5 Easy Steps (ssdr2.com)