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SECURITY INVESTIGATION
2.1 NEED FOR SECURITY
The purpose of information security management is to ensure business continuity and reduce
business damage by preventing and minimizing the impact of security incidents. The Audit
Commission Update report (1998) shows that fraud or cases of IT abuse often occur due to the
absence of basic controls, with one half of all detected frauds found by accident.
Information Security Management System (ISMS) enables information to be shared, whilst
ensuring the protection of information and computing assets.
At the most practical level, securing the information on your computer means:
Ensuring that your information remains confidential and only those who should access that
information, can.
Knowing that no one has been able to change your information, so you can depend on its
accuracy (information integrity).
Making sure that your information is available when you need it (by making back-up copies and,
if appropriate, storing the back-up copies off-site).
2.2 BUSINESS NEEDS FIRST
Information security performs four important functions for an organization:
1. Protects the organization’s ability to function
2. Enables the safe operation of applications implemented on the organization’s IT systems.
3. Protects the data the organization collects and uses.
4. Safeguards the technology assets in use at the organization.
Protecting the functionality of an organization
Decision makers in organizations must set policy and operate their organizations in compliance
with the complex, shifting legislation that controls the use of technology.
Enabling the safe operation of applications
Organizations are under immense pressure to acquire and operate integrated, efficient, and
capable applications
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The modern organization needs to create an environment that safeguards applications using the
organization’s IT systems, particularly those applications that serve as important elements of the
infrastructure of the organization.
Protecting data that organizations collect & use
Protecting data in motion
Protecting data at rest
Both are critical aspects of information security.
The value of data motivates attackers to seal, sabotage, or corrupt it.
It is essential for the protection of integrity and value of the organization’s data
Safeguarding Technology assets in organizations
Must add secure infrastructure services based on the size and scope of the enterprise.
Organizational growth could lead to the need for public key infrastructure, PKI, an integrated
system of software, encryption methodologies.
2.3 THREATS
To protect an organization’s information, you must
1. Know yourself: (i.e) be familiar with the information to be protected, and the systems that
store, transport and process it.
2. Know the threats you face- To make sound decisions about information security, management
must be informed about the various threats facing the organization, its application, data and
information systems.
A threat is an object, person, or other entity, that represents a constant danger to an asset.
2.3.1 Threats
1. Acts of Human Error or Failure:
Acts performed without intent or malicious purpose by an authorized user.
because of in experience ,improper training,
Making of incorrect assumptions.
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One of the greatest threats to an organization’s information security is the organization’s own
employees.
Entry of erroneous data
Accidental deletion or modification of data
Storage of data in unprotected areas.
Failure to protect information can be prevented with
Training
Ongoing awareness activities
Verification by a second party
Many military applications have robust, dual- approval controls built-in.
2. Compromises to Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property is defined as the ownership of ideas and control over the tangible or virtual
representation of those ideas.
Intellectual property includes trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
Once intellectual property has been defined and properly identified, breaches to IP constitute a
threat to the security of this information.
Organization purchases or leases the IP of other organizations.
Most Common IP breach is the unlawful use or duplication of software based intellectual
property more commonly known as software Piracy.
Software Piracy affects the world economy.
U.S provides approximately 80% of world’s software.
In addition to the laws surrounding software piracy, two watch dog organizations investigate
allegations of software abuse.
1. Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) (i.e)Software Publishers Association
2. Business Software Alliance (BSA)
Another effort to combat (take action against) piracy is the online registration process.
3. Deliberate Acts of Espionage or Trespass
Electronic and human activities that can breach the confidentiality of information.
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When an unauthorized individual’s gain access to the information an organization is trying to
protect is categorized as act of espionage or trespass.
Attackers can use many different methods to access the information stored in an information
system.
Competitive Intelligence [use web browser to get information from market research]
Industrial espionage (spying)
Shoulder Surfing (ATM)
Trespass
Can lead to unauthorized real or virtual actions that enable information gatherers to enter
premises or systems they have not been authorized to enter.
Sound principles of authentication & authorization can help organizations protect valuable
information and systems.
Hackers-> ―People who use and create computer software to gain access to information
illegally‖
There are generally two skill levels among hackers.
Expert Hackers-> Masters of several programming languages, networking protocols, and
operating systems.
Unskilled Hackers
4. Deliberate Acts of information Extortion (obtain by force or threat)
Possibility of an attacker or trusted insider stealing information from a computer system and
demanding compensation for its return or for an agreement not to disclose the information.
5. Deliberate Acts of sabotage or Vandalism
Destroy an asset or
Damage the image of organization
Cyber terrorism-Cyber terrorists hack systems to conduct terrorist activities through network or
internet pathways.
6. Deliberate Acts of Theft
Illegal taking of another’s property-- is a constant problem.
Within an organization, property can be physical, electronic, or intellectual.
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Physical theft can be controlled by installation of alarm systems.
Trained security professionals.
Electronic theft control is under research.
7. Deliberate Software Attacks
Because of malicious code or malicious software or sometimes malware.
These software components are designed to damage, destroy or deny service to the target
system.
More common instances are
Virus, Worms, Trojan horses, Logic bombs, Backdoors.
―The British Internet Service Provider Cloudnine‖ be the first business ―hacked out of
existence‖
7.1 Virus
Segments of code that performs malicious actions.
Virus transmission is at the opening of Email attachment files.
Macro virus-> Embedded in automatically executing macrocode common in word processors,
spreadsheets and database applications.
Boot Virus-> infects the key operating files located in the computer’s boot sector.
7.2 Worms
A worm is a malicious program that replicates itself constantly, without requiring another
program to provide a safe environment for replication.
Worms can continue replicating themselves until they completely fill available resources, such
as memory, hard drive space, and network bandwidth.
Eg: MS-Blaster, MyDoom, Netsky, are multifaceted attack worms.
Once the worm has infected a computer, it can redistribute itself to all e-mail addresses found on
the infected system.
Furthermore, a worm can deposit copies of itself onto all Web servers that the infected systems
can reach, so that users who subsequently visit those sites become infected.
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7.3 Trojan Horses
Are software programs that hide their true nature and reveal their designed behaviour only when
activated?
7.4 Back Door or Trap Door
A Virus or Worm has a payload that installs a backdoor or trapdoor component in a system,
which allows the attacker to access the system at will with special privileges.
Eg: Back Orifice
Polymorphism
A Polymorphic threat is one that changes its apparent shape over time, making it undetectable by
techniques that look for preconfigured signatures.
These viruses and Worms actually evolve, changing their size, and appearance to elude detection
by antivirus software programs.
7.5 Virus & Worm Hoaxes
Types of Trojans
Data Sending Trojans
Proxy Trojans
FTP Trojans
Security software disabler Trojans
Denial of service attack Trojans (DOS)
Virus
A program or piece of code that be loaded on to your computer, without your knowledge and run
against your wishes.
Worm
A program or algorithm that replicates itself over a computer network and usually performs
malicious actions.
Trojan horse
A destructive program that masquerade on beginning application, unlike viruses, Trojan horse do
not replicate themselves.
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Blended threat
Blended threats combine the characteristics of virus, worm, Trojan horses & malicious code with
server and Internet Vulnerabilities.
Antivirus Program
A Utility that searches a hard disk for viruses and removes any that found.
7.8 Forces of Nature
Fire: Structural fire that damages the building. Also encompasses smoke damage from a fire or
water damage from sprinkles systems.
Flood: Can sometimes be mitigated with flood insurance and/or business interruption Insurance.
Earthquake: Can sometimes be mitigated with specific causality insurance and/or business
interruption insurance, but is usually a separate policy.
Lightning: An Abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere.
Landslide/Mudslide: The downward sliding of a mass of earth & rocks directly damaging all
parts of the information systems.
Tornado/Severe Windstorm
Huricane/typhoon
Tsunami
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Dust Contamination
Since it is not possible to avoid force of nature threats, organizations must implement controls to limit
damage.
They must also prepare contingency plans for continued operations, such as disaster recovery
plans, business continuity plans, and incident response plans, to limit losses in the face of these
threats.
7.9 Deviations in Quality of Service
A product or service is not delivered to the organization as expected.
The Organization’s information system depends on the successful operation of many
interdependent support systems.
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It includes power grids, telecom networks, parts suppliers, service vendors, and even the
janitorial staff & garbage haulers.
This degradation of service is a form of availability disruption.
Internet Service Issues
Internet service Provider (ISP) failures can considerably undermine the availability of
information.
The web hosting services are usually arranged with an agreement providing minimum service
levels known as a Service level Agreement (SLA).
When a Service Provider fails to meet SLA, the provider may accrue fines to cover losses
incurred by the client, but these payments seldom cover the losses generated by the outage.
Communications & Other Service Provider Issues
Other utility services can affect the organizations are telephone, water, waste water, trash pickup,
cable television, natural or propane gas, and custodial services.
The loss of these services can impair the ability of an organization to function.
For an example, if the waste water system fails, an organization might be prevented from
allowing employees into the building.
This would stop normal business operations.
Power Irregularities
Fluctuations due to power excesses.
Power shortages &
Power losses
This can pose problems for organizations that provide inadequately conditioned power for their
information systems equipment.
When voltage levels spike (experience a momentary increase),or surge ( experience prolonged
increase ), the extra voltage can severely damage or destroy equipment.
The more expensive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can protect against spikes and surges.
7.10 Technical Hardware Failures or Errors
Resulting in unreliable service or lack of availability
Some errors are terminal, in that they result in unrecoverable loss of equipment.
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Some errors are intermittent, in that they resulting in faults that are not easily repeated.
7.11 Technical software failures or errors
This category involves threats that come from purchasing software with unknown, hidden faults.
Large quantities of computer code are written, debugged, published, and sold before all their
bugs are detected and resolved.
These failures range from bugs to untested failure conditions.
7.12 Technological obsolescence
Outdated infrastructure can lead to unreliable and untrustworthy systems.
Management must recognize that when technology becomes outdated, there is a risk of loss of
data integrity from attacks.
2.4 ATTACK
An attack is an act of or action that takes advantage of a vulnerability to compromise a
controlled system.
It is accomplished by a threat agent that damages or steals an organization’s information or
physical asset.
Vulnerability is an identified weakness in a controlled system, where controls are not present or
are no longer effective.
Attacks exist when a specific act or action comes into play and may cause a potential loss.
2.4.1 Malicious code
The malicious code attack includes the execution of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and active
Web scripts with the intent to destroy or steal information.
The state –of-the-art malicious code attack is the polymorphic or multivector, worm.
These attack programs use up to six known attack vectors to exploit a variety of vulnerabilities in
commonly found information system devices.
2.4.2 Attack Replication Vectors
1. IP scan & attack
2. Web browsing
3. Virus
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4. Unprotected shares
5. Mass mail
6. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
IP scan & attack
The infected system scans a random or local range of IP addresses and targets any of several
vulnerabilities known to hackers.
Web browsing
If the infected system has write access to any Web pages, it makes all Web content files
(.html,.asp,.cgi & others) infectious, so that users who browse to those pages become infected.
Virus
Each infected machine infects certain common executable or script files on all computers to
which it can write with virus code that can cause infection.
Unprotected shares
Using vulnerabilities in file systems and the way many organizations configure them, the
infected machine copies the viral component to all locations it can reach.
Mass Mail
By sending E-mail infections to addresses found in the address book, the infected machine
infects many users, whose mail -reading programs also automatically run the program & infect
other systems.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
By using the widely known and common passwords that were employed in early versions of this
protocol, the attacking program can gain control of the device. Most vendors have closed these
vulnerabilities with software upgrades.
2.4.3 Examples
Hoaxes
A more devious approach to attacking the computer systems is the transmission of a virus hoax
with a real virus attached.
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Even though these users are trying to avoid infection, they end up sending the attack on to their
co-workers.
Backdoors
Using a known or previously unknown and newly discovered access mechanism, an attacker can
gain access to a system or network resource through a back door.
Sometimes these entries are left behind by system designers or maintenance staff, and thus
referred to as trap doors.
A trap door is hard to detect, because very often the programmer who puts it in place also makes
the access exempt from the usual audit logging features of the system.
Password Crack
Attempting to reverse calculate a password is often called cracking.
A password can be hashed using the same algorithm and compared to the hashed results, if they
are same, the password has been cracked.
The (SAM) Security Account Manager file contains the hashed representation of the user’s
password.
Brute Force
The application of computing & network resources to try every possible combination of options
of a password is called a Brute force attack.
This is often an attempt to repeatedly guess passwords to commonly used accounts, it is
sometimes called a password attack.
Spoofing
It is a technique used to gain unauthorized access to computers, where in the intruder sends
messages to a computer that has an IP address that indicates that the messages are coming from a
trusted host.
Dictionary
This is another form of the brute force attack noted above for guessing passwords.
The dictionary attack narrows the field by selecting specific accounts to attack and uses a list of
commonly used passwords instead of random combinations.
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Denial –of- Services(DOS) & Distributed Denial –of- Service(DDOS)
The attacker sends a large number of connection or information requests to a target.
This may result in the system crashing, or simply becoming unable to perform ordinary
functions.
DDOS is an attack in which a coordinated stream of requests is launched dagainst a target from
many locations at the same.
Man-in-the –Middle
Otherwise called as TCP hijacking attack.
An attacker monitors packets from the network, modifies them, and inserts them back into the
network.
This type of attack uses IP spoofing.
It allows the attacker to change, delete, reroute, add, forge or divert data.
TCP hijacking session, the spoofing involves the interception of an encryption key exchange.
SPAM
Spam is unsolicited commercial E-mail.
It has been used to make malicious code attacks more effective.
Spam is considered as a trivial nuisance rather than an attack.
It is the waste of both computer and human resources it causes by the flow of unwanted E-mail.
Mail Bombing
Another form of E-mail attack that is also a DOS called a mail bomb.
Attacker routes large quantities of e-mail to the target.
The target of the attack receives unmanageably large volumes of unsolicited e-mail.
By sending large e-mails, attackers can take advantage of poorly configured e-mail systems on
the Internet and trick them into sending many e-mails to an address chosen by the attacker.
The target e-mail address is buried under thousands or even millions of unwanted e-mails.
Sniffers
A sniffer is a program or device that can monitor data traveling over a network.
Unauthorized sniffers can be extremely dangerous to a network’s security, because they are
virtually impossible to detect and can be inserted almost anywhere.
Sniffer often works on TCP/IP networks, where they are sometimes called ―packet sniffers‖
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Social Engineering
It is the process of using social skills to convince people to reveal access credentials or other
valuable information to the attacker.
An attacker gets more information by calling others in the company and asserting his/her
authority by mentioning chief’s name.
Buffer Overflow
A buffer overflow is an application error that occurs when more data is sent to a buffer than it
can handle.
Attacker can make the target system execute instructions.
Timing Attack
Works by exploring the contents of a web browser’s cache.
These attacks allow a Web designer to create a malicious form of cookie that is stored on the
client’s system.
The cookie could allow the designer to collect information on how to access password-protected
sites.
2.5 LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
The information security professional plays an important role in an organization’s approach to
managing liability for privacy and security risks. In the modern litigious societies of the world,
sometimes laws are enforced in civil courts, where large damages can be awarded to plaintiffs
who bring suits against organizations. Sometimes these damages are punitive—assessed as a
deterrent.
To minimize liability and reduce risks from electronic and physical threats, and to reduce all
losses from legal action, information security practitioners must thoroughly understand the
current legal environment, stay current with laws and regulations, and watch for new and
emerging issues.
2.5.1 Law and Ethics in Information Security
Laws are rules that mandate or prohibit certain behaviour in society; they are drawn from ethics,
which define socially acceptable behaviours. The key difference between laws and ethics is that
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laws carry the sanctions of a governing authority and ethics do not. Ethics in turn are based on
Cultural mores.
Types of Law
Civil law -comprises a wide variety of laws that govern a nation or state and deal with
the relationships and conflicts between organizational entities and people.
Criminal law -addresses activities and conduct harmful to society, and is actively
enforced by the state. Law can also be categorized as private or public.
Private law -encompasses family law, commercial law, and labour law, and regulates the
relationship between individuals and organizations.
Public law -regulates the structure and administration of government agencies and their
relationships with citizens, employees, and other governments. Public law includes
criminal, administrative, and constitutional law.
2.5.2 Relevant U.S. Laws – General
There are several key laws relevant to the field of information security and of particular interest to
those who live or work in the United States.
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986
National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996
USA Patriot Act of 2001
Telecommunications Deregulation and Competition Act of 1996
Communications Decency Act (CDA)
Computer Security Act of 1987
Privacy
The issue of privacy has become one of the hottest topics in information
The ability to collect information on an individual, combine facts from separate sources, and
merge it with other information has resulted in databases of information that were previously
impossible to set up
The aggregation of data from multiple sources permits unethical organizations to build databases
of facts with frightening capabilities
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Privacy of Customer Information
Privacy of Customer Information Section of Common Carrier Regulations
Federal Privacy Act of 1974
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 - is a collection of statutes that regulates
the interception of wire, electronic, and oral communications.
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act Of 1996 (HIPAA) also known as the
Kennedy-Kassebaum Act - protects the confidentiality and security of health care data by
establishing and enforcing standards and by standardizing electronic data interchange.
The Financial Services Modernization Act or Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999
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Key U.S. Laws of Interest to Information Security Professionals
Export and Espionage Laws
Economic Espionage Act in 1996- To protect American ingenuity, intellectual property, and
competitive advantage, Congress passed the Economic Espionage Act in 1996.
The Security and Freedom through Encryption Act of 1999 - provides guidance on the use of
encryption and provides protection from government intervention.
US Copyright Law
Intellectual property is recognized as a protected asset in the US
US copyright law extends this right to the published word, including electronic formats
Fair use of copyrighted materials includes
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The use to support news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and a number of other related
permissions
The purpose of the use has to be for educational or library purposes, not for profit, and
should not be excessive.
Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act provides any person with the right to request access to federal
agency records or information, not determined to be of national security
US Government agencies are required to disclose any requested information on receipt of
a written request.
There are exceptions for information that is protected from disclosure, and the Act does not
apply to state or local government agencies or to private businesses or individuals, although
many states have their own version of the FOIA
State & Local Regulations
In addition to the national and international restrictions placed on an organization in the use of
computer technology, each state or locality may have a number of laws and regulations that
impact operations.
It is the responsibility of the information security professional to understand state laws and
regulations and insure the organization’s security policies and procedures comply with those
laws and regulations.
2.5.3 International Laws and Legal Bodies
Recently the Council of Europe drafted the European Council Cyber-Crime Convention,
designed.
To create an international task force to oversee a range of security functions associated
with Internet activities,
To standardize technology laws across international borders
It also attempts to improve the effectiveness of international investigations into breaches of
technology law.
This convention is well received by advocates of intellectual property rights with its emphasis on
copyright infringement prosecution.
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Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is the US version of an international effort to
reduce the impact of copyright, trademark, and privacy infringement
The European Union Directive 95/46/EC increases protection of individuals with regard to the
processing of personal data and limits the free movement of such data
The United Kingdom has already implemented a version of this directive called the Database
Right
United Nations Charter
To some degree the United Nations Charter provides provisions for information security during
Information Warfare.
Information Warfare (IW) involves the use of information technology to conduct offensive
operations as part of an organized and lawful military operation by a sovereign state
IW is a relatively new application of warfare, although the military has been conducting
electronic warfare and counter-warfare operations for decades, jamming, intercepting, and
spoofing enemy communications.
Policy versus Law
Most organizations develop and formalize a body of expectations called policy
Policies function in an organization like laws
For a policy to become enforceable, it must be:
Distributed to all individuals who are expected to comply with it
Readily available for employee reference
Easily understood with multi-language translations and translations for visually impaired,
or literacy-impaired employees
Acknowledged by the employee, usually by means of a signed consent form
Only when all conditions are met, does the organization have a reasonable expectation of
effective policy.
2.5.4 Ethical Concepts in Information Security
Cultural Differences in Ethical Concepts
Differences in cultures cause problems in determining what is ethical and what is not ethical
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Studies of ethical sensitivity to computer use reveal different nationalities have different
perspectives
Difficulties arise when one nationality’s ethical behaviour contradicts that of another national
group
Ethics and Education
Employees must be trained and kept aware of a number of topics related to information security,
not the least of which is the expected behaviors of an ethical employee
This is especially important in areas of information security, as many employees may not have
the formal technical training to understand that their behavior is unethical or even illegal
Proper ethical and legal training is vital to creating an informed, well prepared, and low-risk
system user
Deterrence to Unethical and Illegal Behaviour
Deterrence - preventing an illegal or unethical activity
Laws, policies, and technical controls are all examples of deterrents
Laws and policies only deter if three conditions are present:
Fear of penalty
Probability of being caught
Probability of penalty being administered
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