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Hack 77 Security FAQ

Rod Trent, CEO of myITforum.com, shares his
answers to common security questions.

At myITforum.com (http://www.myitforum.com), we often get
questions regarding general network-security
issues, and I try to answer them in the form of a Security FAQ.
Here's a short selection of the most common
questions we receive, along with my responses. You can find more
security tips at myITforum.com.

Steps to Computer Security

What can I do to make sure my computer is secure?

It depends on whether you are a consumer or a business.

Consumers

Consumers should start by using an Internet firewall on all
PCs and laptops. An Internet firewall can help prevent outsiders from
getting to your computer through the Internet. If you use Windows XP,
enable the built-in firewall feature on that platform. You should
also update your computer regularly, either by using the Automatic
Updates feature or by regularly visiting the Windows Update web site
to download the latest Microsoft security updates. Also, make sure
your antivirus software is up-to-date; installing, configuring and
maintaining your antivirus software is absolutely essential.

Businesses

Businesses should follow a similar but more involved
procedure. Start by verifying the configuration of your firewalls for
both Internet and intranet. By auditing your firewall configurations,
you ensure they comply with your company's security
policy. Firewalls are your first line of defense, and best practice
requires blocking all ports that are not actually being used by
applications on your network. Business should also protect their
networks by requiring employees to follow the precautions outlined by
Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/) on both
their home PCs and laptops, especially if they use these machines to
connect to your enterprise. PCs and laptops that VPN or RAS into your
network must be protected by a properly configured firewall.

Businesses must also keep their systems up-to-date with the latest
security patches from Microsoft. To do so, subscribe to
Microsoft's free security notification service and
use Microsoft update services to automatically obtain patches for
your network, see [Hack #78] for
more information. Finally, business should invest in antivirus
software, because such protection is absolutely essential for keeping
sensitive business data safe from attackers.

Vulnerability Types

Q: What are the vulnerability types that I need to monitor against?

A: There are three
basic
types of vulnerability:

Administrative vulnerability

The failure to observe administrative best practices, such as using a
weak password or logging onto an account that has more user rights
than the user requires to perform a specific task.

Product vulnerability

A security-related bug in a product that is addressed by a security
bulletin/hotfix or a service pack.

Physical vulnerability

The failure to provide physical security for a computer. Physical
vulnerability can include leaving an unlocked workstation running in
an area that is accessible to unauthorized users, leaving a server
room unlocked or open, or losing a laptop or leaving it at a customer
site.

Strong Password Policy

Q: What is the best practice to follow when creating policies for user passwords?

A: Each company's security-level
needs
are different, but in general, strong passwords should be at least
six characters long, should not contain all or part of the
user's account name, and should contains at least
three of the four following categories of characters: uppercase
letters, lowercase letters, Base 10 digits, and nonalphanumeric
symbols found on the keyboard, such as !, @, and #.

How Microsoft Handles Security

Q: Is there any documentation on how Microsoft handles security against worms and viruses?

A: Yes. Microsoft has
released
a "Security at Microsoft" white
paper on how they handle security issues (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=73f1ba8e-a15c-4c05-be87-8d21b1372485).
This paper describes what Microsoft's Corporate
Security Group does to prevent malicious or unauthorized use of
digital assets at Microsoft. This asset protection takes place
through a formal risk-management framework, risk-management
processes, and clear organizational roles and responsibilities. The
basis of the approach is recognition that risk is an inherent part of
any environment and that risk should be proactively managed. The
principles and techniques described in Microsoft's
white paper can be employed to manage risk at any organization.

Reporting Security Incidents to Microsoft

Q: How can I report a security incident or vulnerability to Microsoft?

A: If you have
purchased
Microsoft support, you should contact your Technical Account Manager
(TAM). You can also use the web form at

Reporting Security Incidents to Government Authorities

Q: We've just had a security incident. Who can I call to report it?

A: The FBI encourages the public
to report any suspected
violations of U.S. federal law. Never think that your security
incident is insignificant. Your incident might be part of a larger
attack or the beginning of a larger attack. You can find your local
FBI Field Division information at http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.

Getting Government Security Clearance

Q: How can you apply for security clearance for a government job?

A: In our daily newsletter
at myITforum.com (http://www.myitforum.com/newsletter.asp), we
sometimes post open positions for jobs in the government sector that
require special security clearance before applying. Several folks
have wondered what it takes to get the security clearance, and a list
of good tidbits of information were posted to the myITforum.com
Off-Topic list (http://www.topica.com/lists/myOTforum/). Here
are some additional places you can find information on government
security clearance:

FBI Information Sheet: http://www.jobcircle.com/career/coach/jf_2002_09l

Security Clearances: http://www.taonline.com/securityclearances/

Rod Trent