Wireless networks which are normally evident in homes right now does provide a lot of comfort as far as Internet options that we see common these days. The same is likewise present in companies, doing away with the standard cable infrastructure and making it easier to clean up your homes without having to worry about tripping on any cable for that matter.

But while such a privilege is another fruit of technology, duty calls as far as limiting network access. Passwords are still the wise investment for securing your wireless network and at the start it does look like a lot of work and a bit complicated. Limiting access by providing a (Media Access Control) MAC address and disabling the SSID broadcast can help in making sure your wireless network cannot be found or detected.

With various technology means today, practically anyone is trying to look for wireless internet. That is how much Internet is being demanded these days. But this includes both sane and malicious people who may want to give problems.

So for people who want to protect their wireless networks, here are some tips you can consider:

Don’t use defaults. It is almost always a good idea to change default usernames and passwords and your wireless router is no exception. One of the first things you should do when setting up your wireless network is to change the default administrator username and password.

Additionally, most routers have a default name, or SSID, for your wireless network (i.e. belkin54g). It’s a good idea to change this for several reasons. First, if you don’t change it, it will serve as a hint to intruders that you probably left the defaults in place everywhere. Second, once an intruder knows what model router you’re using, it’s not difficult to find the default username/password and to look for known exploits.

Use encryption. Every good router supports encryption and if you’re not using it, your network’s security is likely to be compromised. If you have newer equipment, use WPA or WPA2 encryption. WEP encryption is less secure.

Use MAC address filtering. Every network card, whether it’s wireless or wired, has a unique Media Access Control address (MAC address). A good wireless router will allow you to specify that only certain MAC addresses be allowed to access the wireless network. This can help prevent unauthorized computers from accessing your network.

Be sure to read your router’s documentation to find out how to set up MAC address filtering. To find out how to determine the MAC address of your network cards, click here.

Use your firewall. Most good routers have some sort of firewall built in and it should be used in addition to a good software firewall that is installed on the devices accessing your wireless network.

Disable SSID broadcast. By default, most routers “broadcast” their existence to the world. This makes it easier for devices to detect their presence and connect automatically. But this broadcast also gives intruders a target. By making your network “invisible” and setting up devices that need to access it to connect manually when in range, you can make your network less of a target to less-savvy intruders.

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Tags: firewall, home, mac, networks, ssid, Wireless

Categories: Network Security, News, Wireless Security

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We keep on talking about how important it is to build on security for our computer and our network but we fail to realize that it will ultimately lie on how responsible the assigned user will be when it comes to safeguarding his username and password as far as access to the computer or network is concerned. Apparently, there is always a human error in these cases and if we look at some news briefs, we will notice that majority of hacking or intrusion issues originate at the hands of one person.

This is not actually saying that an assigned user has the ability to control or have companies at the tip of his fingers. Remember, one act of illegal practice can be a cause for legal action. In fact, it is easier to uphold the law on such a person to safeguard the interest of a company. So either way, no person in his right mind would want to bear the burden of being sued and taken to court for something that was bestowed upon him with complete trust.

Hacking is one thing but divulging is another. This is a practice that should be corrected in most cases. People fail to realize the importance of their participation in a network. No matter how great a security barrier is against any outside intruders, security protection includes making sure that the trusted employee is indeed a reliable one. In short, cleaning up the bad vibes and potential threats start internally rather than external.

Tags: computer, legal action, network, password, security, username

Categories: IT Security Basics, Network Security, Security Policies

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If you are using Linux and you have been wondering what you can use to make your system secure via a firewall, you could try out tools with graphical user interface and all those other stuff. In any case, there’s also another method: using iptables.

What are iptables?

iptables are used by system administrators in creating rules for packet filtering, as well as NAT modules. It might seem a little too weird for those who have not much experience on the command line but this is essential so that people would be able to make sure that they are secure, especially if they are connected. Sometimes you never know what’s going on in the background, right? But with tools like this, you’d manage.

There are different states of connection and the nice thing about iptables is that it monitors the state of the connection. It could do redirects and modify or stop data packets. Because of its ability to detect the state of the connection, it is considered as better compared to ipchains.

Making rules

The system administrator makes the rules for the iptables. These rules determine how to deal with network packets. They are grouped into chains.

a. filter table – For filtering packets, obviously.
b. nat table – This sets up how rewriting ports and packets.
c. mangle table – Does it sound terrible? Mangle? But as the name implies, there is some mangling involved because it adjusts packet options.

The thing about these chains, these rules is that the packets that go through these chains would be evaluated according to the rules.

As one of the people I know have told me, you must make sure that you check out the settings of your computer first. Before you even think about downloading anything, make sure you are not vulnerable to some attacks that could happen. Make sure that the important ports are closed and that you’re in stealth. Stay tuned for more IT security tips and news to help you in your everyday life.

Tags: computers, IT Security Basics, Network Security, networking, security

Categories: IT Security Basics, Network Security

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Businesses – especially large multinational companies – rely heavily on data center services. With practically everyone depending on technology to carry on their businesses, this is but part of the natural progression of things. Of course, there is always the issue of security; and that’s where entities like Secode AB come into the picture.

Secode AB is a company that specializes in managed security services, or MSS. As a matter of fact, they have been at the forefront of this industry in Europe for many years. They’re known for providing high quality managed data center service, and earlier this month, another big player entered the playing field.

NTT Communications, which is definitely one of the most recognizable names in the world of technology, communication, management solutions, etc., has acquired Secode AB. The acquisition was announced earlier this month, although the exact terms have not been released to the public.

What is important is that northern European customers who have a great need for security services for data centers will be enjoying the benefits that both companies can offer. With all the resources of NTT backing Secode AB up, businesses operating in northern Europe can be more assured of 24/7 services to deal with the ever present security threats. Some areas that are covered include intrusion detection and prevention, log management, vulnerability analysis, data-loss prevention, anti-virus and anti-spam, managed VPN/firewall, and mobile security.

This development is sure to be welcomed with open arms by concerned parties all over Europe.  Current Secode SEO Trygve Reinertsen will continue to head the new subsidiary.

Tags: data-centers, it-security, managed data center service, managed security services, northern Europe, NTT Communications, Secode AB

Categories: Network Security, News, Storage

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Harmful objects can be obtained from the web. We are all aware that Malware and Trojans are rampant objects that have been wandering of anywhere on the Internet, especially websites that are often visited by people for reference and information. Such sites would get hijacked and also contaminate visiting users as well, something that can be done through Internet cookies stored on the web folder in the machines.

While developers and security administrators have religiously searched for ways to find such solutions, the ever changing development of new threats coming from the Internet has been far from over. To date, even the well-protected workstations can still be penetrated by objects that are not immediately visible.

Internet fences in the form of firewalls and software protection templates have tried to stop such intrusions but need to be updated frequently to answer the related threats. Without such temporary fences that are up, workstations are sitting ducks waiting to be shot, and if web administrators are not up to date with the new threats, the fences used are good as gone once they occur.

Tags: firewall, Malware, Spyware, trojans

Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Physical Security, Security Policies, Spyware

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Viruses and malware issues are far from being a thing of the past. On the contrary, they seem to grow large by numbers as each day passes. Thus the works of security software companies have their work cut out for them. There is not definite date to which such threats and intrusions would wholly be resolved.

For the time being, it would be advisable for people to scan third party storage devices such as diskettes, USB drives and mobile storages to be safe and sound. These wandering viruses can attack at any time and this is a fact anywhere computer related materials are concerned.

Files can go as far as infecting the executable files, hence document, excel and compiled scripts are baits for immediate infection and malicious intrusions. Software applications also have their limits as their development teams cater only to a specific genre for known harmful files. But it is better to lower the risk of intrusion than not having protection at all.

[tags]scan, spyware, virus, infections, spyware, malware, trojans[/tags]

Tags: infections, Malware, scan, Spyware, trojans, virus

Categories: Backups, IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Operating Systems, Programming, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Spyware, Storage, Tips, Wireless Security

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Who said that Obama does not have a techie side to him? If reports earlier this month are to be believed, the newbie President is not ignoring the importance of cyber space. Iain Thomson of Vnunet.com had this report early this month:

US president Barack Obama has ordered an immediate 60-day review of the online security of government IT systems to check for vulnerabilities.

“The national security and economic health of the US depend on the security, stability and integrity of our nation’s cyber space, both in the public and private sectors,” said John Brennan, assistant to the president for counter-terrorism and homeland security.

First thoughts…this is wonderful; this coming from the head of the country, it should be a good sign. However, I was thinking about the 60-day limit – would this be enough? More so, are the intelligence arms going to be part of this review? I doubt that the CIA, the FBI, and the NSA will allow anyone to take a look into their systems. Maybe the review is just for the less sensitive government agencies. Who knows?
In any case, I was just thinking of those people who love hacking systems to get credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and the like. Those days will probably be gone pretty soon, don’t you think?

Categories: Malware, Network Security, News, Privacy & Anonymity, Real-World Issues, Security Policies

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Hackers in the modern day can really be a problem. But if you talk about money being involved (which is usually the case) breaching a supposedly secure IT infrastructure is bound to get a lot of attention.

It is in these cases where you have to wonder, do you credit the intelligence of these people or curse them for being able to breach such confidential systems. The $50,000 dollars that they got was no joke and these days, that money can go a long way. A recourse stemming from the hard times perhaps?

Police said a hacker, possibly with international connections, succeeded in planting a keystroke logger onto the computer of Sandwich, Mass., Treasurer Craig Mayen, and was able to watch while he entered his security password, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

You have to hand it to these people. In times where money is hard to come by, hitting a town treasury is certainly an accomplishment for them. However, it also means that you are liable for crime and lawsuits especially if you get caught. At the moment, the only lead to it all is a Florida man who said he was wired money to open the accounts reportedly from Russia. A Russian hacker? It can make sense.

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Tags: hacker, russia, sandwich, treasury

Categories: Network Security, News, Real-World Issues

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What drives a potential developer to come up with their own anti-spyware software? Well for sure, it is the part where he would experience such a inconvenience and apparently for Blue Penguin Software founder Carl Haugen, this lead to the development of SpyZooka.

SpyZooka guarantees 100% removal of spyware, adware, Trojan horses, hijackers, botnets and other malware threatening the security of your computer. SpyZooka will accomplish this in an astoundingly fast 24 hours! Blue Penguin backs up this guarantee with solid results, round the clock technical support and a string of satisfied customers.

The success of SpyZooka has been quiet since 2004. In fact, SpyZooka was not even among the top anti-spyware software that we would come across the web. But regardless, SpyZooka is not a hoax or pushover. It has even gotten a number of prestigious awards including Wugnet’s Shareware Hall of Fame and Tucows five cows.

So how is this new software reliable? Well for one, it covers most of the hazards of the web today including Trojans, spyware, adware hijackers and botnets. Much of these malicious things reside on the web and on some websites that we rarely notice. So if that were the case, we need protection especially now that people are at fever-pitch attachment towards using the web for various purposes such as browsing or sending a simple email.

If you are in the market and want a reliable software to help you out, check SpyZooka out. It can make a difference and perhaps resolve problems faster than other spyware annihilators available today.

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Tags: Malware, spyzooka, trojans

Categories: Malware, Network Security, News, Spyware

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If you are apprehensive regarding the competence of your current anti-virus software, do not fret. You can replace it with another one as long as you want but eventually you will grow tired of choosing which is really reliable. With that said, what would be a good alternative?

Online scanning has been around and while many don’t trust them, at least there is a separate device that can thoroughly check your computer and see if there are issues as far as viruses and malware is concerned. For sure, you will be getting reports on which files may need scrutiny. There will be definitely some high risk files, normally found in the cookies or temporary Internet folder, that can be detected.

Now comes the hard part. When they detect these malicious files, they can clean it as well. But before that happens, you have to pay them a hefty sum to do it. The scanning part is the freebie, it is the cleaning that will really cost you.

It is a familiar site we see from trialware software. Before you can enjoy the full protection, you have to register and pay for it. The same is the concept of online scanning services. Panda Software, McAfee and so on have been offering this service and they are surely better and safer.

Accuracy is not a problem. You can even see for yourself by basing the performance after it has been cleaned. You may be surprised to find that your computer operates faster than before. Perhaps because the malicious files are gone which are slowing your computer? You Bet!

Tags: online scanning, panda, security

Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Security Policies, Tips

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