Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

COSC1078 Introduction to Information Technology

Lecture 22

Internet SecurityJames Harland

james.harland@rmit.edu.au

Lecture 20: Internet Intro to IT

Introduction to IT1 Introduction 2 Images3 Audio4 Video WebLearnTest 1 5 Binary Representation Assignment 16 Data Storage7 Machine Processing8 Operating Systems WebLearn Test 29 Processes Assignment 210 Internet11 Internet Security   WebLearn Test 312 Future of IT Assignment 3, Peer and Self Assessment

Lecture 21: Internet Security Intro to IT

Overview Questions?

Exam

Assignment 3

Peer and Self Assessment

Internet Security

Questions?

Lecture 21: Internet Security Intro to IT

Assignment 3 Reflect

Answer reflection questions from tutorialsSee last lecture for ideas

ResearchWrite about a particular IT topic of your choice (5-6 paragraphs)electronic voting, information security, 3D user interfaces, digital music, digital video, electronic commerce, natural language processing, DNA computing, quantum computing, cryptography, malware detection and removal, Moore's Law, green computing, …

Lecture 21: Internet Security Intro to IT

Exam 2010 exam is available now

2010 exam answers will be available on May 29th

2011 exam will be available on June 5th

2011 exam answers will be available on June 12th

2012 exam available on June 19th

Lecture 21: Internet Security SE Fundamentals

Self and Peer Assessment How well has each person contributed to the

group? Evaluated over the entire semester Assessed on process, not product Work out a grade for each person (CR, DI etc) Then convert this to a mark out of 20 Submit list of marks to tutor with justifications Repeat previous step until the tutor is satisfied See guidelines in Blackboard material

Lecture 21: Internet Security Intro to IT

Assignment 3Review

(re-) answer What is IT? questions from Tutorial 1Identify difficult parts of the courseSuggest new questionsInclude favourites from Assignments 1 and 2

ReflectAnswer reflection questions from tutorials

ResearchWrite about a particular IT topic of your choice (5-6 paragraphs)

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Internet Security

pass word patch spam

fire wall

virus war drivingkey logge

r

proxy worm

phishing

Trojan horse

Security vs access It is always a trade-off (a balance between two

competing forces) More security means less access More access means less security Redundancy can be either fatal or vital Nothing is perfect!

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Freedom vs security `Everything which is not forbidden is allowed’ -- Principle of English Law `Everything which is not allowed is forbidden’ -- Common security principle

`Anything not mandatory is forbidden’ -- “military policy” `Anything not forbidden is compulsory’ (??) — T.H. White (The Once and Future King)

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Passwords Should be: Long (8 characters or more) Not obvious or from a dictionary Contain capitals, numerals and non-

alphanumeric characters (!&^*$@.,’[]{}? …)

Recorded securely somewhere Transmitted in encrypted form only Older programs such as FTP, Telnet

transmit this in plaintext …

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Firewalls Device which limits internet connections Limit network uses to only approved ones Prevent malicious software reporting

information Prevent outside attacks May need to have ports opened to allow

applications to work Only work on applications, not on content

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Proxy servers All internet traffic routed via proxy server Acts as an internet gateway Once proxy is secure, so is network Can filter content Can cache content Often used with a firewall in a corporate

environment

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Wardriving Driving around to find a vulnerable wireless signal Find a wireless connection that doesn’t

require a password (so add one to yours if you haven’t!)

Attack systems that use a default admin login name and password (change yours!)

Snoop on transmissions which are not encrypted (encrypt yours!)

Using a MAC address whitelist means only specified devices can connect to your router

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Viruses,Worms,Trojans

Virus: self-replicating program that attaches itself to files and is spread when they are transferred

Worm: self-replicating program that pro-actively spreads itself

Trojan horse: a program that appears legitimate but is in fact malicious

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Malware and Spyware Malicious software: Hidden mail server Key logging (to capture passwords) Enable machine takeover Direct traffic to particular web sites Analyse behaviour Act as a proxy …

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Denial of service Prevent network from working normally Flood a server with ‘invalid’ inputs Use a network of compromised machines

to generate an overwhelming number of requests (Conficker?)

Such zombie machines can form a botnet, which then attack a particular server

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Tricking the user Users are often the weakest link in security Email attachments containing trojan horses ‘Phishing’ Malicious web pages Malicious documents (macros in

spreadsheets) Account stealing (via key logging) Scams (‘I have $10 million to import’, ‘You

have just won the lottery’, …)

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Protecting your system

Keep up to date with patches (Windows update, Software update)

Use a firewall Use anti-virus software and keep it up to

date Use anti-spyware tools Filter email for spam and suspicious

messages Be aware of ‘fake alerts’

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Stuxnet? Windows-based worm Discovered in July, 2010 Designed to attack a very specific

industrial plant Assumes plant operator would use a

Windows laptop to reprogram plant machinery

Not clear who was behind it … Look at the video

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Stuxnet? Designed for Siemens equipment Siemens have said none of their customers

were effected! Iran has ‘embargoed’ Siemens equipment

… “The attackers took great care to make sure that only their

designated targets were hit...It was a marksman’s job." "we're glad they [the Iranians] are having trouble with their

centrifuge machine and that we – the US and its allies – are doing everything we can to make sure that we complicate matters for them"

Lecture 22: Internet Security Intro to IT

Privacy and encryption Cryptography has been a major political

headache for governments Public-key cryptography makes Amazon

possible … Terrorist groups can use the same

technology to keep things private… Should governments be able to keep

encryption keys? See PGP and Phil Zimmermann…

Lecture 21: Internet Security Intro to IT

Conclusion

Work on Assignment 3

Check your software defenses!