3 most common threats of information security

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Most common threats to

information security

Ana Meskovskaana.meskovska@tpconsulting.com.mk

ELSA ConferenceStrumica, 27.11.2008

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Contents

• Introduction

• What is an information security threat?

• Information security threats

• Internet security threats

• Most common threats, possible consequences and protection

• Top 10 internet threats

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Introduction

• Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction

– through implementation of ISMS i.e. implementation of controls (policies and procedures)

– the CIA aspect - Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability

• Computer security is a branch of technology known as information security as applied to computers.

– ensuring the availability and correct operation of a computer system

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What is an information security threat?

• A threat is any circumstance or event with the

potential to harm an information system through

unauthorized access, destruction, disclosure,

modification of data, and/or denial of service.

• Threats can be:

– Natural or Human

– Deliberate or Accidental

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Information security threats

• People / employees

• Low awareness for information security aspects

• Advancing the IT infrastructure, networking and distributive working

• Improvement of complexity and effectiveness of hackers and viruses

• Electronic mail (e-mail)

• Fire, flood, earthquake

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Information Security Breaches Survey 2008 1/3

What type of breaches did UK business suffer?

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Information Security Breaches Survey 2008 2/3

How many UK businesses have disaster recovery

plans?

How many UK businesses have disaster recovery

plans?

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Information Security Breaches Survey 2008 3/3

How did UK businesses address the weakness that caused their worst

incident?

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Internet security threats

• Malware Threat

• Threats to the Security of E-mail

• SPAM Associated Threats

• Social Engineering Threat (Phishing)

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Most common internet threats, consequences and protection

Malware threats

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Malware threat

• Malware is software designed to destroy, steal private information or spy on a computer system without the consent of the user.

• Malwares - malicious codes, malicious programs or malicious software

• The most popular categories are Trojan Horses, viruses, adwares, spywares, spams, worms and root kits.

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Security and productivity threats posed by malware• Stolen user ID and passwords

• Unauthorized access to confidential information

• Loss of intellectual property

• Remote control of company’s PC

• Theft of customer data

• Reduced network performance and bandwidth

• Increased internet traffic and changes to browser homes pages and search engines

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Protection against malwares

• Good user education is vital in fighting against malwares

• Keep your operating system up to date by installing OS security fixes and program patches.

• Use firewall protection

• Install anti-spyware softwares

• Monitor logs for unusual traffic

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Most common internet threats, consequences and protection

E-mail threats

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Threats to the security of e-mail

• Disclosure of sensitive information

– Loss of confidentiality– Loss of integrity

• Exposure of systems to malicious code

• Denial-of-Service (DoS)

• Unauthorized accesses

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Countermeasures to e-mail security

• Secure the server to client connections

– POP, IMAP over ssh, SSL

– https access to webmail

– Protection against insecure wireless access

• Secure the end-to-end email delivery

– The PGPs of the world

– Still need to get the other party to be PGP aware

– Practical in an enterprise intra-network environment

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When using an e-mail

• Ensure you are addressing the right person prior to sending email

• Beware of e-mails from unknown parties (unsolicited e-mails)

• Do not open unsolicited emails

• Do not click on links in unsolicited emails

• Never respond to unsolicited emails

e.g. ‘You have won $1,000,000. Kindly send your bank details for crediting your account.’ These are scams also known as social

engineering attacks

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Precautions when using a e-mail

• Suspicious attachments must NOT be opened e.g. Executable files (with .exe, .com, .bat, .reg extensions)

• Regularly purge unnecessary emails (including emptying the ‘Deleted Items’) to free storage space

• Do not open/reply to spam messages

• Avoid registering unnecessarily to mailing lists

• Use properly configured & regularly updated spam filter, antivirus and antispyware software

• Use firewall as well

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Most common internet threats, consequences and protection

SPAM

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Security threats from SPAM

• SPAM provides a cover for spreading of:

– Viruses

– Worms

– Trojans

– Spyware

– Phishing

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Countermeasures

• Spam Filters

– MS Outlook, Outlook Express…(e.g. SPAMFight)

– Spamfighter for Outlook and Outlook express

• Antivirus

– AVG, Symantec, McAfee, F-Secure, VIRUSfighter….

• Antispyware

– McAfee Antispyware module, S&D , Ad-Adaware SE personal, SPYWAREfighter….

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Most common internet threats, consequences and protection

Social Engineering Threat (Phishing)

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Social Engineering

• Social engineering is the art of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information

“Employees without security awareness are security liabilities.”

Gartner Group, 2002

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Security threats from phishing

• Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication

• Use of Email messages and Web pages that are replicas of existing sites to fool users into submitting:

– personal,– financial or– password data

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Prevention

• Don't give out personal information

• Ensure you are on the right website with the right

web address

• Use anti-phishing software – IE7 and Mozilla,

McAfee, Firefox 2.0 (includes a form of anti - phishing technology)

Research shows that employees who are sensitive and knowledgeable about information security provide the

most cost-effective countermeasure against information security violations

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Top 10 internet threats

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TOP 10 threats

1. SPAM mail 

2. Phishing mail 

3. Wireless attack

4. Hacker attack

5. Web exploits 

6. Adware

7. Viruses 

8. Spyware/Trojans

9. Identity theft

10. Social engineering

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Conclusion

• Avoid giving unnecessary information online

(e.g. subscribing to a newsletter whereby your

personal details are requested)

• Be sure you are dealing with someone or a site

that you know and trust before giving out

personal information

• Use regularly updated antivirus and antispyware

software

• Use client filters or ISPs based filters