Attacks Need Access to Happen: Yahoo Users Beware
Filed under: Authentication Security, Authentication Trends, General Information, IT Security, password security
Recently 1,000s of attacks have been occurring involving Yahoo mail and their users, and that is just one proxy that has been recorded. Brute force attacks are being used to steal users’ credentials and access their email accounts to conduct spamming attacks. With the future of Authentication Trends showing an increase in hackers, and phishing attacks, it is no wonder this is a recent hot topic. Attacks need access to happen and with the growing number of access points, to get to data, it is no wonder attacks are increasing as well.
The main login page for Yahoo mail is protected against these brute force attacks, which are when hackers just keep trying to guess credentials, until they are able to steal them. Usually they implement an automated script that cycles through passwords and names, until finding the correct match. They use mechanisms such as:
· Enforce strike-out limits - the user will be prompted to enter in a CAPTCHA after they fail at entering their credentials “n” number of times.
· Incorrect credential is not specified – the error page following an incorrect login attempt, does not inform the user which part of their credentials, the username or password, was incorrect.
These mechanisms have been working to protect Yahoo mail users. Recent attacks and stealing of credentials happened through a service application, outside of Yahoo. With this API access point, hackers saw an open door.
This API is meant for ISP’s and third-party Web applications, but it does not enforce the same authentication mechanisms as Yahoo mail does, such as anti-automation defenses. There are no strike-out limits or CAPTCHAs, and the error page specifies which part of the credential you entered incorrectly. Hackers figured out quickly how to hammer this application with attacks, daily.
With further investigation it was found that hackers were trying something different in their attacks. Usually these brute force attacks are aimed at the Web interface that is highly visible, but this application was not for end-users, and just helped validating authentication credentials.
To fight these attacks the Web Application Security Consortium Distributed Open Proxy Honeypot project is being created. By getting attackers to push through the one proxy server for the project, the suspects can be monitored. It is a great idea, but with multiple phases of implementation, which started in 2007.
Yahoo has hundreds of servers, and attackers are learning to spread their attacks across a breadth of them. With current authentication mechanisms and projects, IT professionals are attempting to reduce attacks. Of course we all have to take a look at the overwhelming problem; users require multiple access points on a daily basis, and access opens the door for attacks. This will definitely be an ongoing dilemma.
Cloud Computing: The “Greener” Solution for Government
Filed under: Authentication Trends, General Information, Uncategorized
Upon visiting apps.gov, out of curiosity about what exactly cloud computing is, I came across the video showing the new plans the government has in store. Typically known as a huge overwhelming IT “creature”, the government is planning on changing their ways, in regards to IT systems.
Currently the government is riddled with 100s of systems, unique applications and environments, all across the globe. There are large IT infrastructures behind these individual systems supporting them as separate entities. What has now been looked at more closely is that some of these large systems are duplicating work that many other systems are completing as well, such as email functions.
The U.S. CIO Vivek Kundra is onboard with combining these massive infrastructures, to cut down on the serious carbon footprint they are leaving behind. With the idea of combining services and using the same infrastructure for multiple environments the government is attempting to cut down on costs.
Of course the question is will it work? The hope is that there will be less maintenance costs, less staff to maintain, and it is a greener solution. The government is showing the greatest amounts of concern with security, privacy, and procurement at the moment. Of course it is a giant system, with many legacy applications, that many are predicting will not go away.
If anything is to change it won’t be fast, and will be almost like a case study for the government to attack at all angles. The main idea that this brought up is if the government can do it, why can’t we? Although most of us are relying on external IT infrastructure, it would be interesting to see what would happen if everyone was onboard with cloud computing.
Learn More…
Portable Devices: Be Careful Where You are Storing Your Information
Filed under: Authentication Security, Data Security, General Information, Portable Device Security
160,000 portable devices are misplaced in Chicago taxicabs every year. Although this seems like a random fact, it should be a rude awakening for those of you who have portable devices, which contain almost all of your business and personal information. Just imagine for a minute that you lose your Blackberry in the airport? Would you panic?
Nowadays portable devices are holding an amazing amount of information, and are almost acting like small computers for business professionals, when out of the office. Stored information can include:
- Social Security Numbers
- Emails
- Website Credentials
- Passwords
- Company Planning and Contacts
- Confidential customer and/or company information
With all of this information being stored on these small portable devices it is becoming a big concern. Many businesses have started to implement mobile device security plans, and seem to be less concerned with the cost of the device, and more in tune with the cost of losing and/or recovering the information.
In the following article, “Lost Black Berry? Data Could Open a Security Breach”, there are a few cases of lost devices that caught my attention:
- A device that contained the personal numbers of congress members
- Losing a device in the O’Hare airport
- Having it stolen out of your car
- Selling it on ebay, without remembering to delete all of the data
All of these cases are extremely dangerous to the owner of the device, and the information inside. There are cases as well when laws become involved. For instance, if a doctor loses their Blackberry, which contains client information, it does not only effect the owner of the device. With the healthcare industry, it can violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or with the financial and public companies this could easily violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
In order to combat these issues certain techniques have been created. Such as:
- Biometrics
- Passwords (If enabled by the user)
- Remote Data Deletion (Only works if the phone is turned on)
All of these techniques have their benefits and down sides as well. It is clear that we need to protect the data on these devices as though they are another computer to be protected. It is important to understand what sort of implications loosing the device has, and whether or not the company is ready to handle any such issues.
What is a Domino Web Server Configuration Database?: DOMCFG.NSF Demystified
Whether you realize it or not, accessing a protected resource or web page that is hosted by a Domino server more than likely involves a login display that is stored and run from a domcfg.nsf.
Let’s start by breaking down the name domcfg.nsf. The beginning, domcfg, is short for Domino Web Server Configuration and the .nsf is the filename extension used by Domino to indicate a Notes Storage Facility or database for short.
The login screen that prompts for and accepts the username and password that, if correct, will allow access to the requested resource is created and configured in the domcfg.nsf. IBM Lotus Domino, by default, provides an HTML log-in form in the domcfg to allow a user to enter the name and password. The power of the domcfg is most notable when it is used to customize the form to contain additional information.
Custom forms can be created within the domcfg by copying, renaming and altering the default form. The customization of the form (or visual displayed to the end user when logging in), results in a login window that can be most impressive and can make or break the web site it is protecting. A single domcfg can parent the login page for an entire web server or multiple individual web sites on the server. This includes allowing custom graphics to compliment the look and feel of the web site itself.
The form customization utilities are powerful enough to take username and password values from a web based cookie transmitted as part of the authentication attempt. This allows for “Single Sign On” to the Domino server which completely eliminates the need to display to and waste the time of the end user asking for credentials.
Additionally, the domcfg.nsf allows developers to customize the error messages for failure and session timeout events that may occur during the login session. Also, functionality such as a button and the coding behind it to help a user reset a forgotten password can be added to the form.
All of the customizable functionality available within the domcfg.nsf Domino database makes the storage facility a valuable tool for any web site hosted on a Domino server.