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Prolog to Lecture 2 CS 236 On-Line MS Program Networks and Systems Security Peter Reiher

Prolog to Lecture 2 CS 236 On-Line MS Program Networks and Systems Security Peter Reiher. What’s This Prolog Stuff?. When I can, I will add a short presentation to each lecture Discussing application of material from the previous or recent lectures Generally stuff that’s pretty timely.

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Prolog to Lecture 2 CS 236 On-Line MS Program Networks and Systems Security Peter Reiher

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  1. Prolog to Lecture 2CS 236On-Line MS ProgramNetworks and Systems Security Peter Reiher

  2. What’s This Prolog Stuff? • When I can, I will add a short presentation to each lecture • Discussing application of material from the previous or recent lectures • Generally stuff that’s pretty timely

  3. Do We Really Care About Security? • Security gets a lot of lip-service • But is the community out there really behind it? • Particularly the industrial community that builds our software? • Three recent stories suggest maybe not

  4. 1. Fun With Firewire • Many computers have firewire interfaces • Especially laptops • These interfaces allow direct access to memory • No access control • No nuthin’

  5. What’s That Mean? • Anyone who hooks up a firewire device to your laptop doesn’t need to log in • He can just read and alter the memory • Proof-of-concept tool1 allows you to own Windows machine in seconds • 1http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=147713&f_src=drweekly

  6. What’s the Response? • “Well, duh, that’s what Firewire is supposed to do” • In other words, we designed your computer to let anyone take it over • If they have physical access • All this login stuff is just window dressing to impress the rubes

  7. 2. Backdoor Processors • Many devices come with complete processors “hidden” inside • Printers, routers, storage devices, etc. • They’re installed with complete OSes • Which are often very badly configured • Allowing anyone access

  8. The Implications • If attacker knows about these, • And you don’t, • He’s got a hidden backdoor into your system • Often these processors have network capabilities • And can access the CPU you already knew you had

  9. What’s That Mean? • The people who put these processors in neither knew nor cared about security • System management (the purpose of them) was more important • They didn’t care enough to even mention they were there

  10. 3. Apple Patching • Everyone knows Macs are “more secure” than Windows machines • Well, they’re not • Recent study1 shows Apple: • Has more vulnerabilities • Takes longer to patch them • Suffers more attacks on unpatched flaws 1http://www.techzoom.net/papers/blackhat_0day_patch_2008.pdf

  11. What’s That Mean? • Apple wasn’t entirely honest about really caring about security • They aren’t spending the money to patch flaws • And they have plenty to patch • They’re talking the talk, not walking the walk

  12. The General Lesson • Just because people say they care about security doesn’t mean they do • Many decisions seem to be made without even considering security implications

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