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Security Information |
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Desktop Security Software Risks - Part 1
This is the second in a series of articles highlighting reasons why we need a new model for anti-virus and security solutions. Reason #2: the Desktop Security Software Risks The risks of placing software on the desktop are such that I will be breaking this article into two parts. Fundamentally we think of having software on our desktops as a good thing. I love downloading or installing new packages and seeing what new creative things people do to the user interface or what they do to make certain aspects of my life easier or more fun. But there are problems inherent with software that resides on the desktop, especially security software. All developers will know what I mean. First and foremost, desktop software can be reverse engineered. What's that mean? Have you ever inadvertently double-clicked on a file and had garbage show up or seen something that looks similar to this? http://www.checkinmyemail.com/Articles/image001.jpg The old hex dump. Programmers will know it well. We actually spend a good deal of time trying to read this stuff. Basically, if there are programs that can (and do) turn instructions like the following If UserBirthDate < "01/01/1960" then IsReallyOld = "Yes Else IsReallyOld = "No" End If into something like the picture above, then the reverse is true: people have developed software that can take that gobbeldy-gook in the picture above and turn it somewhat into the if-statement I wrote out. The reversing software won't know that I had an item called UserBirthDate, but it will know I was testing for a value of January 1, 1960 and it will be able to say that based on that value I set another item to Yes or No. So now we install our fool-proof anti-virus software on our desktop (or our firewall for that matter). Well, so too can a virus author. And that virus author or hacker will also have gotten a copy of the latest reverse-engineering software from his local hacking site. He now goes upon his task of reverse-engineering the software and then trying to decipher the results. It's not easy but it can be done. Unfortunately, vendors know this and understand this as an acceptable risk. The problem here is that your security software is at risk. If your vendor codes an error, the virus author can and will detect it. For example, if your vendor should exclude a file from scanning, it's possible the virus author will figure out which file (or type of file) that is and bury his code there. If the vendor excludes files from scanning or heuristics, it's possible that virus author will figure out a way to corrupt that file. That being said, there are other risks. As we have said, once software is on the desktop it affords virus authors an opportunity to reverse-engineer security software. The knowledge that reverse-engineering provides is invaluable to a virus author when building his next software attack. Third, virus authors can learn where the anti-virus vendors put there software and put the links to their software (directory folders, registry entries, etc.). This too is invaluable information. In fact, in some ways it teaches people intent on writing malicious software clues as to how to infiltrate the computers' operating system, where registry entries need to be made to force software to be loaded every time a computer is started, etc. This information is generally available all over the web and in manuals for operating systems, especially manuals on such subjects as the Windows Registry. But having the software teach you where things belong to be effective is powerful knowledge. Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, is the issue of forebearance. The anti-virus vendors usually know more about the potential exploits inherent in programs than virus authors but they are bound by the fact that should they try to prevent them before the exploits occur, they could be branded as irresponsible for teaching virus authors about these very exploits. For example, when Microsoft first released the macro capabilities of Word, anti-virus vendors immediately realized the potential for danger in macros, but they were handcuffed. If they released software that disabled macros before the first macro virus was ever released, they would signal to virus authors the inherent destructive powers of macros. They chose instead to wait, handcuffed by the limitations of desktop software. Until the Internet there really has been no better medium for delivering virus solutions than desktop software. It was relatively inexpensive to deploy (either market the software and sell it in stores or provide free downloads on bulletin boards and web sites). It is, however, expensive to keep updated in terms of time and effort, even with automated update systems. The Internet caused several things to happen: by becoming a powerful medium for sharing files, whole families of viruses disappeared practically overnight (boot sector viruses, for example); by becoming the option of choice for sharing files, it was easier to infect a single file and have thousands download it. A better solution is to place the security software in an offsite appliance of its own making. All Internet, intranet, networking connections flow through the appliance. Selling off the shelf hardware appliances with built-in security software is better than a desktop software solution but it still suffers -to a lesser extent- from the pratfalls that desktop software falls prey to. Even better is to create a service that a 3rd party vendor manages in a secure environment. In such an instance both the software and the hardware are away from the prying eyes of the malicious software authors. This further reduces the opportunity for malicious authors to discover the tricks and techniques employed by the security vendors to protect you. About The Author Tim Klemmer Tim Klemmer has spent the better part of 12 years designing and perfecting the first true patented behavior-based solution to malicious software.
MORE RESOURCES: Russia open to security guarantees for Ukraine ‘in some form,’ Putin’s envoy says after White House talks politico.eu Opinion | What Happens When There’s a Real National Security Crisis? The New York Times AI Adoption in the Enterprise: Breaking Through the Security and Compliance Gridlock The Hacker News NSA and partners Issue Guidance on Fast Flux as a National Security Threat National Security Agency (NSA) (.gov) Trump fires NSC officials a day after far-right activist raises concerns to him about staff loyalty AP News Trump ousts members of National Security Council staff The Washington Post Trump fires six national security staffers after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer The Guardian NCS⁴ Announces 16th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition Agenda The University of Southern Mississippi Advisory warns of fast flux national security threat, urges action to protect critical infrastructure Industrial Cyber National Security Agency and Cyber Command chief Gen. Timothy Haugh ousted The Washington Post Trump fires national security officials after Laura Loomer ‘excoriated’ them in Oval Office meeting AL.com Lebanon-Syria Border Talks Can Restrain Hezbollah and Boost Security The Washington Institute New DOJ National Security Division Data Security Rules Take Effect on April 8: Is Your Organization Exposed? regulatoryoversight.com Trump Moves to Fire Several National Security Officials Deemed Insufficiently Loyal, AP Sources Say Military.com Senate GOP's blueprint for Trump's 'big, beautiful' agenda includes tax cuts, border security and more — here's what's inside New York Post Homeland Security Investigations expects more victims in Bartow Co. labor trafficking case Atlanta News First Utimaco Launches Post Quantum Security App Package The Quantum Insider Women in Security: Candice Aragon, Chief Experience Officer, PSA Security Sales & Integration Trump fired at least one national security aide following pressure from far-right activist Laura Loomer NBC Los Angeles NLV casino shooting suspect was stopped by security before killing, report says Las Vegas Review-Journal Congo War Security Review, April 3, 2025 Critical Threats Annual Assessment Lists Primary Threats to U.S. National Security AFCEA International IDF, Israel Police ignored all security dangers leading to Nova festival massacre The Jerusalem Post White House national security officials fired, sources say Honolulu Star-Advertiser Observers say IDF abandoned Gaza border outpost in 12-hour security lapse The Jerusalem Post Commission presents a European internal security strategy European Commission Luzerne County holds public demonstration of proposed new security-equipped mail ballot drop box The Sunday Dispatch Netanyahu says Israel will establish a new security corridor across Gaza to pressure Hamas - AP News When it Comes to Security, Trooper Tara Lee is Supreme Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (.gov) Ivanti patches Connect Secure zero-day exploited since mid-March BleepingComputer Trump's national security adviser reportedly used his personal Gmail account to do government work TechCrunch Apple Head of Global Security found not guilty in bribery trial tied to concealed gun permits NBC Bay Area Trump purges national security team after meeting conspiracist Yahoo News Singapore ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: BOSCH SECURITY AND SAFETY SYSTEMS Security Info Watch Wayne Board of Education President Don Pavlak, Provides Update on School Security Measures - TAPinto Trump Fires Three White House National Security Officials WBZ NewsRadio 1030 |
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