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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: California security firm CEO, workers charged after woman forcibly removed from Republican town hall Los Angeles Times Defense Officials Outline AI's Strategic Role in National Security U.S. Department of Defense (.gov) Why NHIs Are Security's Most Dangerous Blind Spot The Hacker News Belarus Weekly: Russian, Belarusian security services plan violent attacks on Belarusian diaspora The Kyiv Independent Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Political and Humanitarian Situations in Syria United States Mission to the United Nations (.gov) Summit on the Future of Energy Security IEA – International Energy Agency NSA targets OT cyber risks with new smart controller security standards for national security systems Industrial Cyber Allegiant flight attendant finds bomb threat just before St. Pete-Clearwater International departure: Sheriff FOX 13 Tampa Bay ATA Transportation Security Council Recognizes Fleets American Trucking Associations Get to know new security leaders at OSU-CHS Oklahoma State University Safeguarding Your Corporate Leaders Against Rising Security Threats: FP’s Guide on Executive Protection Fisher Phillips Signalgate lessons learned: If creating a culture of security is the goal, America is screwed theregister.com Legislature should provide lobbyists with key fobs to bypass new Capitol security screening The Alaska Landmine Security Alert: Los Cabos and La Paz, Baja California Sur U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico (.gov) US House Committee subpoenas Chinese state telecoms over data privacy, national security concerns Industrial Cyber DOJ’s Data Security Program Final Rules Effective – Implications for Telecom Providers NatLawReview.com US Donates Decommissioned Cutters to Tunisia to Bolster Regional Security The Maritime Executive Court grants NM Tech student temporary restraining order against Homeland Security Source New Mexico Kristi Noem’s Stolen Purse at a Burger Joint Is Still a Washington Mystery The New York Times Mobile Applications: A Cesspool of Security Issues Dark Reading Judges Worry Trump Could Tell U.S. Marshals to Stop Protecting Them The New York Times Ukraine, allies working on security guarantees potentially similar to NATO Article 5, Zelensky says The Kyiv Independent King County Security Tips – “Google” yourself kcemployees.com National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s Final Report Includes Recommendations to Boost Economy and Protect National Security NatLawReview.com Inside the Fiasco at the National Security Council The Atlantic Footage Reveals New York-To-Paris Delta Flight Stowaway Getting Through Airport Security Travel Noire Tarleton State University elevates campus security, student safety with new mobile app. Beneath the Surface News Fiesta goers can expect increased security at main events Texas Public Radio Somos, Finite State partner to boost supply chain security through enhanced binary, source code analysis, and SBOM solutions Industrial Cyber Hyosung Urges Operators of All ATMs to Follow Previous Security Guidance Due to Large-Scale Cyberattacks Business Wire Associated Press: Civil rights groups sue to restore jobs at Homeland Security oversight offices that were gutted Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights New Security Perimeter Around Mt. Kolang Gaz La Secret Nuclear Tunnel Complexes Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) Climate and National Security: Bridging the Divide in Energy Policy Columbia Business School KETS Quantum Security Futureproofs Critical Infrastructure For Government Contract The Quantum Insider Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Haiti United States Mission to the United Nations (.gov) Rome Health to install new security systems Rome Sentinel Trump administration highlights economic growth and national security wins in April 2025 Fingerlakes1.com Trump Should Have Stuck With Border Security, Not Mass Deportations New York Magazine Two state officials join Department of Homeland Security Dakota News Now ‘We need to apprehend him’: $10K reward offered for Family Dollar ‘security guard’ who killed man WSB-TV Updates to parking and security at the parks around Lake Tapps Tacoma News Tribune Security increased in disputed Kashmir as India vows to punish perpetrators of attack that killed 26 PBS Verkada launches executive protection offering Security Systems News Hegseth’s Personal Phone Use Created Vulnerabilities The New York Times Windows "inetpub" security fix can be abused to block future updates BleepingComputer The impressive security measures at Pope Francis' funeral, from anti-drone bazookas to Eurofighters Euronews.com Everything You Need to Know About the Air Defenses Protecting World Leaders at the Pope’s Funeral The Aviationist Joint Press Statement on United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Security Coopera U.S. Department of Defense (.gov) The Role of Smart Security Systems in Addressing Healthcare Demands Security Sales & Integration Amidst Tariff Uncertainty, Asset Security Can’t Take a Backseat Roofing Contractor Increased Security at City Courthouses? Unanswered Questions Baltimore Witness Yes, You Can Take Water Through Airport Security—Here's How Travel + Leisure Israeli defence minister, army chief discuss 'security, regional issues' with CENTCOM chief Middle East Monitor Windows 11’s New ‘inetpub’ Folder Could Expose PCs to Security Risks Petri IT Knowledgebase NSA Publishes Recommendations for Smart Controller Security Controls and Technical Require National Security Agency (.gov) |
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