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Tag: Network Security Threats

Network Forensics: Investigating and Analyzing Network-Related Security Incidents

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On May 31, 2023

In Security

Network forensics plays a crucial role in investigating and analyzing network-related security incidents. It helps in identifying the root cause, gathering evidence, and mitigating future risks. It works to identify malicious activities, determine the extent of the compromise, and reconstruct the timeline of events to aid in the investigation.

Principles and techniques used in network forensics:

  • Network Traffic Capture and Analysis: Capturing and analyzing network traffic is a fundamental aspect of network forensics. This requires the use of specialized tools and techniques to capture packets moving through the network, reconstruct communication sessions, and extract pertinent information for investigational purposes. Analysis of network traffic facilitates the detection of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, malware propagation, and other malicious activities.
  • Log Analysis and Event Correlation: In network forensics, analyzing system and network logs is crucial. Logs provide an abundance of information regarding network activities, such as user authentication, access attempts, network connections, and configuration changes. By analyzing logs from multiple sources and correlating events, forensic investigators can reconstruct the events leading up to a security incident.
  • Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems: Network forensics relies heavily on Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS). These systems monitor network traffic in real-time, trying to identify known malicious patterns and signatures. Alerts are triggered when an anomaly or suspicious activity is detected, allowing investigators to investigate the incident further and collect evidence.
  • Malware Analysis: Network forensics involves the analysis of malware discovered within the network. This includes examining the behavior, characteristics, and capabilities of the malware to understand its impact and mode of operation. Malware analysis aids in identifying the source, propagation methods, and potential exploited vulnerabilities, thereby providing valuable insights for incident response and mitigation.
  • Network Device and Configuration Analysis: Network devices, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, store configuration data that can aid forensic network investigations. Analyzing device configurations facilitates a better understanding of network architecture, access control policies, and any potential misconfigurations that may have facilitated the security incident.
  • Collaboration with Other Forensic Disciplines: Network forensics frequently overlaps with other forensic disciplines, such as digital and memory forensics. For a comprehensive understanding of the incident, collaboration between these disciplines is necessary. Network forensics can contribute valuable data and context to investigations involving compromised systems, data breaches, or insider threats.
  • Legal Considerations and Chain of Custody: The legal and procedural requirements for network forensic investigations must be met. The integrity of collected evidence, which may be crucial in legal proceedings, is ensured by a chain of custody. Forensic investigators must adhere to appropriate protocols, document their procedures, and ensure the admissibility of evidence in court.

Network forensics plays a vital role in investigating and analyzing network-related security incidents. Centex Technologies provide cybersecurity solutions, IT networking and software solutions to enterprises. For more information, contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213 – 4740, Dallas (972) 375 – 9654, Atlanta (404) 994 – 5074, and Austin (512) 956 – 5454.

Understanding Network Security Threats

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On April 29, 2021

In Security

What Is A Network Security Attack?

A network security attack is an action or attempt aimed at gaining unauthorized access to an organization’s network. The objective of these attacks is to steal data or perform other malicious activity. Network attacks can be classified into two main types:

  • Passive Attack: In this type of attacks, attackers gain access to the organization’s network and monitor or steal data but without making any change to the data.
  • Active Attack: In an active attack, attackers not only gain unauthorized access to the data but also modify data by deleting, encrypting, or otherwise harming it.

The main focus of network security attackers is to bypass peripheral security of an organization and gain access to internal systems. But in some cases, attackers may combine other types of attacks such as endpoint compromise, malware induction, etc.

What Are Common Network Security Threats?

The types of network security threats are defined by the threat vectors used by the network security attackers to penetrate the network:

  • Unauthorized Access: The attackers gain access to the network without receiving legitimate permission. Some causes of unauthorized access are weak passwords, insufficient protection against social engineering, compromised accounts, and insider threats.
  • Distributed Denial of Service Attacks: Attacks build a network of bots and compromised devices to direct false traffic at the organization’s network or server. This overwhelms the server resulting in interruption of security layers.
  • Man In The Middle Attack: It involves interception of traffic between organization’s network and external sites. If the communication is insecure, attackers can circumvent the security and steal the data being transmitted.
  • Code & SQL Injection Attacks: Many websites accept user inputs through forms but do not sanitize them. Attackers fill out these forms or make an API call, passing malicious code instead of expected data values. Once the code is executed, it allows attackers to compromise the network.

What Are The Best Practices To Stay Protected Against Network Security Threats?

Following are some best practices to stay protected against network security threats:

  • Segregate the organization’s network
  • Regulate internet access via proxy server
  • Place security devices correctly
  • Use network address translation
  • Monitor network traffic
  • Use deception technology

For more information on things to know about network security threats, contact Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.

Types And Sources Of Computer Network Security Threats

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On November 28, 2014

In Security

November 28, 2014

With advancement in technology, Computer networks have made changed the way we used to work. However there are a number of threats that can breach the security of the system and allow illegal access to important information that can be used for malicious purposes. Some of the possible attacks are:

Denial Of Service (DoS) Attacks

These are probably one of the vilest attacks that are extremely difficult to resolve. A denial of service attack is a malevolent effort to make a network resource or a server inaccessible by the users. This is usually done by temporarily suspending or interrupting the services of the host linked to the Internet. You should make sure that you employ packet filtering in order to restrict the entry of forged traffic to your network space. You must also keep yourself updated about the recent patches available to ensure your security from malicious attacks.

Illicit Execution of Commands

This threat involves an unidentified person executing various commands from your server. Depending upon its severity, this threat can be categorized under normal user access (where the unidentified source is executing commands to only access data on systems) to administrator access (where unknown user makes or attempts to make system configuration changes).

Unauthorized Access

This is a comprehensive term used to denote a number of network security threats. The purpose of these attacks is to access the information from a computer or network source that your device is programmed not to provide to the attacker. You should make sure that you set up an alert to be informed whenever someone is trying to make an unauthorized access. Many systems are also programmed to lock an account after a set number of unsuccessful login attempts.

Confidentiality Breaches

This involves gaining access of confidential and private data by the hackers. This may include trade secrets, credit card numbers, financial statements, secret formulas, patents etc. Such information, if slipped into the hands of a malicious user, can severely harm you on a personal or professional level.

Destructive Behavior

Destructive attacks may be categorized as:

  • Data Destruction: This involves deleting or destroying the data stored on your network or hard disk drive so that it becomes completely unreadable and unusable for you.
  • Data Diddling: It occurs when a hacker modifies the important information before or at the time of entering it into the device.  These may include counterfeiting or forging documents, changing details of online financial transactions etc.

These network security attacks can come up either from physical access, Internet or dial-up modems. You should make sure that you follow all the important steps to protect yourself from such vulnerabilities.

Top 10 Network Security Threats

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On November 24, 2014

In Networking, Security

November 24, 2014

There are a number of security systems available that can help you protect your computer network from unauthorized access. However, there are a number of internal vulnerabilities, which are not commonly considered to be a threat, but have the potential to seriously infect your system.

Some of the common network security threats are:

  1. USB Drives: These are one of the most common means of infecting a network. USB drives are small, inexpensive devices that can be used to share data between computers. Once a system is connected with a USB drive, most operating systems allow automatic running of programs, even the malicious ones.
  2. Laptops and Netbooks: Laptops and Netbooks of people outside the company, if connected to company’s computer network can also transmit codes that can hamper the security of a network. These portable devices may also have many system codes running at the back end to search for and infect internal networks. These malicious programs can also provide an easy access to a company’s important information like salaries, phone numbers, addresses, medical records, employee passwords etc.
  3. Wireless Access Points: These provide immediate access to the network to any user within the network range. With security vulnerability in wireless access points, hackers can penetrate a computer system to get hold of confidential information. Most of the wireless AP protocols such as WPA and WPA2 are susceptible to attacks if strong passwords are not used.
  4. Miscellaneous USB Devices: Apart from USB drives, many other devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players, scanners, printers, fax machines etc. also pose a threat to the security of a network by transferring infected files from one system to another.
  5. Employees Borrowing Others’ Machines or Devices: Borrowing or sharing devices within the office can also cause an employee to inadvertently access restricted areas of the network. Thus, it is important that the passwords are strong and frequently changed.
  6. The Trojan Human: These are attackers who enter the websites in the camouflage of an employee or a contractor. These types of swindlers are capable of gaining access to the secure area of the network, including the server room.
  7. Optical Media: Just like the USB devices, optical media such as CDs or DVDs can also be used as a source of network infection. Once installed and run on a system, these portable storage devices can steal and disclose confidential data to other public networks.
  8. Lack of Employee Alertness: Besides the intimidations from digital technology, the capacity of human mind to store information also poses a major threat to a network’s security. Employees should be alert to note who is around them when they log on to their system or while reading confidential documents in public places.
  9. Smartphones: Today, phones are no less than mini-computers having the capacity to perform complex tasks. Hence, smartphones also pose the same security threat as a laptop, netbook or US devices.
  10. E-mail: Emails are commonly used to communicate, send and receive files within the business networks. However, this facility can often be misused for malicious purposes. Confidential messages can certainly be sent to any outside target and many viruses can be transferred through emails.

Make sure you keep a note of all these potential threats and take the necessary steps to prevent your internal network from getting infected.

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