[ISN] Security UPDATE -- Browser Security; More About Security Through Obscurity -- June 8, 2005

InfoSec News isn at c4i.org
Thu Jun 9 01:17:49 EDT 2005


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A New Dimension in IT Infrastructure Management: Integrated KVM and 
Serial Console Control Systems
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Avoiding Availability Pitfalls in Microsoft Exchange Environments
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====================

1. In Focus: Browser Security; More About Security Through Obscurity

2. Security News and Features
   - Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   - Does Web Browser Choice Affect Security?
   - Setting Up Windows Server Update Services 

3. Security Toolkit
   - Security Matters Blog
   - FAQ

4. New and Improved
   - Keep Your Windows PC Secure

====================

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==== 1. In Focus: Browser Security; More About Security Through 
Obscurity ====
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor, mark at ntsecurity / net

In a recent survey performed by Opera Software, approximately 32 
percent of respondents had no idea whether the browser they choose 
affects their system's overall security (see the news item below). It's 
probably safe to assume that those people don't know how any 
application might affect their system's overall security. 

Some people might argue that using any browser other than Microsoft 
Internet Explorer (IE) is far safer. That might not be true depending 
on how someone uses IE. For example, if you load the latest patches, 
stay on top of the latest vulnerabilities and exploits, use add-on 
tools that increase security, and possibly modify certain registry 
settings, then IE can become much safer to use than it is in its 
default configuration. Plus, if you use Windows XP with Service Pack 2 
(SP2), IE is much safer. 

If you subscribe to our WinInfo Daily UPDATE newsletter, you probably 
read last Friday's Short Takes edition in which Paul Thurrott mentioned 
that IE 7.0 is in development. It will undoubtedly be more secure than 
previous versions, but there's a catch: It will be available only for 
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. At this time, it seems that 
Microsoft won't make the new browser version available for Windows 
2000. Mainstream support for that OS ends June 30, but that doesn't 
mean that no security patches will be available. Since the company will 
provide free security patches until June 2010, I think we can assume 
that includes security patches for IE on Win2K. 

It's certainly possible to switch from IE to another browser on any 
Windows platform, but of course doing so presents problems because some 
application interfaces rely on the use of IE. This means that in many 
cases, you'll have to use two browsers, which isn't a big deal, but you 
do incur the added work of managing an additional application on your 
desktops. 

Last week, I wrote about security through obscurity. One reader wrote 
to say that in his opinion I completely missed the point of what the 
phrase "security through obscurity" really means. There's no sense 
arguing semantics. I'll just say that I was advocating adding as much 
security as possible even if the added amount is trivial. Another 
reader wrote with a comment that illustrates this point. He said that 
even though he knows a thief can quickly unlock his car door and steal 
the vehicle, he locks the car anyway. 

That about sums it up. However, there is the notion of cost, which I 
didn't cover last week. Some might argue that the cost of managing 
something like MAC address filtering on wireless Access Points (APs) is 
excessively expensive for the amount of security gained. This could be 
true depending on the size of your environment, the size of your budget 
and your ideas about where that money is best spent, and the manner in 
which you implement network management. Obviously, you have to decide 
that for yourself. 

A feature item below mentions a feature article about Windows Server 
Update Services (WSUS). You can read the complete feature article on 
our Web site and chat about WSUS with Doug Toombs today at 12 P.M. 
Eastern (9 A.M. Pacific). Learn more about the "WSUS Is Not for 
Wussies!" Web chat at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB59:4FB69

====================

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====================

==== 2. Security News and Features ====

Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   If you subscribe to this newsletter, you also receive Security 
Alerts, which inform you about recently discovered security 
vulnerabilities. You can also find information about these 
discoveries at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB4C:4FB69

Does Web Browser Choice Affect Security?
   A recent survey revealed that many people still don't realize how 
applications might affect overall system security. The survey revealed 
that 17 percent of respondents thought that the browser played no role 
in overall system security and 32 percent said they didn't know one way 
or the other. 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB4F:4FB69

Setting Up Windows Server Update Services 
   Patch management is a headache for security administrators at most 
organizations. Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) offers benefits 
for organizations of all sizes. In this article, John Howie walks you 
through the process of installing and configuring WSUS for your 
organization, obtaining updates, and configuring clients to use WSUS to 
obtain updates.
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB50:4FB69

====================

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====================

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====================

==== 3. Security Toolkit ==== 

Security Matters Blog: TCPDUMP for Windows
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB55:4FB69

   If you've been looking for a Windows-based version of the popular 
tcpdump tool, MicroOLAP Technologies offers MicroOLAP TCPDUMP for 
Windows, which the company says reproduces all the features found in 
the original tcpdump for UNIX. 
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FAQ
   by John Savill, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB52:4FB69 

Q: How can I enable the List Object security option in Active Directory 
(AD)? 

Find the answer at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=BB51:4FB69

====================

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====================

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