Security Management Strategies for the CIOAccess "Passive scanning: A new take on network vulnerability scanning"
This article is part of the January 2004 issue of IDSes takes aim: Emerging "target-based" systems improve intrusion defense
Network vulnerability scanning has traditionally been an active operation: Systems are probed, prodded and occasionally crashed. Vulnerability scanning can be a dangerous operation. For many enterprises, the cost of active scanning is so high -- downtime, aggravation, finger pointing -- that it's relegated to a semiannual event. Also, active scanning yields extremely sensitive security information that can be misused. Alternatively, the idea behind passive scanning is that systems expose a lot of information about themselves in normal communications. Active scanning can discover more, but passive scanning may be enough to help target-based IDS. For example, by watching TCP connection establishment and teardown and application-layer banners, a passive IDS scanner can make a fairly good guess as to the operating system running on the communicating systems, and application types and version information. We ran NeVO, Tenable Network Security's passive scanner, and found the output to be very accurate. Operating systems, application versions, known bugs and ... Access >>>
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Features
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'Targeted' perimeter defense improves network-based intrusion detection systems
by Joel Snyder
Target-based IDSes squelch network noise to pinpoint the alerts you really care about. We review three solutions to see if they hit the bull's-eye.
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Microsoft Trustworthy Computing causes strategic conflict around security
by Lawrence M. Walsh
Two years into Trustworthy Computing, the software giant faces the daunting challenge of winning and keeping customers while grappling with periodic setbacks.
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Ron Rivest, RSA Algorithm Creator, discusses issues with micropayments
by Andrew Briney
Legendary cryptographer Ron Rivest has a reputation for tackling "hard" security problems. Up next: Micropayments.
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'Targeted' perimeter defense improves network-based intrusion detection systems
by Joel Snyder
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Passive scanning: A new take on network vulnerability scanning
by Joel Snyder
Learn about the benefits and risks of passive network vulnerability scanning.
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Business continuity roles improve security incident management
by Fred Trickey
IT personnel may be front-line responders, but if they "own" incident management, your enterprise is at risk. Here's a business blueprint for an effective security incident management program with business continuity roles.
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Review: RSA ClearTrust 5.5 secure federated identity management system
by George Wrenn
RSA ClearTrust 5.5 eases the administration of securing Web services identity management across business partners' systems.
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Passive scanning: A new take on network vulnerability scanning
by Joel Snyder
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Columns
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Secure coding essential to risk mitigation planning
by Andrew Briney, Information Security magazine
Information Security magazine's editorial director Andrew Briney talks about the lack of incentive for making code more secure.
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Examining hacker bounty pros and cons: Do they stop computer hackers?
A hacker bounty could create a new benchmark for hackers to measure themselves, so do bounties stop computer hackers?
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Understanding the Open Systems Interconnection model
by Jay Heiser, Contributor
It's time to take the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model up a notch to the human layer.
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Spammers drive organizations to block Internet traffic to stop attacks
by Dana W. Paxson
Spammers and hackers are driving organizations -- and nations -- to block Internet traffic in order to stop attacks.
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Secure coding essential to risk mitigation planning
by Andrew Briney, Information Security magazine
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