Security Management Strategies for the CIOAccess "Combat social engineering the 'Carnegie' way"
This article is part of the October 2008 issue of Security 7 Award winners sound off on key information security issues
A best seller from the 1930s provides timeless social engineering insight for security professionals. I want to thank Kevin Mitnick, Ira Winkler, Bruce Schneier and Michael Santarcangelo for bringing to light the challenges we face with social engineering. In their books and talks, they remind us that despite cool new tools and technologies, humans will always be the weakest security link and prey for fraudsters. However, the best book on social engineering has really nothing to do with security and was originally published in 1936: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. It should be required reading for all security professionals. His message is invaluable on many levels: "When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity." Carnegie didn't write his book for con artists, but if you put your black hat on you will see how his advice could readily be used by today's nefarious social engineers: "... Access >>>
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What's Inside
Features
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Embedded smart card chips are open to hack attacks
Using power analysis attacks, including Simple Power Analysis, hackers can attack the embedded microchips inside smart cards.
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Product Review: Application Security Inc.'s AppDetectivePro
Application Security Inc.'s AppDetectivePro does deep inspections of database configurations to identify security issues. It's ideal for internal and external auditors, security professionals, consultants and others who need to perform on-the-fly database vulnerability assessments.
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Learn how to choose NAC services
Figure out the right questions to ask your network access control (NAC) service provider or vendor.
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Encryption no longer an optional technology
Unravel the ins and outs of how your organization should deploy encryption.
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Embedded smart card chips are open to hack attacks
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Security 7 Award winners tackle important information security issues
The 2008 Security 7 Award winners have their say on information sharing, perimeter security, relationships, convergence, strategy, history and progress.
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Product Review: Finjan Vital Security NG-5000
Finjan's Finjan Vital Security NG-5000's Web filtering engines provide strong detection of Web-based security threats.
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LogRhythm product review
LogRhythm is a cross-platform log management that manages audit files and IT security management processes.
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Product Review: Cymphonix's Network Composer
Cymphonix's Network Composer is a security and visibility appliance that controls and monitorstraffic passing through the network perimeter to the Internet.
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Security 7 Award winners tackle important information security issues
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Columns
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Bruce Schenier, Marcus Ranum debate risk management
Experts Bruce Schneier and Marcus Ranum debate whether risk management is an appropriate strategic direction for information security professionals to follow.
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Combat social engineering the 'Carnegie' way
Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" can be a valuable tool for CISOs who are up against social engineering issues.
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Interview: Chris Nickerson of TruTV's 'Tiger Team'
Chris Nickerson of Lares Consulting explains best practices for penetration tests and the risks of outsourcing.
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Information security professionals have their say
Information Security magazine's Security 7 Award winners write personal essays on topics ranging from perimeter security, information sharing, physical and logical security convergence and progress made in the industry.
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Bruce Schenier, Marcus Ranum debate risk management
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