Computer security breaching techniques in our techno-wireless world

Posted on January 18, 2008 at 7:10 am

Make sure to read other posts from the Wireless Security series!

Computer security breaching techniques in our techno-wireless world
How to prevent techno-wireless security breaches

The information superhighway brought with it new methods of security breaching. Early attacks on computer installations required a person to physically engage in a breach attempt on a company hub. Be it through hacking into a central server and hopping on the LAN, or by using social engineering and hours of studying company code to obtain system knowledge.

Now with the explosion of wireless technologies, simple ‘wizard’ setups and a lack of understanding to the threats posed, the issue of personal security has never been more prominent. As everything goes ‘live’ – via multi-faceted operating systems, instant messaging and software products, connections are established between millions of pieces of equipment every day.

Now as we move into a cellular high tech world, the vulnerabilities of technology make threats ever greater. These threats manifest in 5 key ways:

Top 5 security threats in today’s technology obsessed society

1. Web-manipulators and Spyware

As it becomes easier and more essential for people to access online services there is a huge opportunity for malicious code and Spyware that can infiltrate and manipulate your browser. Such programs achieve this by using the fact that you are logged into the device using the administrator account (which is common for unsuspecting users). With such privileges the author of the code or a Spyware program can access your system and do virtually anything they please.

2. Cyberspace espionage and social engineering

We’ve all heard it; a security breach has compromised the personal data of 40,000 employees/customers. In this high tech society, focused corporate and personal information is sensitive and highly valuable. Information is a vital commodity for companies to gain a strategic advantage and for individuals to illicit illegal access for devious means. Such threats are far more dangerous than any other because there is a reason for the attack. They want YOUR information, and will use various techniques to get it.

3. The iPhone influx – Handheld computers

With the market now flooded with VIOP/Wifi capable media devices and mobile phones, the technology is such that devices are no longer one dimensional, i.e. a phone, a pocket organizer. They are fully equipped handheld communications devices with all the functionality of a computer. The problem is that most companies underestimate the risk of such devices being a security risk.

Instead they are more concerned with the bottom line, which means striving to be the first to introduce even greater memory capacity, better visuals, and seamless connectivity. As such, with simple to hack security features, a stolen or intercepted media device can give unscrupulous individuals carte blanch over all your personal information.

4. The Computer-bot

These are my personal favorite – The advanced computer program that doesn’t get tired or hungry. A ‘bot’ is a sophisticated piece of code that can sit on a computer and perform any number of tasks, information gathering, system sabotage, you name it. Speculation is rife that they are used by online gaming companies to inflate player numbers, and it is mused that you are as likely to be playing a ‘bot’ as you are a human at an online poker table these days – And why not?

The human player gets tired and restless, the gaming company wants more players circulating the wealth so they can rake more pots. It pays to have a bot ‘play’ hundreds of thousands of hands in exactly the same way, making all the decisions based on calculated pot odds, position, and aggressive tenancies.

5. System developer ignorance

When a company is dependent on its online technology and design infrastructure to be successful it becomes essential to have a cutting edge solution that is resilient to attack. After all, you don’t want to be forced to go offline in order to deal with the consequences of a breach. As such when developing applications and/or websites, having the coding skills and tools to do the job are not the only pre-requisites.

It is as important to have an awareness of the security threats that may be posed by coding in such ways. Maintaining sites that are robust and resilient becomes less important when you want quick access with lots of fancy visuals and audio accompaniments. Don’t scrimp on security, otherwise your site will become a prime target for ‘hop along’ re-routing and hacking.

So how can you protect yourself against these wireless security threats? In my next article, I will go through several steps that can be taken to help minimize these types of attacks/threats.

This is a guest post by Neil Henry, a technology enthusiast.

[tags]wireless security, security technology, identity theft, information theft, hacking, social engineering, computer bot, spyware protection, remote access, website development, website security[/tags]

» Filed Under Computer Tips

Comments

3 Responses to “Computer security breaching techniques in our techno-wireless world”

rambhai said on : January 19th, 2008 at 1:00 am

did you attebd the clubhack fest in pune a while ago~~that was an awesome seminar dude~~~the told us all about advanced hacking~~

martin said on : November 20th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

I am looking for news stories where wireless security was breached. Anyone who knows any…
Thanks!

How to prevent techno-wireless security breaches Says:

[...] var siteId=4735; var kadId=2976; var kadwidth=336; var kadheight=280; In the previous post, Computer security breaching techniques in our techno-wireless world, we discussed the problems surrounding today’s society as all singing, all dancing wireless [...]
January 19th, 2008 at 6:25 am