network security.net

Wifi - Wireless Network Security.net

2007-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

network security.net It seems that more and more home users are going with wireless networks rather than the tradition wired networks with wires hanging everywhere and running wild around the house and in the crawlspace. What seems like a good idea quickly turns into a network security.net nightmare if you don’t vamp up the security of your wireless network.

Speed is of the essence. Typically, one thing matters to new users of wireless, getting connected and browsing that first network security.net website. While wireless connectivity can accomplish this, it’s best to set up network security.net your wireless connection securely before venturing out into network security.net cyberspace. Below are some tips to help secure your wireless network.

Change network security.net the default admin password. Admin passwords are easily figured out by attackers when they are left as the default. Not changing your network security.netwireless admin password opens your network to attack and can lead to many problems network security.net depending on the attacker’s agenda.

Another wireless security measure network security.net you will need to take is turning on encryption. Enabling WEP encryption on your wireless network will help you protect your privacy and all your info won’t be floating network security.net around outside your home waiting to be picked up by a passerby. It’s important to remember that all your devices on the wireless network will need to have the same network security.net encryption. So find the strongest encryption possible that will work on all devices of the wireless network.

Stop the auto-connect feature. Do not allow your devices to auto-connect. Allowing auto-connect network security.net may connect to a network that you don’t particularly want. Example, you don’t want your laptop connecting to your neighbor’s network and sending info network security.net.

It’s also a good idea that you install firewalls on all devices that connect to the wireless network. Even if the wireless router network security.net is firewalled, it’s important to also install firewalls on all computers that are connected to the wifi network. It’s important that these firewalls be set up correctly and block any intrusions that may compromise your wifi network security.net.

Position your wireless router close to the center of your home. Although the reach of wifi networks can vary greatly, it’s important to not allow network security.net the signal to float around great distances from the main access point. It virtually impossible to stop all leakage from exiting your home. But minimizing the risk to your wifi network will help to network security.net protect it.

Another good idea for wifi network security.net is network security.net to not allow broadcast of the SSID. Your router may have SSID broadcasting set up by network security.net default; however you should be able to change this setting in the configuration network security.net. This feature is only useful for mobile environments, and is not needed in network security.net home wifi networks.

These are just a few tips to securing your wifi network security.net. It’s always a good idea to check for firmware updates to your router as new exploits and vulnerabilities arise. Some routers will have an auto network security.net update feature and it’s important to use it. Using auto update will help keep your wifi network secure without the need of remembering to check for updates network security.net.

How to Protect Your Network Using these Network Security Procedures and Tips

2007-11-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Network security is the new buzz word around town. Most people think a network firewall that is setup with the default will protect their network. The simple fact is no it will not. Not until you are hack will you know this fact. Of course this comes a little too late. All operating systems need ports open in order to communicate information regarding active directory, DNS, DHCP, booting of a computer and more. Some applications need ports open to work. So where do you reach a safe point where your applications work and they are secure. The following will address the working ports and what to be concerned about. Later I will address how to secure it.

Ports to be concerned about are 3389 which is terminal services ports. If you do not have a firewall in place blocking public IP address from forwarding to private IP address using this port then you will want to call a security professional right away. Other ports to be concerned about are 139 which gives access to network shares.

Another area of concern is the SMB or the (Server Message Block) protocol. This protocol is used among other things for file sharing in Windows NT/2000/XP. In Windows NT it ran on top of NetBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP), which used the famous ports 137, 138 (UDP) and 139 (TCP). In Windows 2000/XP/2003, Microsoft added the possibility to run SMB directly over TCP/IP, without the extra layer of NetBT. For this they use TCP port 445. Again all these ports should remain in the private network and your firewall should block access.

Note: The NETSTAT command will show you whatever ports are open or in use, but it is NOT a port scanning tool! If you want to have your computer scanned for open ports see this page instead (link will follow shortly).

Print Management and Network Security

2007-11-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Print management can often be an annoyance for network operations managers and network administrators, especially if the enterprise or organization relies on their operating system's native print spoolers. But beyond mere annoyance, insufficient print management can easily become a security risk for your organization's sensitive data and materials.

Print Management Vulnerabilities

Many network operations managers and administrators would rather be working on things such as maintaining network integrity and security, rather than troubleshooting enterprise print problems. However, some network managers and admins may not realize that resolving poor print spool management can also increase network security.

A crucial concern in print management and network security--considering today's highly mobile work environments, which increasingly implement WAN's to accommodate mobile users--is the print data that is "exposed" while sent from the end user's machine to the printer over the WAN. Native OS print spoolers work extremely well in the capacity for which they're designed. However, they're only designed to accommodate a very narrow range of tasks, and accounting for WAN security is typically not one of them.

The good news is that any high quality third-party print management solution will provide increased WAN security for print jobs. Plus Tech's OM Plus print management software, for example, encrypts print jobs between OM Plus servers. This prevents the interception and compromise of sensitive documents by rogue employees or by neighboring or crawling computers with access to the WAN.

Print Management Prevents Accidental Security Compromises

This ability of print management solutions to control and manage user print privileges and printer performance can also prevent accidental compromises in document security. Using a native print spooler, a user may send print jobs to the wrong printer, meaning non-primary parties or departments could receive highly sensitive print jobs in their print tray by accident. For example, an HR documents containing social security numbers, salary information, or proposed changes in workforce personnel could print on the production floor rather than on the HR department's internal printers.

Unauthorized parties could then either wean information from the documents that they shouldn't be seeing, or in a more benign scenario, they could simply dispose of it improperly or without the security/destruction measures appropriate to the document.

Printer Problems and Solutions: Reading Between the Lines

While these problems are relatively minor compared to more foreboding network security threats, one must consider these problems relatively. That is, the time that network managers, administrators and help desk staff spend working on or troubleshooting problems related to print management is time spent not working on other network vulnerabilities. The International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that 40% of help desk calls are related to printing problems. When such a significant amount of resources are spent on a problem with such an easy solution, it becomes increasingly difficult for management to justify not implementing a third-party print management solution, particularly given the security concerns such a solution addresses.

Is your Network Security and User Access in the Right Balance?

2007-11-24T08:47:00.002-08:00

The whole meaning of networking is to share programs, but granting others to access a computer device reveals an open window for those with foul motives, too. In the early days networks were quite secure because they were closed in systems, and to do any harm you had to get physical access to a server wired to the LAN. Remote access and Internet possibility to hook up has changed that. Broader availableness and less cost of broadband (DSL and cable) connections means that even home computers remain linked up to the Internet round-the-clock, which add the chances for hackers to gain access to computers.

Computer operating systems were originally planned for stand-alone computers only, not networked ones, and security was not an issue. When computer networking became known, applications and operating systems concentrated on easy accessibility rather than security. Because of this earlier focus on accessibility; security are now retrofitted into a lot of hardware systems. Modern operating systems such as Windows XP are planned with security in mind, but they still have to operate using conventional networking protocols, which can result in security problems.

Security versus access. The users want easy access to network resources. Administrators want to remain the network secure. These two goals are at odds, because access and security are always on conflicting ends of the scale; the more you have of one, the less you have of the other.

For business computer networks, the key is to hit a balance so that employees are not annoyed by security measures, while trying to maintain a level of protection that will keep unauthorized individuals from getting access.

Internal network security threats are those that come from within the organization, as opposed to those that come through the Internet. Internal threats include employees who on purpose attempt to nick data or bring in viruses or attacks on the computer network. Other internal threats are posed by outside employees (contract workers, janitorial services and people posing as utility company employees) who have physical access to the LAN computers. Though, many internal threats are unintended. Employees may install or use their own software or hardware for a private purpose, unaware that it poses a security threat to their computers and the complete network.

External security threats are those that come from outside the LAN, typically from the Internet. These threats are the ones we usually think of when we talk about hackers and computer network attacks. Such people can make use of flaws and characteristics of computer operating systems and software applications. They take advantage of the way various network communications protocols work to do a range of things, including the following: Enter a system and access (read, copy, change or delete) its data. Break down a system and harm or destroy operating system and application files so they do not work anymore. Install virus and worms that can spread to other systems across the LAN. Or use the system to start attacks against other systems or other network.

Your Network Security Solution - 6 Steps to Evaluate Its Effectiveness

2007-11-24T08:47:00.001-08:00

From computer viruses to hackers, with so many lurking security threats, it’s important to have a solid network security solution in place. Whether your company has security software, a dedicated IT team to monitor suspicious activity, or both – threats keep evolving and adapting to their environment. That said, it would be in your best interest to have an integrated network security solution with all the modern tools you need to keep your system up and running smoothly.

So how can you assess your network security solution to see if it’s time to update your security software or procedures? Here are 6 important aspects you should consider when evaluating your current network security.

1. Detection Accuracy. It’s critical to have a network solution that can lower the amount of false positives/negatives and can also design policy controls that map to business processes. Make sure the solution can protect both structured and unstructured data as well as data ranging from simple credit card numbers and SSNs to source code and other proprietary information.

2. Enforcement Capabilities. Since most leaks are internal (or at least start out that way) it’s important to have a network security solution with integrated enforcement capabilities for all data types, vectors, for both internal and external communications.

3. Policy Administration and Updating. Make sure your network security solution is able to set rules based on users, data, vector, and destination. It should be able to tie each of these variables together to say who can send what information where and how. Additionally, since these policies should be created based on regulatory compliance requirements and corporate governance, your network security solution should be automatically updating them as regulations change.

4. Manageability and Reporting. Security software should be easy to deploy and manage. Policy controls should be so easy to create and integrate with existing processes and tools that anyone (not just IT) can do it. Overall, your network security solution should have monitoring, prevention, reporting and enforcement all in one solution.

5. Cost of Ownership. Any solution should have a reasonable cost of ownership, meaning it should possess the ability to integrate with a broad range of security and networking solutions as well as a flexible deployment scheme. Additionally, the solution should have a measurable effectiveness, i.e. reporting. That is if a breach or leak does happen your solution should be able to classify the incident(s) and provide remediation in order to have a reasonable cost of ownership.

6. Vendor Viability. Unfortunately, the majority of available solutions are from start up companies with limited funds and product vision. Network security solutions from start up companies can sometimes lack the R&D, global sales and support services organizations need to have guaranteed, long term security for their network. Additionally, due to consolidation in the security industry, these small vendors and ‘boutique shops’ are more likely to be acquired by a larger company at some point or even forced out of business eventually. The larger, publicly traded firms however, generally have a more substantial customer base, a well funded R&D program, and a global presence with strong sales and support. Therefore, purchasing solutions from a more viable vendor could mean better results and service in the long run.

Threats Network Security Protects Against

2007-11-24T08:46:00.002-08:00

Top Reasons You Need Network Security

Whether you engage in global commerce or have a network established simply to communicate with others on the Web, there are a number of threats that exist when operating in the realm of the World Wide Web. Network security is an important function that ultimately will protect your computer and data from multiple threats. Here are some examples of common threats networks are exposed to every day:

Session Hijackers – Hijackers can access your computer in a number of ways. One way they can do this is through SMTP hijacking. This means a hijacker can gain access to your list of e-mail addresses through an SMTP server of an unprotected host. By doing so a hijacker is able to send spam to any users listed in the e-mail address book. This is actually a frequent problem networked computers have to deal with. It is usually very difficult to track the origin of a spammer in this case as email is usually redirected through various hosts.

Backdoors – Certain programs allow remote access through application backdoors. Still others have glitches or bugs in the system that allow someone to gain access to the network via a backdoor. This is very dangerous as the interloper can then take control of multiple programs.

Remote login – In some situations a person can connect to your computer network from a remote location and take control of certain computer functions. They may for example view or change files and run programs unbeknownst to you on your computer network.

Network Security 101

2007-11-24T08:46:00.001-08:00

As more people are logging onto the Internet everyday, Network Security becomes a larger issue. In the United States, identity theft and computer fraud are among the fastest rising crimes. It is important to protect your network and ensure the safety of all computers and users in that network.

What is a Network?

In order to fully understand network security, one must first understand what exactly a network is. A network is a group of computers that are connected. Computers can be connected in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include a USB port, phone line connection, Ethernet connection, or a wireless connection. The Internet is basically a network of networks. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is also a network. When a computer connects to the internet, it joins the ISP’s network which is joined with a variety of other networks, which are joined with even more networks, and so on. These networks all encompass the Internet. The vast amount of computers on the Internet, and the number of ISPs and large networks makes network security a must.

Common Network Security Breeches

Hackers often try to hack into vulnerable networks. Hackers use a variety of different attacks to cripple a network. Whether you have a home network or a LAN, it is important to know how hackers will attack a network.

One common way for a hacker to wreak havoc is to achieve access to things that ordinary users shouldn’t have access to. In any network, administrators have the ability to make certain parts of the network “unauthorized access.” If a hacker is able to gain access to a protected area of the network, he or she can possibly affect all of the computers on the network. Some hackers attempt to break into certain networks and release viruses that affect all of the computers in the network. Some hackers can also view information that they are not supposed to see.

Destructive Attacks

There are two major categories for destructive attacks to a network. Data Diddling is the first attack. It usually is not immediately apparent that something is wrong with your computer when it has been subjected to a data diddler. Data diddlers will generally change numbers or files slightly, and the damage becomes apparent much later. Once a problem is discovered, it can be very difficult to trust any of your previous data because the culprit could have potentially fooled with many different documents.

The second type of data destruction is outright deletion. Some hackers will simply hack into a computer and delete essential files. This inevitably causes major problems for any business and can even lead to a computer being deemed useless. Hackers can rip operating systems apart and cause terrible problems to a network or a computer.

The Importance of Network Security

Knowing how destructive hackers can be shows you the importance of Network Security. Most networks have firewalls enabled that block hackers and viruses. Having anti-virus software on all computers in a network is a must. In a network, all of the computers are connected, so that if one computer gets a virus, all of the other computers can be adversely affected by this same virus. Any network administrator should have all of the essential files on back up disks. If a file is deleted by a hacker, but you have it on back up, then there is no issue. When files are lost forever, major problems ensue. Network security is an important thing for a business, or a home. Hackers try to make people’s lives difficult, but if you are ready for them, your network will be safe.

How to Secure Your Wireless Network

2007-11-24T08:45:00.002-08:00

To secure your wireless network, you need to make extra efforts. Installing a wireless network is much easier than installing a wired one. However, security matters are most difficult to tackle. Here are some simple tips on how to secure your wireless network.

Secure Your Wireless Network: Passwords: Wireless network always asks you to enter a password when you try to configure different settings of the system. Default passwords set by the manufacturers are very simple and anybody can easily guess them. When you install a new wireless network, you must change these simple passwords in to passwords that no one can guess easily. You should choose such passwords that require efforts and skill to detect and make hacking difficult. For example, a lengthy password that contains both numbers and letters is ideal to prevent hacking.

Secure Your Wireless Network: IP Address: Default Internet Protocol or IP address of wireless networks is also very easy to guess. This address contains some number like 182.157.3.2. The user of a wireless network gets entry in to configuration utilities with the help of IP address. Moreover, the wireless network in turn uses this IP address to connect it to WAN and LAN connections. From the security point of view, it is essential to change IP address. Although, it does not guarantee that your wireless network is now safe from the hackers. However, it can stop those local users who try to intrude while scanning the network just casually.

Secure Your Wireless Network: SSID: Another important factor needs to be taken care to secure your wireless network is SSID. Every wireless network has its own name. This name is known as Service Set Identifier or SSID. The basic requirements to choose SSID is that it should have at the most 31 characters in length and you have to set all computers connected to the network to use that name. There are two main points that you should take care of make your wireless network more secure. First, you should make some changes in the name to make it unique by using a name having both letters and numbers. The name should not be an indicator to tell personal details of you or your wireless network. The second one is that; when you successfully connect all the computers on the network, disable the broadcasting feature. When you keep broadcasting feature enables, you leave your wireless network open for the new computers.

Security of your wireless network is also related with DHCP. DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol has made connecting new computers to the wireless network very easy. DHCP has made connecting new computers to the network easy because it automatically assigns Internet protocol address to it. However, at the same time is has posed a severe threat to the security of the network. To prevent intrusion you should either disable the DHCP or set the maximum limit of the computers that can be connected to the number of computers you already know.

Network Security Paramount to Large Corporate Entities

2007-11-24T08:45:00.001-08:00

Standards-based VoIP and IP telephony software applications are becoming the reality of modern business communications. However, network security is paramount for all corporate entities with the prevalence of secure data traveling over a variety of communications mediums.

Tracking call data is a necessary and important part of a business enterprise’s operations and efficiency, and by choosing a secure call accounting system, sensitive information like corporate assets, trade secrets and other proprietary data, won’t fall into the wrong hands.

It’s important that a serious call accounting software application provide security in the following areas: Operating System Security, Program Security and Data Security. Each of the three zones should operate with independent settings that can be set to a business’ specific needs. An administrator should be able to limit the operations available to a specific user and can place restrictions on call data records that a user can view or edit.

Additionally, a call accounting system that has the ability to limit users to their respective areas (divisions, departments, cost centers, etc…) via user IDs provides multi-user access and affords managers the ability to run reports that can aid with>telecom expense management. The overall result is a high-efficiency call accounting system that can be configured for any number of network users, and has the highest security encryption rate.

Secure Yourself In The Growing Career Of Computer Network Security

2007-11-24T08:44:00.003-08:00

We have all heard stories on the news about email viruses wreaking havoc on computer systems. To keep computer systems in top performance you will need to know the risks, and what you can do to protect yourself from viruses and computer hackers.

Our world today practically relies on the computers and the Internet. A massive attack on of a computer virus could wipe out communications, air traffic control, hospitals and credit cards. Specialists with training in computer and network security are needed to help us protect this information by preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks.

As Security risks are becoming greater, qualified people are needed to keep computer networks secure. You can learn to defend computer networks against scams, fraud, espionage and more when you earn a degree in computer network security.

This course of study will teach students how to install, maintain, and monitor existing security software for both the private and public sectors. Students will be able to build computer security programs, fix existing programs, install security software, and be able to recognize when an intruder is attempting to hack into a computer network.

Jobs in network security cover many different areas. Here are some jobs in Computer Network Security:

· Database administrators work with database management systems software and determine ways to organize and store data. They identify user requirements, set up computer databases, and test and coordinate modifications to the computer database systems. They basically manage and protect a company’s data.

· Computer Systems Analysts solve computer problems and apply computer technology to meet the individual needs of an organization. Systems analysts may plan and develop new computer systems or devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional operations. Computer systems analysts use the computer's technical abilities to meet the needs of a particular type of industry or company.

· Network Administrators and Computer System Administrators oversee network security as part of their jobs. They also design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They also provide day-to-day onsite administrative support for software users in a variety of work environments.

· Computer Security Specialists are employed for the sole purpose of working on computer security for a company. These specialists plan and implement computer security for an organization. They may also train others in computer security, install computer security systems, and monitor networks for breaches in security. They may even be called upon to respond to cyber attacks, and even collect data and evidence to be used in prosecuting perpetrators.

These careers are expected to continue to grow according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Salaries in this industry range from $58,190 to $66,460.

Network Security - All About Firewalls

2007-11-24T08:44:00.001-08:00

The Importance of Firewalls to Network Security

Most networks should have a firewall in place before they are up and running. A firewall is the most common form of network security employed by companies large and small. If you own a personal computer your anti-virus software company may at one time or another have offered you firewall protection.

A firewall on a home network is just as important as one on a corporate network. Why? Most smaller networks have as many security issues that larger corporate networks have. A firewall helps protect a network against potential data loss, corruption and hackers.

What Is A Firewall

A firewall is nothing more than a fancy term used to describe a blockade that prevents outside forces from accessing your network. It is called a firewall because it prevent information or data loss from one place to another. Typically a firewall is some program or hardware that you have to install in your computer that helps filter information coming from the Web to your computer network. A firewall provides a series of filters that screens information allowing only safe information to pass through to your network.

In a large company, multiple computers are often linked using network cards. Companies usually provide multiple connections to the Internet. In order to protect all of these computers a firewall is necessary so that only certain people can access corporate computers through the Web (those that are authorized to do so). While a firewall is not foolproof it basically does a good job of protecting computers from Internet threats at their connection points.

Why Conduct A Network Security Check?

2007-11-24T08:43:00.003-08:00

These days a lot of organizations of different kinds have realized the benefit of having a network and, hence, are eagerly seeking to establish networks on their premises. Having a network on the premises facilitates faster data exchange across the organization. At the same time, there has also emerged a need to conduct network security checks in order to prevent unauthorized intrusion or data leakage. Losing data through such incidents may translate in to severe losses for the concerned organization.

In order to avoid the security threats posed by unsecured networks, a lot of security measures are required to be implemented. At the same time, we need to realize that having a security system in place will solve the problem once and for all. These security threats can raise their heads even when you have taken precautions like installing network security software or if you have an IT team dedicated to this particular task of keeping a watch on all activities within the network. In order to keep your network free of security threats and to run it in a smoother way, you need to integrate your network security by implementing all the latest tools.

But you may still be confused as to which is the right time to update the network security software and what are the other solutions? It is very difficult to know the best possible solution to the problem of network security. Threats tend to modify themselves with passage of time. What you can do is to develop some policies for your business in order to check security.

The data that is to be protected may be structured or unstructured. The data may include credit card and other such documents. Most of the data leakage is internal. Therefore, it becomes important to have integrated enforcement capabilities for all kind of communication, be it internal or external. All the security policies and rules should be put in place or designed keeping in mind what the user wants, the data type or the destination. All the variables should be related and it is then to be decided what information is to be sent by whom, where and how. All of these arrangements should be updated automatically with each and every change. These policies should be made considering organization's requirements.

You should take care that all the security software that you are implementing should be easy to handle and use. The access control policies should be clearly defined and should be able to integrate with existing processes. A good network security solution should be able to report properly, should be able to monitor all the activities inside the network and should be able to prevent it against any security threats. It can be bolstered by a regularly conducted network security checks.

What Is An Ip Address And How Can I Hide It?

2007-11-24T08:43:00.001-08:00

Every computer that is connected to a network must have an IP address. This address uniquely identifies the computer over the network in order to transfer information to and from it accordingly. Both local and wide area networks have IP addresses assigned to each computer, or terminal, within the network. IP addresses can be static or dynamic. Static IP addresses are assigned by the system administrator to each computer and dynamic IP addresses are assigned by another device connected to the network.

When the computer is connected to a local area network (LAN), for example at home or in a corporate network, the IP address is determined when configuring the network and is usually static. Such IP addresses can be, for example, 192.168.0.1, known as private IP addresses. However, when connecting to the internet, the ISP determines the IP address which will identify your PC when connected via modem to the net, known as a public IP address. IP addresses for connecting to the internet, considered a wide area network (WAN), can be static or dynamic, depending on the ISP.

Due to the fact that each computer has an IP address which identifies it, this information can be “seen” by other persons on the network with specialized software that detects IP addresses, or by persons hacking into the network. Even when browsing a website, your IP address can be identified by the site, apart from other information that is vulnerable when surfing the net. The most important data retrieved from internet users are usually IP addresses, surfing habits, and other, more personal information, when possible.

Website administrators and marketing companies can then use this information to target you for adware, junk mail, spam, and other marketing annoyances on the net. Other, more malicious intruders can even use this information to access your PC’s hard drive itself and recover any information on it.

Thus, these vulnerabilities are exploited by any person that has the ability to do so. That is why, when faced with privacy concerns, many internet surfers prefer to use proxy surfers that will hide their IP address. In this way, surfing the internet is anonymous and noticeably reduces security hazards.

Network Security Software

2007-11-24T08:42:00.001-08:00

Networking is all about sharing programs and is highly important in a company's computer system. Before, networks were secure because they were closed-in systems. But nowadays, hackers can easily access these networks due to broader availability and inexpensive broadband connections, such as DSL and cable. That is why companies should have network security software.

Network security software is used to protect sensitive data and information on your company's system. It also works wonders in securing your system, and ensures that it functions effectively and at maximum capacity. Some types of network security software are network security software scanners, network monitoring software and network-wide software used for monitoring an event log.

The network security software scanner is used to check your computer system for possible security vulnerabilities by scanning the entire network for missing security areas, service packs, open shares, open ports and user accounts that are unused. When this software detects all this information, you can lock down your computer system against intruders and hackers.

Another type of network security software is network-monitoring software. This is used to monitor your server and the entire computer system for failures, and to allow administrators to fix and identify these failures before the computer users report them. If there is a failure, the user can be alerted via email, SMS or pager. After this, the software reboots the machine, restarts a service or automatically runs a script.

Lastly, the software used for monitoring an event log is used to detect intrusion on the event log and management. What this software does is analyzes and archives the event logs of all machines in the computer system, at the same time sending alerts of attacks, critical events and other issues on security.

All these are necessary to secure your company's computer system. But keep in mind that one of the most important features that your network security software should have is ease of use. So, you must take time and carefully select the software that you will use in managing your network and keeping it secured.

Security Software provides detailed information on Security Software, Internet Security Software, Computer Security Software, Network Security Software and more. Security Software is affiliated with Computer Spy Software.

Network Security - Little Known Threats

2007-11-24T08:41:00.004-08:00

Little Known Network Security Threats

There are a number of common network security threats that can damage your network. Some prime examples include remote login capability, SMTP hijacking and backdoor entry to a computer network. There are however dozens of other ways someone can inadvertedly access your network and steal or damage your data. Here are just a few network security threats you should be aware of, whether you operate a private or corporate network.

DNS – DNS or denial of service involves a major attack on Websites. Usually this threat is reserved for large computer networks. When a denial of service attack occurs there is often little a company can do immediately to recover from the attack. When this happens a hacker connects to the server multiple times purposefully even though the hacker is denied access. Over time these repeated requests cause the system to slow and crash.

Macros – This is an application that allows someone to create a script of commands that can run on your network. These macros are capable of crashing computers and destroying data.

Virus – A computer virus is one of the most common threats any private or corporate network user faces. Fortunately viruses can usually be prevented using modern anti-viral software.

OS bugs – Operating system bugs occur when backdoors are accessed to operating systems. Usually a backdoor is left open to attacks when inadequate network security systems are in place. Fortunately adequate network security including use of firewalls can help limit ones exposure to this security threat.

Network Systems Schools Provide a New Career Path

2007-11-24T08:41:00.003-08:00

Good Network Systems Schools provide students with a thorough understanding of network systems organization and management, as well as voice and data communications standards, components, topologies, and media for traditional and high-speed local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). Instruction begins with the foundations of network systems and network systems uses.

Bachelor degree programs in network systems prepare students with knowledge for advancing careers in information technology (IT) that includes fundamental network devices, systems, and routers; uses of technologies and applications for business; communication skills, analysis, critical thinking, and technical competencies required in the modern workplace. Network systems bachelor degree programs will present studies of uses of technologies and business applications; configuration and installation of network design, infrastructure, applications, and services; network operating systems and security; and problem solving and troubleshooting.

Master degrees in network systems and information technology programs may combine technology and Internet security with information management and administration courses. Master degree students can expect courses in digital technologies such as computers, high-speed control, smart devices; computer network management and network administration; wireless networking and network design; technological skills, theory, languages, and programming; security solutions for LANs in private and public network systems; and taking leadership roles in the development, applications, and management.

Incomes can vary widely according to specialization, and type and size of business. Graduates with bachelor degrees in network systems with concentrations in systems analysis, management, and IT can expect incomes of $40,000 to $50,000; master degree with specialties in security, database, or LAN administration will net about $15,000 to $20,000 more. Doctorate degree salaries can readily approach $95,000 annually.

If you are interested in learning more about Network Systems Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

How to Secure Your Network?

2007-11-24T08:41:00.001-08:00

Network security is a method of preventing your computer network from the unauthorized user access, email spoofing, Trojan horses, denial of service, hacking, viruses, spyware and intruders etc. There are different securities mechanisms are being employed to protect the network. If a hacker gets control of your computer or network, he can send viruses or steal your company’s confidential data. Similarly if any computer in your network is infected with the viruses or spyware, all other computers will also be infected if no proper security system has been implemented. Securing a network is most important job description of the network administrators, security specialists, network engineers and IT managers. You can secure your computer network by the following security methods.

Network Security Tips

Use Virus Protection Software
Don’t open unknown email attachments
Use regular backup of your critical data
Make boot disk
Use Firewall program
Authenticate users
Implement Security Policy in your network
Keep an inventory of your software and hardware and make a list of all the devices.
SCAN TCP/UDP services
Don’t provide more rights to the system resources than necessary.
Perform the network security testing and find the holes and fix them.
Place your server at very safe place.
Prepare an Assistant Network Administrator and train him/her about all the security related matters so that he/she can control the network in your absence.
Monitor the user’s activities on the internet and block all the unwanted websites, web applications which have security risks.

If you have wireless network then the following methods are very helpful in securing your wireless network.

Wireless Network Security

SSID (Service Set Identifier) –
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
MAC Addressing (Media Access Control)
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
Encryption

Computer Network Securities

2007-11-24T08:40:00.001-08:00

Computer security policies are the basic guidelines and rules for accessing a network. These lay out some basic concepts to secure your computers. Computer network security is a complicated area, and is taken up by experts with many years of on-the-job experience.

As more people turn to computers for simplifying their day-to-day activities and jobs, the need for general users to understand the concepts of network security has become important. One should know the risks involved in using the computer without the security systems, and learn how to deal with them successfully both at home and at work.

There are two popular types of network security systems: transit security and traffic regulation systems. When both of these join forces you can be assured of the delivery of important information to the right person without any network pilferage problems. The receiver should also ensure that the information received should be carefully processed using a computer which is loaded and protected with latest protection software.

The simplest form of ensuring security on the net is to keep a close watch on the type of data packets moving between the networks. If an infected packet does not reach the recipient, the host may have nothing to worry about. Traffic regulation systems serve as a protective screen between the receiver and remote sites. These tools generally guards three basic regions of the network: the routers, firewalls and hosts.

The three ‘guards’ deliver similar service at various points in the network, and it is difficult to draw a differentiating line between them. The truth is that there are no foolproof systems which offer a guaranteed secure system for data transferred in the public network. With the increasing use of the Internet, network security is fast becoming crucial for the safe use of the systems, and therefore computer network security is all set to be an important part of our regular computer usage.

Current Internet Network Security Policies Are Nonsense!

2007-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Internet network security policies are flawed in strategy and implementation.

Gary suggests that the use of external consultants for the entire internet network security policy framework is not a great idea since the external consultants will find it difficult to grasp the intricacies and business drivers for the network security decisions.

Also, in terms of implementation, the internet network security policy should be disseminated to each and every employee of the company through seminars , handouts and quizzes rather than an innocuous email that no one reads.

The network security policy should capture the latest trends in the network security industry rather than playing catch up. One of the network security aspects that Internet network security policy makers should be worried about now is access to corporate data through a Blackberry or a mobile phone.

New ways of accessing internet cause internet security policy nightmares for CIOs. For example, most companies allow employees to access the corporate intranet mails thru Blackberrys. Also, some companies allow VPN access to the entire corporate intranet. All this is usually actually in violation of the existing corporate internet security policy which has to be rewritten.

In conclusion, internet network security policy implementors should focus on internal buy in among employees and proper dissemination to the entire IT work force,including contractors.This will ensure that the internet network security policy doesnt end up as a useless binder in your boss's cabin!