Penetration Testing: Re: Testing the user community

[Don Turnblade <Arctific () cox net>]

Thor (Hammer of God <thor <at> hammerofgod.com> writes:

> Not withstanding the value of the other replies, the problem with this
> method is that the outcome doesn't really prove anything one way or the
> other.  If he sends a mock virus out and no one opens it, it doesn't mean
> that they won't open a real one that comes out the next day.  If they do
> open his, that doesn't mean they'll actually open a real one in the future.
>
> You can always prove that your users will do something stupid.  That's
> trivial.  If the goal is to actually improve the security posture of your
> userbase, then engage in continued user education - not waste your time
> trying to get them to open a virus.
>
> t
>
> On 2/1/07 6:55 AM, "Schanulleke" <schalulleke <at> gmail.com> spoketh to all:
>
> > webmaster <at> absolutenetworks.biz wrote:
> > > We all know our weak link but how do you identify just how weak they are? 
I
> > > think it's time to pen test my user community and have a couple ideas to
> > > gather 
> > > statistics on just how nonaware they really are.
> > What is the point you are trying to make, what is the goal you are
> > trying to achieve?
> > > Maybe a simple phishing scam
> > > and bogus email with a fake virus attachment that emails me when it's 
opened
> > > so 
> > > I can track how many folks actually opened it.  Has anyone ever done this
> > > before? I can't find any information about it on the web.. thoughts and 
ideas
> > > anybody?
> > >
> > >   
> > It all has been done before for real. THere are plenty of real examples
> > out there. If you have AV check how often it is triggered. Or are you
> > really trying to prove that your users at 1d10ts?
> >
> > Frank
> >
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Please consider your security enhancement metrics very carefully, because your 
user training will evolve to improve user training scores against your metrics.

For example, training in user passsword selection used password cracking tool 
results to select users for further training.  Futher, post instruction 
password cracking was done to help calibrate instructor training advice.

In the example of password strength, it was learned that capable users could 
take the advice to "not user dictionary words" in a password to mean "do not 
use an English dictionary".  The mistake in instructional advice was uncovered 
and changed.  

If the average cracking time per password is a meaningful measure of password 
strength, then this method lead to a trained user base with a significant 
improvement.

Incomming statistic:
   Untrained user population:  50% of passwords would crack in less than 3 
seconds.
   Population selected for training, the first 50%

   Trained user population: 50% of password would crack in less than 2 weeks.

   General user population: 50% of passwords would crack in less than 72 hours.

Using this metric, 6 generational improvments in password training advice for 
instructors occurred.  

What is really learned by this method is how to evolve beyond "feel good" user 
awareness training toward something that works.

 





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