Security Basics mailing list archives

RE: Oh Dear, Where to start?!


From: "James Baumgardner" <jbaumgardner () primarycarenet org>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 16:14:53 -0500

Taken from the AVD download page:


Important notices

AVG 6.0 Free Edition is available in English language only.

AVG 6.0 Free Edition offer is valid for all single home and
non-commercial end users Worldwide.

AVG 6.0 Free Edition CAN NOT BE INSTALLED ON SERVERS FOR ANY REASON. IT
CAN NOT BE INSTALLED IN ANY NETWORKED ENVIRONMENT!

NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE WITH AVG 6.0 Free Edition.


-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Hawkinson [mailto:phawkinson () montreat edu] 
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 3:31 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Oh Dear, Where to start?!


In-Reply-To: <Law15-F77qVDokSUIwM000039a6 () hotmail com>


Chris,

What do you mean when you say ;

"There are a number of free scanners, but nearly all of them 
(including AVG) are not legal to run in a networked environment"

I wasn't aware that it was "Illegal" to run AVG in a networked 
environment.  What do you mean by this.

Thanks for the post,

Paul





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From: "Chris Berry" <compjma () hotmail com>
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Oh Dear, Where to start?!
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 12:47:36 -0700
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From: Steve Frank <stevefrankrit () yahoo com>
Hey everyone,

Ok... I am in a bit of a jam here and I was hoping to
get some feedback from some of you with appropriate experience in the 
field of network security and policy development.

I am an senior at RIT studying (essentially) systems administration. 
My main focus and priority has been computer security and policy 
development. I recently took a internship with a small government 
office helping out with computer administration tasks. Upon
arrival, I decided it would be fun to do a windows
update to see what sort of things would come up for my
PC. Low and behold, there were over 40 critical
updates, driver updates, and recommended updates.

Right off the bat this triggered the feeling that
there was absolutely no security or update plans in
place at this particular organization. I quickly
addressed the issue, and have been working to draft a comprehensive 
security policy and implement technical controls.

What I need advice on is the following: If you were introduced to a 
mixed network (literally all versions of windows since 3.1 and mac 
systems) that have no updates, backups, or patches installed... 
connected to a network with only a basic NAT table and no other
security... with not even anti-virus software
enabled... with no user policies or disaster plans in
place... with unprotected netbios shares everywhere...
where would you start the process of building some
sort of security solution?

I mean, I've seen passwords on monitors, shared
accounts, open public ports (even the wiring cabinet
was unlocked in plain view of passbys to the
building). I've been tasked with creating the security policies 
relating to internet use, network and phone use, passwords, physical 
security, backup/disaster plans, antivirus, incident response, email
use/protection, and whatever else needs done. This
wouldnt be so bad normally I guess, but there is
virtually no budget allocated to help for this project
and I have approximately 3 months to do it. To make
matters worse, I am also responsible for systems
admin, network admin, tech support, programming, and
whatever other tasks may need to be done in the
meantime.

So basically, if you had to start from nothing, where
would you start first? What would you consider to be
the most important things to be implemented? I am
literally working from ground zero here... heh!

(I don't know much about macs so I'm leaving them out)

This was pretty much my exact situation when I started here.  First you
have 
to acknowlege the fact that your three month time limit means this is 
an
emergency, and deal with things on that footing.  Forget trying to
write 
up 
all the policies first, you're the only one dealing with this, so you
need 
to DO SOMETHING, you can write about it once things calm down a bit.
Here 
is the first things I would do, in order:

1) Setup a firewall, since you have a low budget and are pressed for
time, I 
recommend IPCOP, you should be able to have it up an running on an 
older
box 
in less than 30 minutes even if you're not big on Linux knowledge.
2) Install anti-virus software.  If you have any budget at all this is
where 
I'd spend it, get Norton corporate and install it everywhere then run a
virus sweep.  There are a number of free scanners, but nearly all of 
them 
(including AVG) are not legal to run in a networked environment.
3) Use Active Directory to deploy SP3 to all of your machines
automatically, 
then go around and configure the automatic updates feature to run
nightly 
and auto-install critical updates.  (Later on you'll want to switch 
over
to 
using an SUS server, but for now this is good enough)
4) Configure the security policy for passwords with min length,
complexity 
requirements, history, etc. then force a password change on everyone on
the 
system.
5) Set up groups and assign users to them (don't worry about getting
them 
perfect, you'll have to tune this later) then start restricting access
based 
on membership.  Especially check the membership of all admin groups,
often 
times they'll have like 22 domain admins or some other silly thing.
6) Download a copy of spybotsd, deploy it, update it, and scan all of
your 
machines.
7) Get some locks installed for physical security of the server room 
and
wiring closets.
8) Get a policy established that prohibits having your password on a 
sticky 
note, in your desk etc., then do a sweep through the office looking for
them. (get management approval first)
9) Do a hardware and software inventory to see what you've got, and get

started on making sure you're license compliant.
10) Audit your servers and turn off unneccessary services.

Ok, that's the worst stuff, once you've finished all that you can slow
down 
and start working on a more formal implementation and tightening things
up 
further.

Chris Berry
compjma () hotmail com
Systems Administrator
JM Associates

"Within every man beats a heart of darkness." --The Shadow

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------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
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analysts!
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while InStat has confirmed Neoteris as the leader in marketshare.
     
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evaluating SSL VPNs' Consider NEOTERIS, chosen as leader by top analysts!
The Gartner Group just put Neoteris in the top of its Magic Quadrant,
while InStat has confirmed Neoteris as the leader in marketshare.

Find out why, and see how you can get plug-n-play secure remote access in
about an hour, with no client, server changes, or ongoing maintenance.

Visit us at: http://www.neoteris.com/promos/sf-6-9.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


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