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Terror attack - The virtual version
The last fifteen days have been a trying time for companies, service providers and individual internet users. It all started with the so-called Blaster, or MSBlast, or LovSan, worm that, infected computers running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software.
Last week we had the Welchia worm, also called Nachi, which clogs computer networks thus slowing Internet connections.
Now we have the SoBig.F worm which is said to be the most potent ever. They came with file attachments in e-mails that contain headings such as "Re: approved" or "Re: Details".
When the file is opened it resends itself to scores of email addresses and signs the email from random name and addresses from the infected computers address book. This makes it extremly difficult to trace it's origin.
Click here for a patch for the Blaster worm.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Auditing of IT infrastructure helps organisations to get optimum output
Users at a business organisation complained of difficulty to logon to their customer's server through the VPN. Were they choking on bandwidth? Why was there a squeeze of bandwidth when the project team size had not increased? Bangalore-based Yukthi Systems, an IT Infrastructure services firm, was called in to investigate.
Full article
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Yukthi provides a 24x7 remote monitoring service, through its co-located server. Yokogawa Blue Star Ltd. is one of Yukthi Systems' early customers for this service. It is being used to monitor Yokogawa Blue Star's Internet connectivity (including status and latency), externally accessible services and E-mail. Unusual events and detected problems trigger alerts through SMS and Pager mechanisms.
As the IT head of Yokogawa Blue Star concurs, the cost-effective service has already proven its worth by detecting several problems, much before users get to know of it. He reaffirmed that Yukthi's solution has enabled them to provide higher uptime to users.
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Unsubscribe info: Our relationship with you is very important. If you do not wish to receive this bi-monthly newsletter, please indicate.
Dear [[-FullName-]],
As a professional with the PC at the centre of your working life, you sure would've experienced the work-stopping effects in the last fortnight, thanks to the Blaster worm. It was perhaps the first time that a worm's transgression was this extensive, of schedules going haywire and lost productivity. It was enough evidence of the havoc that a virus can wreak in unprotected networks.
That aptly brings us to a related topic, a predictive and early warning science - Network Monitoring, which also is the theme of this issue. As you read along, you'll get an idea of the critical importance of network monitoring , its varied offshoots and disaster scenarios.
Hope you find it informative. If you would like to know how exactly Yukthi can help you in the area of network monitoring, do write to us.
I would also like you to visit our revamped website at www.yukthi.com. It carries a detailed perspective of our services, and the business benefits we have delivered to our clients, so far.
Regards - Ramakant Jawalkar
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Intrusion Detection
Some people count crackers as innocent pranksters, just poking around networks and having peeks. But think for a moment: would you think of a guy breaking and entering your house at night a mere prankster? Almost always his intentions will be criminal. The same is true with computer crackers. Most, if not all sneak into networks with ideas of easy money.
Intrusion detection is one of the main aims of network monitoring. Through efficient technology, one could safeguard the security of one's network. Full article from Network Magazine, by Andrew Conry-Murray.
Net Analysis Gets Turbo Boost
Last fortnight's ugly little worm attack probably would have looked pretty if visualized through a new set of tools developed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
It is an enabling technology that will allow experts in computer security and defenses to study the behavior of worms, computer viruses, exploits and distributed denial-of-service attacks on a scale previously unattainable. The objective is to more-effective network defenses and a clearer view of what presents a real danger and what does not. Full article from Wired, by Michelle Delio.
At the Workplace
Misuse of bandwidth by employees for private and frivolous purposes constitute one of the largest elements corporate wastages. By efficient monitoring and surveillance the menace can be minimized, if not altogether eliminated.
The workplace will emerge as an epitome of hygiene, discipline and efficiency in terms of computer usage, if proper accounting of activities is done on a regular basis. Full article from BuzzBoltMedia.com.
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Microsoft hides behind Linux for protection
Microsoft is using Linux-based servers to protect its website and reduce the site's vulnerability to viruses, worms and denial of service attacks. It has changed the DNS of its Web site so that requests for pages are no longer handled by it's own network, but instead by the Akamai cache servers -- which consists of 15,000 Linux-based servers spread around the globe. Full article from ZDNet UK, by Munir Kotadia.
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Using intelligent agent technologies to monitor your network
A modern corporate network is an exercise in co-dependency. A myriad of desktops, servers, routers, proxies, gateways, peripherals, and legacy systems have to operate in concert. Failure of a network in even small ways can generate ripples of havoc throughout the organization. This article highlights the changing character of networks and explore how agents can be used to keep them manageable. Full article from Serverworld, by David Pallmann.
A Practical Approach to Network Monitoring
Here is a six-step approach to formulate your network monitoring strategy.
Visualize your network
Setup alerting and logging
Collect historic information for baselining and trending purposes
Setup threshold monitoring
Define real-time graphing
Staying alert
The complete approach from Fineconnection.com, by Paul van Bergen.
Computer Security is For Managers, Too
Companies need to have smart technicians who stay abreast of emerging digital threats and defenses. General managers need to take the lead in building processes that will lessen the likelihood of a successful attack and mitigate damage. Here are eight things that your company should be working on.
Identify your company's digital assets, and decide how much protection each deserves.
Define the appropriate use of IT resources.
Control access to your systems.
Insist on secure software.
Know exactly what software is running.
Test and benchmark.
Rehearse your response.
Analyze the root causes.
Full article from HBS Working Knowledge, by Robert D. Austin and Christopher A. R. Darby.
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Yukthi Infoswitch is brought to you by Yukthi Systems Pvt Ltd. © 2003.
Disclaimer: Readers may note that contents are filtered from third party sources. All Brand Names & Trademarks are acknowledged. Newsletter consultants:
www.knowledgeworkz.com. Content related comments and enquiries may be posted here.
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