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Peter Streips's Blog
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Dec 09

2011

More Incentive to Protect Your Networks: Major Network Infrastructures at Two Large Public Water U

Posted by Peter Streips in Security Audits, Public Works, Pen Testing, Hacking

Recently, one of the latest network interfaces to fall victim to potential corroborated data attacks are “supervisory control and data acquisition,” or SCADA systems. SCADA networks typically refer to industrial control computer systems that monitor and control public or private infrastructureprocesses or industrial processes.

On November 18, 2011, various media outlets released information on two potentially serious SCADA hacking attempts. According to a news release on the SCADA update website SCADAhacker.com, a water utility district in Springfield, IL suffered what appeared to be a “blended attack.” The SCADA hacking incident in Springfield appeared to be a compound attack in which, “credentials were first stolen from a supplier and then later used to gain remote access to another victim’s SCADA system.”

The SCADA attack in Springfield, IL closely mirrored a later attempt on the same day in South Houston, Texas. The FBI was forced to investigate these two attacks and remain involved in an attempt to identify a motive.

Each of these attacks could have proven to be disastrous to the safety of two public water sources in two major cities in the United States. Armed with the knowledge of the seeming permeability of many SCADA systems, it becomes apparent that careful measures must be taken to adequately ensure the safety and protection of these systems.

Cameron Camp, Sr. Security Researcher at ESET suggests a number of small steps that can be taken to provide against such attacks. For example, Camp points out that in both the Springfield, IL and the South Houston, TX SCADA hacking incidents, the passwords that each organization was using to protect their systems were merely 3 characters. Ideally, in order to protect against a potentially disastrous hacking episode system administrators must employ the use of a more complex password protection system.

Peter Streips, President of Network Security Group, Inc., recommends combining an intelligent password setting procedure along with the utilization of specific network security products in order to adequately protect your potentially vulnerable network from an outside attack. In order to ensure the utmost security for your network, Network Security Group, Inc. works with a number of preferred vendors, such as ESET, to provide you with the most up to date solutions for all of your network security needs.

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Oct 24

2011

Protect Yourself By Protecting Your Home Network

Posted by Peter Streips in passwords, NSG, network security group

Recent news of the FBI sting operation that led to the arrest of an innocent Buffalo man has many wireless users scrambling to secure their wireless networks. After neglecting to password protect his wireless router, a Buffalo, NY homeowner learned the hard way that signal from his newly purchased WiFi router had been pirated by a neighbor that was using the internet toprocure illegal material. federal law enforcement agents armed with assault weapons raided the Buffalo man’s home only to realize that the man they’d suspected of downloading child pornography was, in fact, innocent.

For the next three days, federal agents conducted an investigation of the man’s iPad and desktop computer only to ultimately realize that his next door neighbor had in fact been utilizing his unprotected wireless router signal. As the investigation wound down, the Buffalo homeowner did reluctantly recall that he’d grown frustrated with the setup of his router and had opted out of password-protecting his signal altogether.

As stories like this continue to perpetuate all across the country, the National Security Agency recently released a document aimed at personal wireless network security, entitled: Home Network Security Best Practices. The document can be found at the NSA website: www.nsa.gov and includes many helpful hints for steps that homeowners can take to keep their home network systems safe.

Within the NSA’s document, the agency recommends proactive security measures such as utilizing sophisticated passwords, using SSL encryption on the web, keeping your operating system and applications updated, and remembering to install and run security software regularly.

As a highly acclaimed network security provider, NSG, Inc. recommends that you take these protective steps to ensure the safety and security of your home network. Peter Streips, founder and President of Network Security Group, Inc. recommends that users also change their passwords at least once a year in order to maximize your security strategy.

In order to ensure that you avoid an unexpected visit by federal agents in the early morning hours, it is imperative that you take steps necessary to secure your home network. Network Security Group, Inc. will work with you to identify specific brand-name products and combine those products with a complete service offering to deliver solutions that meet your unique network security requirements.

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