Posts

How would you perform a Data Security Assessment? By Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
  Performing a data security assessment for an external-facing web application that takes customer input, particularly for a bank, is critical due to the sensitive nature of the data involved (e.g., personal information, financial details). A step-by-step process to ensure the web application is secure and compliant with regulatory requirements is outlined below. Step-by-Step Data Security Assessment Process Step 1: Define Scope and Objectives a. Determine the Scope : Clearly define the boundaries of the assessment, focusing on the web application, its backend systems, APIs, and any third-party integrations. Determine the types of data being handled (e.g., personal information, account numbers, credit card data). Identify any external systems or third-party services that interface with the application, including cloud services. b. Set Objectives : Ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive customer data. Evaluate the application’s compliance with financia...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Malware? By Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
Malware, short for "malicious software," refers to any software intentionally designed to cause harm to computers, networks, or data. Over the years, both traditional and new types of malware have evolved significantly, with each type employing different techniques to compromise systems. Here's a detailed look at traditional and new types of malware, including rootkits, trojans, and viruses, and their impact on cyberspace. Traditional Types of Malware: Viruses : Definition : A virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to legitimate programs or files and spreads by infecting other software or files when executed. It often requires user action to spread, such as running an infected program or opening an infected document. Impact : Early viruses were relatively simple, primarily focusing on causing disruption (e.g., corrupting files or slowing down systems). However, modern viruses can exfiltrate data, destroy information, and install backdoors. Example : The ILOVEYOU ...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 2024 Breach Report: Major Breaches from June

-
Image
  July 2024 Breach Report: Major Breaches from June 1. Snowflake Data Breach Date : June 2024 Impact : Ticketmaster and several other organizations utilizing Snowflake's cloud infrastructure suffered a significant breach. Data Leaked : Sensitive customer data, including names, email addresses, payment card information, and transaction details. Ticketmaster confirmed that many of its customer records were exposed. Resolution : The breach was linked to a misconfiguration in Snowflake's infrastructure, allowing unauthorized access. Snowflake and impacted organizations quickly patched the misconfiguration, but the breach led to a broader review of cloud storage security practices​ ( Check Point Research ) . 2. Truist Bank Breach Date : June 13, 2024 Impact : The breach at Truist Bank was claimed by the ransomware group Sp1d3r, which accessed sensitive information from over 65,000 employees. Data Leaked : Personal employee data, including names, contact information, and internal co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tools You'll Need to Pen Test by Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
  Essential tools for penetration testing fall into several categories, each serving specific functions in assessing and exploiting vulnerabilities. Here’s a breakdown of some commonly used tools: Network Scanning and Discovery Nmap: A powerful open-source tool for network discovery and security auditing. It helps in identifying hosts, services, and open ports. Netcat: Known as the "Swiss army knife" for networking, it reads and writes data across network connections using the TCP/IP protocol. Exploitation Frameworks Metasploit Framework: One of the most popular tools for developing and executing exploits against vulnerable systems. It provides a large database of exploit code. BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework): Focuses on web browser vulnerabilities to test and exploit flaws through browsers. Vulnerability Scanning Nessus: A comprehensive vulnerability scanner that helps identify weaknesses in servers, databases, and other systems. OpenVAS: An open-source vulnerabi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Web Application Penetration testing by Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
  Performing a web application penetration test (pentest) involves a systematic approach to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities in a web application. The goal is to uncover weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors and provide recommendations to fix these vulnerabilities. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to perform a web application pentest: Step 1: Planning and Preparation a. Define Scope and Objectives What to do : Identify the scope of the pentest. This includes the target application, specific URLs, APIs, and any other components involved in the web application. Clearly define the objectives, such as testing for OWASP Top Ten vulnerabilities or business logic flaws. Why it’s important : A well-defined scope ensures that both the pentester and the client understand the boundaries of the test, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to out-of-scope systems. b. Gather Necessary Permissions What to do : Obtain written authorization from the owner of the web...
Post a Comment
Read more

Common Encryption Standards by Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
   TOP Encryption Standards:  1. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) Details : AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm widely used for securing data. It supports key lengths of 128, 192, and 256 bits. Use Cases : Commonly used for data encryption across a variety of applications, including file encryption, VPNs, SSL/TLS, and wireless security (WPA2). Strength : Known for its security and speed. AES-256 is considered very secure for sensitive data protection. 2. RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) Details : RSA is an asymmetric encryption algorithm used primarily for secure data transmission. It relies on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers. Use Cases : Frequently used in digital signatures, SSL/TLS certificates, and secure email protocols (like PGP). Strength : RSA with key lengths of 2048 or 4096 bits is considered secure, though it is slower than symmetric encryption algorithms like AES. 3. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) Details : ECC is a public key encryption te...
Post a Comment
Read more

Secure Software Development with sample Vendors and Correlating Strategy By Demetrius Fluker

-
Image
  The guidelines presented focus on maintaining a robust, secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) with an emphasis on the following areas: Documented Development Practices : Ensure the organization has secure, standardized development processes, including validation of input, encryption, and data exchange. Use of Approved Software Components : Approve and regularly update third-party libraries and modules. Ensure they are supported by vendors and aligned with the organization's security standards. Environment Segregation : Separate development and production environments with strict access controls, ensuring sensitive data is protected. Secure Error Handling : Ensure proper error handling and output processing for all software applications. Automated Code Scanning : Regularly scan custom-developed code for potential weaknesses using automated tools. Penetration Testing and Issue Tracking : Regularly perform penetration testing and track any discovered security weaknesses, prio...
Post a Comment
Read more