Network Security
Botnets – What are botnets, what can they do & how to protect against them
Botnets are automated computer programs that install themselves on many unsuspecting victim machines and launch coordinated attacks against target systems. Spam bot is a type of botnet, but there are other (more vicious) botnets that are deployed for various purposes. In this article, let us look at - What are botnets, how botnets spread,... »
What are Network/ Internet Worms & A short story of Stuxnet
In this article, let us look at what computer worms are, some techniques used by them to infect systems, what they can do and how they spread. But before that, let us read a short story of the most famous worm - Stuxnet. »
What is a Trojan Horse in Computer Networks and how to protect yourself from it?
A Trojan Horse is a computer program that is attached to a genuine program / gets disguised as a genuine program to install a back-door to the user computer (enabling the attacker to take control of it) when the user runs this program. They can be found in updates, free softwares and even pirated... »
What is – MAC Address, MAC Filtering, MAC Spoofing
MAC Address or Media Access Control Address is the permanent address (or physical address) embedded in NIC (Network Interface Cards) and Wireless Adapters. In this article, we present a short introduction to MAC address, MAC filtering & MAC spoofing. »
Why is an SSL Certificate required?
An SSL Certificate might be required mainly for two reasons - 1. To validate the identity of a website / portal using digital certificates; 2. Encrypt communications between server and browser (or) between two systems. SSL refers to Secure Socket Layer. Read on to find out the applications of SSL Certificates, Encryption methods used... »
What do you think of accessing blocked sites & hiding IP address using personal VPN services?
If you are a network admin, you might be aware of the various techniques used by students/ employees to gain access to blocked sites. Right from typing IP address instead of URL, using URL shortener's, using various proxy servers available on the Internet - various methods might be used. A paid personal VPN service... »
What are Database Firewalls, why are they required & how do they protect databases?
Most of the front end applications rely on a back-end database (like MySQL, PostGRE SQL, etc) to fetch the required data while performing their tasks. Databases are no longer restricted to internal applications in a Local Area Network, as many web based applications rely on them. In this article, let us see what Database... »
What is a Web Application Firewall?
Web Application Firewalls are quite different from normal packet inspection firewalls because they primarily operate in the application layer identifying and protecting web based applications/ servers from specific application based vulnerabilities, over the Internet. Let us find out more about these web application firewalls, in this article. »
DLP – Data Loss Prevention : What & How Data Loss is Prevented?
With so many ways/ devices to transfer data, it is becoming difficult for companies to track and prevent confidential documents/ files from being copied and sent to unwanted sources. But there are Comprehensive DLP solutions in the market which analyze endpoint, network and storage systems continuously to monitor for confidential data from being leaked... »
Two Factor Authentication with USB Tokens
In this article, we'll see what is two factor authentication and how USB tokens enable two factor authentication. We'll look at the advantages, as well as innovations that some vendors have created with the USB tokens to achieve two factor authentication and more. »
