Archive for August, 2009

InfoSec Compendium: August 11th

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Good afternoon everyone! Hope your Patch Tuesday is going well.

Here are some of today’s interesting InfoSec postings.

Patch Tuesday

1 – Microsoft Security Bulletin for August 11th

The Twitter DDOS continues to raise security issues.

2 – Twitter breach revives cloud security fears

“Yes Virginia there is a Mac virus.”

3 – Mac Users Should Avoid MacCinema Installer

CISCO Risk Report Aug 3-9

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

CISCO has posted its August 3-9 Cyber Risk Report. This report covers risks including vulnerabilities, physical and legal issues as well as trust areas. The report also includes a listing of some upcoming Security Events.

CISCO Risk Report

InfoSec Compendium: August 8th

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Good monring and welcome to the first InfoSec Compendium. Here I will post links to Information Security articles that I have found intersting. This compendium my consist of only a few links or many, this is not a reflection on any thing more than my own preferences or lack of time.

1 – DOD to review use of social-media technology – Federal Computer Week

2 – Hackers Target House.gov Sites – Washington Post

3 – Weaponizing Apple’s iPod Touch – InformationWeek

There are differing views on Cloud Computing and how it will change the IT landscape as well as its affect on Security. I approach Security from a Risk Management stand point, which is much easier for the C-suite to understand. This brief article addresses the ideas behind Cloud Computing and how compaines may use Risk Management to address their use of the cloud.

4 – Cloud Changes Cost of Attacks – DevCentral

That is it for the first InfoSec Compendium.

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An Introduction to Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR)

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

An Introduction to Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) by Jack A. Jones, CISSP, CISM, CISA is an excellent paper on understanding, analyzing and measuring risk. The basis of the paper is formed around the idea that Security Professionals need to have a common taxonomy, or classification for the ideas used in evaluating risk.

Ask a dozen information security professionals to define risk and you’re certain to get several different answers. Pick up any information security book and you’re likely to find that the author has used the terms risk, threat, and vulnerability interchangeably (they aren’t the same thing). The simple fact is that our profession hasn’t adopted a standard lexicon or taxonomy.

The author is very much aware that the paper represents a paradigm shift that will increase awareness and begin some needed discussions within our profession concerning the process of evaluating risk. It is well worth the read and discussion.

Introduction to FAIR