Security Basics mailing list archives
Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks
From: "Thiago Lima" <thiagolima () webforce com br>
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 12:15:45 -0300
I run several small networks using a Linux Server to act as a Firewall/Proxy HTTP/Mail server/Caching DNS/DHCP/Samba File Server for Windows networks (98/XP/2000). I also do desktop maintanance and I'm seening a growing problem in Spy-wares and malware. It is becaming unmanageable to deal with it. I've tryed to educate users, but they really seen not care, they click on everything they can. So I'm looking for some solutions that can make my life easier, and I want some comments on what I've came thru to try to find a balance between all solutions that can prevent most infections and keep the usability of the system. 1) Spy-bot : Looks to me that it is the best tool to remove spyware/malware, but it is host directed. It's hard to run it on all machines periodically. There's any way to centralize it ? Or there's any other program that will run in a centralized way? 2) Firewall blocking List : I've seen some IP lists that will prevent spywares to "call home". It is usefull to detect machines that are infected and blocking spyware to call home, but it does not prevent users from getting dirty. It helps a lot and I'm using http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/ list. Does anyone knows others lists? 3) Content filtering : Viruses spreads by mail, spyware/malware spreads mostly by HTTP. Maybe filtering some words/parterns in HTTP Proxy I could block some problems. Dans-Gaurdian seens to be a solution for this. Does any one knows any list of words/sites, file extensions or any alternative to this? 4) Removing user access to his own machine : Removing users privilegies (at least in XP/20000) will make spyware/malware infection harder or not? Looks to me that at least IE infections still contiunes. At opinion on that? 5) IDS : Using snort or any other IDS will help me with malware/spyware detection? Is that all I can do? I'm open to any tip, solution or reading that can help me with this annoing problem. Regards and thanks in advanced for all replys, Thiago Madeira de Lima. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545 off any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors. Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the skills of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization. Visit us at: http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks Thiago Lima (Apr 19)
- Re: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks Guru4u Support (Apr 19)
- Monitor XP (ICS ) client connections? David Gillett (Apr 19)
- Re: Monitor XP (ICS ) client connections? Murad Talukdar (Apr 20)
- RE: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks Bob Beck (Apr 26)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks H Carvey (Apr 20)
- RE: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks Michael Scharn (Apr 24)
- RE: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks Enquiries (Apr 26)