-
05 Apr 2024Find at-risk internal user accounts with myNetWatchman’s Active Directory Audit tool
I'm always on the lookout for new tools that can do new and interesting things for those of us working in information security. They are few and far between, it seems, at least in the context of vulnerability and penetration testing. However, I've found one that can pay huge dividends. It's called Active Directory Audit by threat intelligence company, myNetWatchman. You know how threat intelligence vendors can find compromised login ...
Continue Reading... -
19 Mar 2019Good, old-fashioned, boring passwords – the key to good security
Many people are quick to proclaim that passwords are dead...that SSO, MFA, and related technologies are THE solution. Not so fast. Passwords, as we've known them for decades, are not going away anytime soon. Sure, I'll embrace the technologies that help take the pain out of passwords and password management. Hopefully we will be password-free in the next few decades. Still, pragmatism will win out over presumed quick fixes every ...
Continue Reading... -
22 Feb 2016New independent content on information security
Here are some articles and guest blog posts I've written for my friends at TechTarget, Ziff Davis, AlgoSec, and Rapid7:Key Network Security Questions You Need To Ask Your Cloud Vendors - Now!Everything happens for a reason in securityHow one bad decision brought down an enterprise e-commerce site in minutesWith security, periodic and consistent is key How emerging threat intelligence tools affect network securityThe science behind bad passwordsEnjoy!Also, be sure to ...
Continue Reading... -
20 Jan 2016
Worst passwords (on your network right now)
The fifth-annual Worst Passwords List put out by SplashData is here and the findings aren't terribly surprising. Here are the top five:#1: 123456#2: password#3: 12345#4: 12345678#5: qwerty Good stuff! What's that quote about insanity? One of those security basics that we'll likely continue to ignore until the end of time. That's alright, as some of the best sideline analysts will proclaim: we need not focus on such trivial things. Well, they ...
Continue Reading... -
31 Jan 2014
Some stuff you need to know about Windows 8.x, Internet Explorer, BYOD/MDM, and malware removal
My goodness, I've let a lot of my articles on Windows 8, 8.1, patching, malware, and related desktop security topics stack up! Check these out:Don't ignore Windows 8 security when reviewing desktop vulnerabilitiesIT can tackle Windows configuration with a well-planned desktop auditWindows Server Update Services weaknesses you may not know about <=this is BIG, seriously!Why a Windows security scan is not enough to protect your workstationsFive steps to successful bot ...
Continue Reading... -
08 Oct 2013
Windows 8.1 changes/enhancements, BitLocker’s improvements, and related Windows mobile/security tips
In addition to my independent information security assessments through my consultancy Principle Logic, I've been writing a ton...including a lot on Windows 8 and 8.1. Check out these new pieces published by my friends at TechTarget:What's old, what's new for the enterprise with Windows 8.1Understanding why Windows 8 for mobile is perfectly viable for enterprise use Don’t forget enterprise password protection in a merger or acquisition Three ways Sysinternals Process Explorer ...
Continue Reading... -
06 Feb 2012
My new material on Web application & website security
Here are several new pieces I've written on Web site/application security. Lots of angles and considerations:There’s more to web security than meets the eyeWeb passwords are often the weakest linkTo validate or not, is that the question?Protecting FTP services running on your Web serverThe critical Web-based systems that are going untested and unsecuredGood Web Security Tools and Why They MatterWhy you need intruder lockoutWeb security is like the layers of ...
Continue Reading... -
08 Nov 2011
One of my pet peeves: relying on users to wipe out wimpy passwords
You cannot - and should never - rely on your users for complete security...yet they're often the first or last line of defense - sometimes both. I wrote about this a while back but it's a problem that's still rampant in IT so I had to bring it up again. It's probably my biggest pet peeves with security. Simply telling users that they need to select strong passwords on their ...
Continue Reading... -
06 Jun 2011
InfraGard Atlanta hack highlights some lessons for us all
What started with an email from a colleague's compromised Gmail account Friday evening has ended up making international news - the InfraGard Atlanta website has been hacked. With user names, email addresses and passwords - including those associated with the FBI - available via a quick web search I knew that this was a pretty serious issue. Although I've been disconnected from InfraGard Atlanta for the past ~6 years, I ...
Continue Reading... -
29 Apr 2011
Nikon Image Authentication vulnerability
The fine folks at @Elcomsoft have discovered yet another security flaw in digital cameras. First it was Canon. This time it's Nikon - specifically Nikon's Image Authentication Software.Elcomsoft researchers found that the way the secure image signing key is being handled in the camera is flawed. This allowed them to extract the original signing key and then produce manipulated images that appear to be legit. I could see this being ...
Continue Reading...
Resources
Client Testimonials
“A business associate referred our company to Principle Logic when we were seeking a resource to perform vulnerability /penetration testing for our external and internal networks. We found Kevin Beaver to be professional, well informed, and easy to work with. His testing did not disrupt our networks, and his progress updates were timely.
His final report was very thorough and included security recommendations for our network environment. The executive leadership was so impressed with Kevin’s security expertise, they have extended their agreement to continue to perform periodic testing. We highly recommend Kevin Beaver and Principle Logic as a resource for network security testing.”
(IT managed services firm)
I’ve written/co-written 12 books on information security including:
