2010 | Branden R. Williams, Business Security Specialist

RSA Security Brief, Secure Payment Services: Card Data Security Transformed standard

RSA, the security division of EMC, recently released a new security brief entitled, “Secure Payment Services: Card Data Security Transformed,” that outlines the security implications and benefits of the emerging category of outsourced secure payment services. In fact, many of the challenges we’ve discussed over the years in this blog can be solved by accomplishing significant scope reduction—the surest way to reduce the impact of PCI DSS on an environment. The authors of the brief include Dr. Anton Chuvakin (Security Warrior Consulting), Sam Curry (RSA), Robert Griffin (RSA), Craig Tieken (First Data), Steven Wilson (Visa EU), and me. The brief offers practical guidance on how retailers, merchants, and other organizations handling card data can improve payment card security and reduce ...

22nd of June, 2010
In: Consumer Security, Enterprise Security
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Do Small Service Providers Scare You? standard

Take PCI off the table for a minute. Do you get nervous when dealing with a small service provider that performs some niche service for your company? It doesn’t have to be cardholder data related, but it definitely needs to be some kind of data that is either regulated or is classified as something other than public—data like PII, healthcare, or even intellectual property. Smaller providers can sometimes provide higher or better security than larger ones, and that may be beneficial long term—especially when doing the value proposition. But in some cases, smaller providers are providing a niche service to a larger customer, and are operating on a skeleton crew. Imagine if a company like Ford Motor Company selected Brando’s ...

Running Security Into The Ground standard

Security professionals are funny. We are incredibly strong willed and have strong opinions on subjects we live for. It’s more than passion, it’s Passion++. Just like regular passion, but with an object oriented framework that makes for the amplification of said passion, but only for those that truly grasp its power. For example, get a security expert that lives and breathes Linux and one that lives and breathes NetBSD in the same room, ask for the most secure, open-source platform, and watch the hilarity ensue. Some security professionals have developed a dangerous attitude that rears its head when people discuss things like PCI DSS or other compliance topics. “Don’t tell me how to do my job!” This sometimes comes across ...

Trust but Verify: Words to live by! standard

QSAs have to walk a very fine line with customers. Especially those that are coming back for years two and three on a multi-year contract. I’ve seen it happen to other companies, and it’s happened to me. The conversation goes something like this: Me: OK, now that we are on logging, please provide me with the logs you pulled from X server in Y environment. Them: Here you go. Me: This is exactly what we need, but I need a set pulled from recent data, not the ones we looked at last year. Them: But you looked at it last year! I’ll give you access to our change control system and you can see nothing changed on that box. Me: ...

How Much Backup Media do You Have? standard

Disk space is cheap. Cheaper than it ever has been. In fact, if you try to purchase small disks for legacy applications, you might be in for an exhaustive or expensive search. For example, I was looking to replace a 20 Gig 2.5″ PATA drive with a 40 Gig one. Good luck! Not only did I not find ANY PATA drives at some local big box retailers, but going to Fry’s yielded me two choices: 160 Gig or 250 Gig. The price of both of those was cheaper than what I could find online in the 40 Gig range. With disk space being so cheap (sub $100 per terabyte) and data storage growing at insane rates, is it easier to ...

Pwn3d by the Hoffacino standard

Yep, I did it. And WOW what a ride it was. Chris Hoff (@Beaker) started a movement in fueling today’s security professional, and I don’t even know if he realized the animal he’s unleashed on the world. It’s called a Hoffacino (or Hoffachino), and boy are you in for some fun if you order one. This ain’t your daddy’s coffee! Before being allowed to consume one of these things, you should have to present passing results from a full physical and psychological examination. The experience of the Hoffacino starts when you order. I was slightly embarrassed to order such an intricate drink from my neighborhood Barista. I mean, I might see this fine young citizen at the market! I have ...

Ask the Question! standard

I spoke at the NetDiligence® Cyber Risk & Privacy Liability Forum this morning, on a panel dedicated to advanced security topics. Now, while these topics were not the same kind of advanced security stuff you would see at Blackhat, they are advanced for the audience. In fact, we even had a question about Bluetooth security that suggested this audience was relatively unfamiliar with the risks associated with this new fangled stuff. But that’s not the point, the point is that someone asked the question! How many of us have seen companies end up in a bad situation from a security and technology perspective because someone didn’t ask questions until they understood enough about a solution to understand the risks associated ...

Herding Cats June: In or Out? standard

Have you checked out ISSA Connect yet? The next issue is up there with my column, In or Out?. This issue’s theme centered on security operations, and our industry seems to be going through a transition. Do you insource or outsource this critical function? If you are a member, log into ISSA Connect and join the discussion! Interact with great professionals globally as well as the authors that you enjoy reading every month. If you are not a member, sign up today! Possibly Related Posts: Level Up Cybersecurity with Kasm Workspaces Let’s Encrypt for non-webservers Selective Domain Filtering with Postfix and a SPAM Filtering Service Preventing Account Takeover, Enable MFA! Proofpoint Patches URL Sandbox Bypass Bug

May 2010 Roundup standard

What was popular in May? Lots of fun with PCI and Facebook. I’m noticing more and more commenters on my posts… keep it coming! Here are the five most popular posts from last month: A Facebook Reality Check. Even though this was posted on 5/21, it was by far the most popular post last month. There are a few good comments on the post, and what you DIDN’T see was a rather heated exchange with a reader about some of the opinions in the post. I would love to get that individual on a podcast to debate the topic as I think both viewpoints are valid. PCI SSC Launches Internal Security Assessor Program. An interesting new concept by the Council ...

Red Flags Rule Deadline Extended to 12/31/10 standard

The Red Flags Rule is still not going to be enforced. The FTC announced today that the deadline for compliance to the Red Flags Rule has been extended to December 31 of this year. The original compliance date was November 1, 2008—meaning this has now been delayed over two years from the original compliance date. Catch the full press release here. Possibly Related Posts: Level Up Cybersecurity with Kasm Workspaces Let’s Encrypt for non-webservers Selective Domain Filtering with Postfix and a SPAM Filtering Service Preventing Account Takeover, Enable MFA! Proofpoint Patches URL Sandbox Bypass Bug

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