Stealing Data? A Sniffer Shows it's Easy

museumpeace writes "Though its not exactly a How-To of cracking into financial institutions, a few intriguing details are mentioned in a New York Times article "the Sniffer vs the Cybercrooks" (it's worth the cookie). From the article: ""Tell me the things you most want to keep secret," Mr. Seiden challenged a top executive at the bank a few years back.....A week later, Mr. Seiden again sat in this man's office in Manhattan, in possession of both supposedly guarded secrets....""

Comments

I use Linux....

[pdpTrojan]

so I don't have to worry about this sniffing stuff because open source software has no security flaws.

well

[chrisxkelley]

just takes ya back to the saying "the most secure server is one that's offline" :)

Re:well

[Anonymous Coward]

Essentially, you're claiming that the most secure server is the one linked from Slashdot?

Re:well

[Lemmy Caution]

The most secure server is one that was raised in a supportive environment with lots of positive reinforcement. "You're a very good server! Everyone likes you, server!"

Insecure servers are ones that felt unloved and neglected, and often engage in needy or self-destructive behaviors to compensate, leaving unnecessary services active and ports open to get the attention it never had as a child... (process)...

The most secure server

[AtariAmarok]

"just takes ya back to the saying "the most secure server is one that's offline" :)"

The most secure server is first locked, then secured with a Kryptonite lock. After this, some real Kryptonite is attached to it (remember, it is never secure as long as Superman can bust into it). After this, it is encased in carbonite with a scarecrow wearing a Jar Jar Binks mask. The entire assembly is left in Jabba's palace. Don't worry, no one's gonna even be thinking of approaching the thing to rescue Jar Jar.

Just in case anyone does, we have an "I Love the Bee Gees" bumper sticker on the side. Also, we've moved it to a position standing right behind Jabba's toilet. I dare you to approach it.

Re:The most secure server

[theonetruekeebler]

first locked, then secured with a Kryptonite lock

You mean the ones you can unlock with a Bic pen?

we have an "I Love the Bee Gees" bumper sticker on the side.

Thereby guaranteeing it will be blown up by an anti-disco activist---as in "If we don't blow up this server, the disco Taliban will have won."

Clearly, the best way to protect the server is to put it in a large bucket, then to pour molten titanium into the bucket. Then encase it in carbonite.

Re:Good thing...but far from perfect?

[TRS80NT]

Once when I set up a small office network I made each person's password the model number of their monitor, because I figured it would show up there on a post-it as soon as I left anyway. This way there was maybe a small element of hiding in plain sight.

yep

[Anonymous Coward]

I opened up my networks all the way. One day some guy comed on and he was all omg dud ur running teh mandriva! Can you teech me hacks? and I was all like 'cat foo.txt | grep foo' and he was like dude omgfwtbbqpdq that is some leet ass coding. I shwed him to use teh emacs (what real hackers use, i tried vi once and it tooks me three days to figure out how to quit it. what is that all about? piece of shit program si what! lol!) and also to use WinE so he can get on the internet explorer.

I heard the NAS (that's like the governemt hackser guys, dumbasses) was trying to make linux illegal because they were all like we need to see your porns+warez and some dude was like no way, man, I got linux and there's no way I'm letting you guys in. Teh NSA was all like hella pissed! They got the best hackers in the world (except me of course! LOL!) and they can't even break into the lnux.

Re:It is very easy

[rolfwind]

Mr. S.A.S.? Mister Side Angle Side?

I wouldn't want to see him, heard he's always bent out of shape. :P

Mod lame.

Re:Good thing...but far from perfect?

[Anonymous Coward]

I did that for my parent's computer. Trouble was, they got a new monitor...

copy of said patch

[gr8fulnded]

root@somebox# cat rename.patch

#!/bin/sh
# Idiots getting their panties in a bunch of a friggin' program name!

# Fine, here:
mv /usr/sbin/satan /usr/sbin/santa

echo "Happy now?!"

Re:Good thing...but far from perfect?

[ford42]

That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!