Window of Vulnerability Calculation Essay Example

Window of Vulnerability Calculation Paper CALCULATE THE WINDOW OF VULNERABILITY A security breach has been identified within a small Microsoft workgroup LAN. The workgroup consists of three primary workgroups which contain group membership lists of users within the Active Directory infrastructure that currently exists on the SMB Server that is located within the confines of the LAN structure. The security breach, which is defined as any event that results in a violation of any of the CIA (confidentiality, integrity, availability) security principles, was caused by the SMB server being accessed by an unauthorized user due to a security hole that was detected by the server software manufacturer the previous day. The security patch will not be available until possible as long as three days, but hopefully within that timeframe. In addition, the LAN administrator needs at least one week (minimum) to download, test, and install the patch. To calculate the Window of Vulnerability (WoV) for this security breach, the following timeline will be used as a guideline to determine the basis for calculation: However, first it is important to understand the variables considered in this timeline formula. The WoV is the period within which defensive measures are reduced, compromised, or lacking. The WoV covers a timeline from the moment a vulnerability is discovered and identified by the vendor. We will write a custom essay sample on Window of Vulnerability Calculation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Window of Vulnerability Calculation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Window of Vulnerability Calculation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It also includes the time taken to create, publish, and finally apply a fix to the vulnerability. It is also important to explore the device(s) that were targeted by the attack. In this instance, being the SMB server within the LAN. The SMB server utilizes an application layer network protocol, which can run atop the session layer. It provides shared access to files, printers, serial ports, and network nodes (workstations, laptops, desktops, etc. ) and provides a client/server relationship throughout the network. This means that every domain layer of the IT Infrastructure can possibly be affected at some level by this security breach that has occurred, which must be considered in the timeframe analysis of the WoV as well. In addition, it is important to consider exactly how this security breach occurred, when determining counter-measures to contain and reduce the likelihood of any such occurrences from happening again. However, these factors are not actually part of the timeline for calculating the WoV, but should be addressed when understanding the WoV. The security hole that was detected by the server software manu-facturer the previous day gave the unauthorized user a window of opportunity/vulnerability by discovering the backdoor (security hole) to access resources and bypass existing security controls, password encryption, and access controls that were put in place to protect the IT infrastructure. It is possible that a utility such as netcat was used or a rootkit or some type of Trojan horse backdoor software or device. Calculation of Window of Vulnerability: Factors to consider in the timeline: * 1 Day Ago = Security Hole Detected by Manufacturer * 3 Days = A patch will be Available 1 Week = Minimum time for LAN admin to download/test/install patch Therefore, Day 0 = 09/28/12; + 3 days = 10/01/12; + 7 days = 10/08/12 (min) *[+ 2 days extra for any potential problems] 10/10/12 = Day n . This can be depicted in the following graphical display: Day n = a total of 13 days have elapsed from Day 0 . In conclusion, the WoV would be 1 3 days based on this timeframe. *You could conceivably calculate the WoV to be 11 days without including the additional 2 days I figured in for margin of error/potential problems. However, it is best to always calculate on a worst-case scenario basis when calculating the Window of Vulnerability

Free Essays on Descartes Mesditations

Descarte’s Meditations View of Mind-Body Relationship West,D Philosophy 101 Rousch, K. Descarte’s overall objective in the Meditations is to question knowledge. To explore such issues as the existence of God and the separation of mind and body, it was important for him to distinguish what we can know as truth. He believed that reason as opposed to experience was the source for discovering what is of absolute certainty. The first meditation acts as a foundation for all those that follow. Here Descartes discerns between mere opinion and strict absolute certainty. To make this consideration he establishes that he must first "attack those principles which supported everything I once believed "(Descartes, Renà ©," Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2003 http://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved). He first examines those beliefs that require our senses. He questions whether our senses are true indicators of what they represent. By inspecting our sometimes-firm belief in the reality of dreams, he comes to the conclusio n that our senses are prone to error and thereby cannot reliably distinguish between certainty and falsity. To examine those ideas that have "objective reality," Descartes makes the improbable hypothesis of "an evil genius, as clever and deceitful as he is powerful, who has directed his entire effort to misleading me." By proposing this solution he is able to suspend his judgment and maintain that all his former beliefs are false. By using doubt as his tool, Descartes is now ready to build his following proofs with certainty. In Meditation two, Descartes embarks on his journey of truth. Attempting to affirm the idea that God must exist as a fabricator for his ideas, he stumbles on his first validity: the notion that he exists. He ascertains that if he can both persuade himself of something, and likewise be deceived... Free Essays on Descarte's Mesditations Free Essays on Descarte's Mesditations Descarte’s Meditations View of Mind-Body Relationship West,D Philosophy 101 Rousch, K. Descarte’s overall objective in the Meditations is to question knowledge. To explore such issues as the existence of God and the separation of mind and body, it was important for him to distinguish what we can know as truth. He believed that reason as opposed to experience was the source for discovering what is of absolute certainty. The first meditation acts as a foundation for all those that follow. Here Descartes discerns between mere opinion and strict absolute certainty. To make this consideration he establishes that he must first "attack those principles which supported everything I once believed "(Descartes, Renà ©," Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2003 http://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved). He first examines those beliefs that require our senses. He questions whether our senses are true indicators of what they represent. By inspecting our sometimes-firm belief in the reality of dreams, he comes to the conclusio n that our senses are prone to error and thereby cannot reliably distinguish between certainty and falsity. To examine those ideas that have "objective reality," Descartes makes the improbable hypothesis of "an evil genius, as clever and deceitful as he is powerful, who has directed his entire effort to misleading me." By proposing this solution he is able to suspend his judgment and maintain that all his former beliefs are false. By using doubt as his tool, Descartes is now ready to build his following proofs with certainty. In Meditation two, Descartes embarks on his journey of truth. Attempting to affirm the idea that God must exist as a fabricator for his ideas, he stumbles on his first validity: the notion that he exists. He ascertains that if he can both persuade himself of something, and likewise be deceived...

Consumer Behavior Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consumer Behavior - Research Paper Example This can be seen in the way that films and cinema in general are advertised to induce consumers or groups of consumers to listen to specific points of view about the films, while blocking out other views (Walters 19). This paper seeks to focus on three theories of the media’s effect on consumer behavior. These are two step flow theory, hypodermic needle theory, and cultivation theory. These theories will be considered alongside how they affect cinemagoers. The hypodermic needle theory is also referred to as the magic bullet theory. This theoretical model implies that mass media portends a powerful, immediate, and direct effect on audiences (East et al 121). This was especially so in the 40s and 50s, during which cinema attendances were at their peak, and several factors contributed to the media’s strong effects during this period. First, television and radio saw a fast rise and increased popularity among consumers. In addition, the persuasion industry, which consists of propaganda and advertising, also saw an increase in use. This theory contends that it is possible for mass media to influence a large and diverse group in society through uniformly â€Å"injecting† them with specific and appropriate messages to trigger the response they desire (East et al 122). In the cinema industry, this theory suggests a direct and powerful informational flow between the sender and the receiver. It graphically suggests whatever message the cinema company sends out is the bullet that is fired from the media that takes the place of a gun into the mind of the consumer (East et al 122). The hypodermic needle analogy is used to show how the messages from the media are directly injected into a passive consumer base, whose opinions are immediately influenced by the implied message. In this case, the media communicates an idea about a film that is consumed by the audience who have no power to resist message’s impact (East et al 122). This theory was especi ally relevant during the 40s and 50s when film critics did not yet have a way to get their opinions out to the public efficiently. However, with the advent of the internet, this theory does not have as much effect on studying film consumer behavior because the audience has a way to validate the message they are getting from the media (East et al 123). However, in this model, the cinema-goers have no way to escape the message’s effects, which means that the message the cinema company puts across about their film will be taken as the truth. The audience is passive and has a lot of information â€Å"injected† into them. This gets to the point that they end up believing what they are told about a specific film because they do not have another information source from which to get information. However, this theory has seen less impact with the emergence of film critics and their role as opinion leaders. The two-step flow theory states that media indirectly affects consumers through the influence of opinion leaders. Most people, including cinemagoers, are influenced second-hand by media via opinion leaders and their personal influence. This theoretical model contends that opinion leaders in the media affect the manner in which consumers will form their behavior (Weimann 98). These opinion leaders are first exposed to media content, which they then interpret according to their personal opinion. These opinions then infiltrate the general public consumers