Network testing and hacking

What’s 007 in binary?

If you ever find your networking career a little too pedestrian, always know that your IT skills can land you a much more exciting gig if you’re willing to take the risk:

Ali Ashtari, 43, a computer and hi-tech equipment buyer for Iran’s defence industry and nuclear programme, was hanged after admitting he worked for Israel. It is the first known conviction of an alleged Israeli agent in Iran for almost 10 years. …

Behind their backs he allowed the software he bought to be subtly doctored by Israeli computer engineers before it was imported to Iran. Ashtari confessed: “Mossad’s goal was to sell specialised computer equipment through me to Iranian intelligence organisations.”

The case echoes the FBI’s warning not too long ago about Cisco knockoffs as potential Trojan horses, but this time, the threat was apparently real — or at least real enough for Iran to take action.

Corporate espionage is a very real threat, as Intel found out recently, but people aren’t generally executed for it.

As for me? I’ll stick with the IT spying antics of Chuck — a little less realistic, perhaps, but fewer people end up getting killed. In this clip, Chuck and company use social engineering techniques — one of network security’s weakest points — to infiltrate the opposition.

Further Reading:

• IT expert executed in Iran: More commentary at Zero Day.
• SearchNetworking.com’s Security homepage: For all your security needs.
• OSI: Securing the Stack, Layer 8 — Social engineering and security policy: More on social engineering security from our all-in-one guide.

Win this book: ‘Build Your Own Security Lab: A Field Guide for Network Testing’

nbsp;SearchNetworking.com’s very own security expert, Michael Gregg, has written another book: Build Your Own Security Lab: A Field Guide for Network Testing.

This how-to book not only gives you real-world scenarios you’ll actually be able to relate to, but the materials you’ll need to create your own test lab: It comes with a CD-ROM featuring security and hacking tools as well as open source tools, demo software, and a bootable version of Linux.

As security should never be last on the network administrator’s task list — we want to give our readers an opportunity to win this book for free. We have 10 copies of Michael Gregg’s book to give away to IT professionals in the United States. (Sorry, we cannot ship books outside the country.) Just go to our Build Your Own Security Lab giveaway two-question survey, and tell us if you’ve ethically hacked your network. Submitting your response will enter your name into our random drawing which will be held on November 1st. This means you have until the end of October to submit your entry.

If you miss your chance to enter, or don’t win a copy — never fear! You can still download Chapter 9 of Build Your Own Security Lab, Securing Wireless Systems — which starts you off with basic wireless know-how and goes on to explain how to ethically hack and secure your wireless systems with various networking tools. Since we all live different lifestyles, this chapter is downloadable as a PDF or as a podcast for when you’re on the go.

Do you like this offer? Let us know — or feel free to suggest any other books you’re on the lookout for that we could help you get for free.