RE: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks

From: Bob Beck (goodfela26_at_finneganfamily.net)
Date: 04/26/04

  • Next message: pcannon9_at_comcast.net: "RE: TS Problems? (fwd)"
    To: <security-basics@securityfocus.com>
    Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 13:50:49 -0400
    
    

    SpyBot and Ad-Aware seem to work well in tandem.

    I haven't tried Ad-Aware Pro, but since it has the ability to monitor the pc
    in the background, I would have to say it's at least as good as the free
    personal version. Downside to the personal version is that it's for personal
    use only.

    As for Spybot, you can schedule a job on each pc, which is time consuming at
    first. In the command line, you use the following options: /autoupdate
    /autoimmunize /autocheck /autofix /autoclose and then either /minimized or
    /taskbarhide.

    Go to http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=faq&detail=30 for a
    list of command line parameters for spybot.

    Go to http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=19588 to see some
    examples of command line parameters for Ad-Aware.

    Hope that helps,

    Bob Beck

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Thiago Lima [mailto:thiagolima@webforce.com.br]
    Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 11:16 AM
    To: security-basics@securityfocus.com
    Subject: Spy-Ware Detection for Small Networks

        I run several small networks using a Linux Server to act as a
    Firewall/Proxy HTTP/Mail server/Caching DNS/DHCP/Samba File Server for
    Windows networks (98/XP/2000).

        I also do desktop maintanance and I'm seening a growing problem in
    Spy-wares and malware. It is becaming unmanageable to deal with it.

        I've tryed to educate users, but they really seen not care, they click
    on everything they can.

        So I'm looking for some solutions that can make my life easier, and I
    want some comments on what I've came thru to try to find a balance between
    all solutions that can prevent most infections and keep the usability of the
    system.

        1) Spy-bot : Looks to me that it is the best tool to remove
    spyware/malware, but it is host directed. It's hard to run it on all
    machines periodically. There's any way to centralize it ? Or there's any
    other program that will run in a centralized way?

        2) Firewall blocking List : I've seen some IP lists that will prevent
    spywares to "call home". It is usefull to detect machines that are infected
    and blocking spyware to call home, but it does not prevent users from
    getting dirty. It helps a lot and I'm using
    http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/ list. Does anyone knows others lists?

        3) Content filtering : Viruses spreads by mail, spyware/malware spreads
    mostly by HTTP. Maybe filtering some words/parterns in HTTP Proxy I could
    block some problems. Dans-Gaurdian seens to be a solution for this. Does
    any one knows any list of words/sites, file extensions or any alternative to
    this?

        4) Removing user access to his own machine : Removing users privilegies
    (at least in XP/20000) will make spyware/malware infection harder or not?
    Looks to me that at least IE infections still contiunes. At opinion on that?

        5) IDS : Using snort or any other IDS will help me with malware/spyware
    detection?

        Is that all I can do? I'm open to any tip, solution or reading that can
    help me with this annoing problem.

    Regards and thanks in advanced for all replys,
    Thiago Madeira de Lima.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545 off
    any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less
    to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
    Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field
    pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the
    skills
    of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization.
    Visit us at:
    http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545 off
    any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less
    to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
    Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field
    pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the skills
    of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization.
    Visit us at:
    http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


  • Next message: pcannon9_at_comcast.net: "RE: TS Problems? (fwd)"

    Relevant Pages

    • Re: New Trojan?
      ... protection thingie from spybot and if the malware tries to make registry ... to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors. ... Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field ... pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. ...
      (Security-Basics)
    • Re: Need help on Spyware
      ... Actually, SpyBot has had serious problems since the February update, due at ... to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors. ... Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field ... pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. ...
      (Security-Basics)
    • RE: Network spyware detection
      ... I use Novell ZenWorks for Desktops to manage Spybot 1.3 on my network. ... to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors. ... Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field ...
      (Security-Basics)
    • Re: Ramesh, thank you, but ShopNav still causing problem
      ... Windows XP Shell/User ... I updated both of Ad-Aware & Spybot before I ran them for the first ... Have you tried updating Ad-Aware & Spybot? ... I have the address bar enabled in my task bar. ...
      (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
    • Re: using search, locks me up???
      ... Use Ad-Aware, MSAS and/or Spybot Search & Destroy to remove it. ... LSPFix- all versions of Windows http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.zip ... Ad-Aware and Microsoft Anti-spyware- removed the spyware. ...
      (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)