Re: Network Hacking

From: George (gelectric@mail.net)
Date: 08/15/00


From: "George" <gelectric@mail.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 14:51:16 -0500


I never use the default administrator account, always rename it to something
else. Also, set up a dummy account with the name administrator with no
rights and turn on auditing to see if someone is trying to use the username
administrator.

I belive there is a NT utility that can cause the administrator account (or
whatever you re-named it) to be locked out after 3 failed logon attempts,
only remote logons, not local logons. Sorry, can't remember the name of it.
Syskey maybe?

Passwords should be a random combination of upper case, lower case letters
plus numbers. Even punctuation marks like "!". Never use dictionary words
(any real word that might be in a dictionary). Some people recommend a 7
letter or 14 letter password as best (due to legacy windows authentication
on mixed networks). Passwords can be split into 2 pieces and cracked
separately. A nine-letter password might be easy to crack - split into a 7
and a 2 letter chunk, crack the 2-letter chunk (easier), then look for all
dictionary words that end in those last 2 letters for example.

George

"Vanguyver" <vanguyver@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:011201c2d909$e1b8e880$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> I work for a small University. I was just informed that
> one of the professors is teaching a class on hacking.
> This professor is showing his students how to hack into a
> Microsoft systems. He instructed his students to attempt
> hacking to the Universities network. There grades are
> based on how many administrative passwords they are able
> to obtain. I am not that verse with hacking methods.
> Are there any website, books or programs that I could get
> to bring me up to speed very quickly? Also, are there
> any immediate security features I should check? If any
> of the students successfully hack into our network, all
> employees and students SSN, grade, and other personal
> information will be compromised.
>
>
> Any Advise would be greatly appreciated.
>



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