So take the removable media out of the boot sequence and set a BIOS
password.
Crispin Cowan
<crispin@private To: Shaun Savage <savages@private>
om> cc: crime@private
Sent by: Subject: Re: CRIME Microsoft Windows XP question
owner-crime@private
dx.edu
01/02/2003 01:17
PM
Shaun Savage wrote:
> Even though Linux is not totally secure, it is an order of magnitude
> better than any MSwindows product. Buy using SELinux, (which is free)
> or WireX (which is good), a person can improve security where socal
> engineering is the only fesible way.
While I appreciate the praise, neither Immunix nor SELinux provide
security against physical access. The problem is below the operating
system, in the BIOS: by default, the hardware/BIOS looks at removable
media (floppy, CD, DVD) ahead of looking at the hard drive to boot from.
To 0wn the machine, just insert a malicious disk and reboot.
> Open Source Linux Rules
Linux, security-enhanced or not, is subject to the same threat.
To prevent this attack, while also offering physical access (i.e. in a
public kiosk or a school lab) you have to physically block the removable
media. For instance, you remove the CD and floppy drives from the
machine, and then encase the whole box in a locked cabinet so the
attacker can't install their own drives.
Protecting a home PC from your kids is flat out impossible. If it still
is important to have this protection, get a door lock.
Crispin
--
Crispin Cowan, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist, WireX http://wirex.com/~crispin/
Security Hardened Linux Distribution: http://immunix.org
Available for purchase: http://wirex.com/Products/Immunix/purchase.html
Just say ".Nyet"
(See attached file: attjnhdd.dat)
===========================================================================
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This communication, including any attachment, contains
information that may be confidential or privileged, and is intended solely
for the entity or individual to whom it is addressed. If you are not the
intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified
that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message is strictly
prohibited. Nothing in this email, including any attachment, is intended
to be a legally binding signature.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Jan 02 2003 - 18:46:22 PST