RE: FDE and integrity of OS Was: How to Test HDD Encryption

["Craig Wright" <Craig.Wright () bdo com au>]

No programme - it is turned off.
 
With physical access you could install a customised BIOS chip reprogramed for this. The issue of cost is likely to 
affect this decision. What is needed to reflash the BIOS will vary with the brand of chip - but an EPROM writer and 
related software and a very good knowledge of the BIOS code will do it.
 
Regards,
Craig Wright (GSE-Compliance)



Craig Wright
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________________________________


From: listbounce () securityfocus com on behalf of Mike Hale
Sent: Thu 15/11/2007 3:26 AM
To: Alexander Klimov
Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: FDE and integrity of OS Was: How to Test HDD Encryption



"attacker who has
temporary physical access to your computer (while it is switched off)
changes the system so that attacker's software loads first (the
attacker changes boot-sector or reflash BIOS)"

Do you have an example of a program that can do this?

On 11/14/07, Alexander Klimov <alserkli () inbox ru> wrote:
> On Tue, 13 Nov 2007, Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers wrote:
> > > But isn't FDE primarily targeted at protecting data from lost or
> > > stolen systems? A bit over 40% of data breaches are due to lost or
> > > stolen devices.
> >
> > That's its primary use. However, FDE also protects the integrity of
> > the operating system while the computer is not running.
>
> FDE can make tampering with your OS slightly harder but it does not
> protect OS integrity in any strong sense. Consider the following
> example (inspired by `Vbootkit' and `Blue Pill'): attacker who has
> temporary physical access to your computer (while it is switched off)
> changes the system so that attacker's software loads first (the
> attacker changes boot-sector or reflash BIOS), this software loads the
> rest of the system in a virtual environment. For the user the system
> looks exactly the same as it was (e.g., the system asks for password
> or a smart card and decrypts the OS), but in reality the attacker has
> complete control.
>
> --
> Regards,
> ASK


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