[Full-Disclosure] RE: [Full-disclosure]MS should re-write code with security in mind

["Clairmont, Jan M" <jan.m.clairmont () citigroup com>]

Glenn:
Not to take issue with the performance of encryption, but 
what good is performance when it's all spent processing spam, malware, trojans, spyware and all the other cr*p that 
downloads.
Even things like spybot, zone alarm etc. do not  prevent any
of the junk that gets loaded thru mail and port 80, plus any other vulnerabilities that continually open up.

I would gladly take performance hits for reliability and the
end of endless spam, vuls, and spyware that constantly attach to  my clients as well as myself.  

Anyone in the real world knows how impossible it is to totally
lock down a large commercial network.  To do business you need to open at least one window to the hellish nightmare of 
the internet.  Plus router, firewall, switch, modem, atm endless list of vulnerable systems... It is a never ending 
battle, and for the most part the white Hats are losing.  So what is the alternative?

Go to a totally secure network computing system like the military?

It seems we may have no choice.



Jan Clairmont
Firewall Administrator/Consultant
----------Original Message-----
From: Glenn_Everhart () bankone com [mailto:Glenn_Everhart () bankone com]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 10:53 AM
To: Clairmont, Jan M
Subject: RE: [Full-Disclosure] RE: [Full-disclosure]MS should re-write
code with security in mind


Encryption is one scheme that gives access control. It is one of the more
expensive alternatives out there for this, and people using it often get the
key management wrong and vitiate their entire efforts while sweeping the
problems under the rug.

When I invented the cryptodisk back in the late 70s I noticed the first
version (using a DES algorithm) would allow the processor either to be
doing useful work, or encrypting/decrypting disk. I therefore added a much
weaker but faster algorithm as an alternative (for more benign environments)
that at least permitted both.

Machines today are much more capable, but overdone encryption is still capable
of eating serious amounts of their performance.

Glenn Everhart


-----Original Message-----
From: full-disclosure-admin () lists netsys com
[mailto:full-disclosure-admin () lists netsys com]On Behalf Of Clairmont,
Jan M
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 2:01 PM
To: full-disclosure () lists netsys com
Subject: [Full-Disclosure] RE: [Full-disclosure]MS should re-write code
with security in mind



M$ should just bite the bullet and re-write windows with 
security in mind, give it a true process scheduler, multi-user
with windows as a client server processes.  Build in 256 bit encryption and secure communications between processes and 
external communication with no unencrypted traffic.  That would shut down a lot of these mindless security leaks.  All 
mail should be encrypted and point-to-point, with the mail servers only able to re-direct and broadcast mail with 
authentication.   Maybe we could slow a lot of  the hacking down  and spam.  But again until the market place demands 
it M$, Linux and everybody else it's business as usual.

Keeps us employed I guess.

Jan Clairmont
Firewall Administrator/Consultant

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