RE: login banners

["Noonan, Wesley" <Wesley_Noonan () bmc com>]

I don't know if this helps at all, but here are some links:

http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/j-043.shtml
http://lists.insecure.org/lists/security-basics/2002/Dec/0575.html
http://www.usdoj.gov:80/criminal/cybercrime/s&sappendix2002.htm
http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=1831&cid=19
http://www.ouhsc.edu/it/security/policy/login-banner.asp
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/a-34.shtml
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/a-22.shtml

My opinion, which carries absolutely no legal weight, is that having the
banners certainly doesn't hamper one's ability to undertake legal action.
Not having them *might* hamper that ability. Since I don't think I have
anything to lose by having a good banner, but I might have something to lose
by not having them, I use and recommend them. Pretty simple, really.

Of course, to be more complex you always have the US 4th amendment which
states:

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and 
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or 
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the 
persons or things to be seized.

Which some lawyer would need to speak on with any kind of authority, but as
I understand it has been used as a basis for defense when people did not
know that they were being monitored. IOW, not informing a defendant that
they are being monitored could be considered a 4th amendment violation. Of
course I am no lawyer and could be talking completely out of my @$$ on this
point. 

Of course, what discussion of legalities would be complete without...

Neither BMC Software or Wes Noonan makes any warranty, expressed or implied,
or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information contained in this message.

:-)

Wes Noonan, MCSE/CCNA/CCDA/NNCSS/Security+
Senior QA Rep.
BMC Software, Inc.
(713) 918-2412
wnoonan () bmc com
http://www.bmc.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrick Kingi [mailto:Patrick.Kingi () nz logical com]
> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 18:55
> To: pen-test () securityfocus com
> Subject: login banners
>
> Greetings all,
>
> It has been standard practice to ensure systems ensure their login banners
> warn the users that unauthorised access is not allowed, your activity may
> be
> logged etc...
>
> A client has asked if there is any evidence that this really matters. I
> heard a story once upon a time that a hacker did not get prosecuted
> because
> the login banner said something like "Welcome to your friendly
> neighborhood
> computer". Is this an urban legend?
>
> Does anyone have any evidence that the login banner has been used in
> court?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> regards,
> Patrick
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
>
> Do you know the base address of the Global Offset Table (GOT) on a Solaris
> 8
> box?
> CORE IMPACT does.
> www.securityfocus.com/core

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know the base address of the Global Offset Table (GOT) on a Solaris 8
box?
CORE IMPACT does.
http://www.securityfocus.com/core