Which Network Weakness Is It?

About this interactive

What you are doing: naming the network weakness in each situation. Insecure network: the weakness is in the technology itself. Wireless and Bluetooth go out through the air, so anyone in range can pick them up; even encrypted, the signal is still there to listen to. Open service port: a service is listening, or a firewall hole lets traffic in, on purpose and for a reason. Each one is still another way in, and the more holes in the outside firewall, the more vulnerabilities. Misconfiguration: a setting was made wrong when it was made, such as a typo in a rule or the wrong network chosen. Outdated setting: the setting was right when it was made, but something changed and nobody went back. The lesson's example is a firewall hole for a web server that stays open after the server is replaced by someone's laptop. How to use it: ask whether the setting was ever right. Never right is a misconfiguration; right once is outdated; right and still needed is an open service port.

What you'll learn

Name the network vulnerability in a situation: an insecure network whose traffic is exposed by its nature, an open service port, a misconfiguration, or an outdated setting left in place after things changed

Aligned to

CompTIA Security+

2.2 Explain common threat vectors and attack surfaces.

2.3 Explain various types of vulnerabilities.

Key terms

Misconfiguration: An incorrect or insecure system or service setting made by an administrator that can expose vulnerabilities affecting confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
Port: A logical endpoint for communication in a network, identified by a number that specifies a particular service or application.
Firewall: A network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules.
Attack Surface: The total set of points in a system where an unauthorized user can attempt to enter or extract data.
Wireless Access Point: A device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi.

Topics

Misconfiguration Port Firewall Attack Surface Wireless Access Point Interactive Categorize

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