Designing a Total Data Solution

Chapter 26: Firewall Management and Internet Attacks

Jeffery J. Lowder

NETWORK CONNECTIVITY CAN BE BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE. On the one hand, network connectivity can enable users to share files, exchange e-mail, and pool physical resources. Yet network connectivity can also be a risky endeavor if the connectivity grants access to would-be intruders. The Internet is a perfect case in point. Designed for a trusted environment, many contemporary exploits are based on vulnerabilities inherent to the protocol itself. According to a recent dissertation by John Howard on Internet unauthorized access incidents reported to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), there were 4567 incidents between 1989 and 1996, with the number of incidents increasing ...