Category: Network Security

Recent Router Hacks Found

Vulnerability Prevention - Grants Pass, OR

In the past couple days there have been press release that show a large number of vulnerabilities in all Cisco Small Business routers and 79 models of the Netgear router line-up. Here are the articles:

https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-rv-routers-stack-vUxHmnNz

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/79-netgear-router-models-risk-full-takeover-due-to-unpatched-bug/

The Cisco models are primarily used in small businesses, but the Netgear models include many that are used by home users – this could present a security risk for anyone who is still working from home. Cisco has released patches for the vulnerabilities and the Netgear vulnerabilities remained unpatched. 

If your company is still using a “small business” or home based router, then contact us for assistance in checking for updates or replacing them with an business grade router with automatic updates. We also provide network security auditing for both office and home work environments. 

Vulnerability Scans & Penetration Testing

Vulnerability Prevention - Grants Pass, OR

Many industries we serve are under some sort of compliance requirements – HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, etc. and several of these require some sort of vulnerability scans or penetration testing:

HIPAA Section 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) states:

RISK ANALYSIS (Required).
Conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information held by the [organization].

PCI DSS Requirement 11.3:

The scope of a penetration test, as defined in PCI DSS Requirement 11.3, must include the entire CDE perimeter and any critical systems that may impact the security of the CDE as well as the environment in scope for PCI DSS. This includes both the external perimeter (public-facing attack surfaces) and the internal perimeter of the CDE (LAN-LAN attack surfaces).

GDPR Article 32 states:

A process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing

Farmhouse Networking has begun offering both internal and external network vulnerability scans and penetration testing for clients who fall under compliance requirements. We also provide remediation planning and implementation for any issues found during the scans. 

If your company is has compliance requirements for internal or external vulnerability scans or penetration testing, then contact us for assistance.

Work From Home Checklist

remote worker - Grants Pass, OR

In this unprecedented time that we are currently experiencing, you have had to set your team up to work remotely, often without thinking about how they might actually get work done, let alone security of all things. Our employee checklist and no-cost cybersecurity training course will provide your team with the tools they need to ensure that they are safe and productive – right out of the gate.  These free resources are part of our initiative to keep our community safe and working during this time of crisis, without the additional disruption and financial impact of a breach.
 
Don’t let a change in circumstance allow for a change in cybersecurity standards.

Can Passwords Be Strong & Easy To Remember

The COVID-19 scare and ensuing rush to remote access has us thinking security. What is more basic to security than passwords. In an effort to find a way to make passwords both secure and easy to remember, I have found a website that seems to fit the bill:

https://xkpasswd.net/

A Secure Memorable Password Generator

The concept is surprisingly simple and is said to be based on a cartoon:

XKCD - Password Strength

I have played with the settings and found the following to generate some good password settings. Here they are for those who are interested:


The only other option would be to use random passwords stored in a password keeper. This also allows secure sharing of passwords throughout the organization. 

If your company is using remote access, then contact us for assistance to make it secure.

COVID-19: Preparing for the Long Haul

remote worker - Grants Pass, OR

According to the executive order made by Oregon State Governer, Kate Brown:“On Friday night, I frankly directed them to stay home. And now I am ordering them to stay home.”


The following guidelines are in effect for businesses:

  • It closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses, for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as arcades, barber shops, hair salons, gyms and fitness studios, skating rinks, theaters, and yoga studios.
  • It requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open, and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible. They must also elect a representative who will be in charge of monitoring social distancing.

What FHN is doing?

FREE Remote Access – Just a re-iteration that all our monthly managed services clients will have remote access to their systems at no additional cost. If you are not a managed client then we can set you up with secure remote access to your data or network depending on need. Please call sooner rather than later as we have to take care of our managed clients first and there may be a wait at this point.

On-site support continues – At this time there is no restrictions on service industries who perform on-site visits to complete work, so Farmhouse Networking will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We will be taking precautions such as protective masks, gloves, or perhaps more extreme measures (hazmat suit) to insure the safety of our staff and clients. We ask that clients keep these visits to emergency needs and planned projects until these social distancing rules are lifted.

Stocking up on essentials – We have been closely monitoring our distribution channels and several of them have been stating that non-essential items would take up to one month to receive. As a courtesy to our clients and to better service them in times of emergency IT needs, we will be stocking up on computer and network parts that are most often needed. 

What should clients do?

Remote workers – Send unneeded on-site staff home to work remotely. With remote access capabilities, video conferencing, and VoIP phones – there is no reason to keep them in harms way. We are experts in these technologies and can get you up and running on them quickly.

Maintain infrastructure – For remote workers to be able to get access to their computers there needs to be a solid foundation at the business location.

  • Workstations, servers, and network equipment should be on battery backups to keep them from going offline unnecessarily due to power fluctuations – triggering a need to go into the office.
  • Is part of your network over 6 years old? Now may be the time to replace the network equipment to avoid downtime and unneeded office visits in the future.
  • Now more than ever backups are needed in case anything should go wrong. Recovery times are bound to be increased as the lock down on businesses increases. 
  • Don’t forget to leave the A/C on especially if you have a server closet, they work better in cooler temperatures. 

Planning – With a possible slowdown in business now is the time to take stock of your company, to get used to this new normal, and make plans for the long term implications of this craziness on our businesses. 

If your company needs any help weathering the COVID-19 storm, then contact us for assistance.

FBI Cyber Defense Best Practices

A recent briefing from the FBI’s Internet Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) detailed current best practices and industry standards for cyber defense. Here is a summation:

Cyber Defense Best Practices

  • Backups – Regularly back up data and verify its integrity. Backups are critical in ransomware; if you are infected, backups may be the only way to recover your critical data.
  • Training – Employees should be made aware of the threat of ransomware, how it is delivered, and trained on information security principles and techniques.
  • Patching – All endpoints should be patched as vulnerabilities are discovered. This can be made easier through a centralized patch management system.
  • Antivirus – Ensure anti-virus and anti-malware solutions are set to automatically update and that regular scans are conducted. Centrally managed is even better.
  • File Permissions – If a user only needs to read specific files, they should not have write-access to those files, directories, or shares. Configure access controls with least privilege in mind.
  • Macros – Disable macro scripts from Office files transmitted via email.
  • Program Execution Restrictions – Implement software restriction policies or other controls to prevent the execution of programs in common ransomware locations, such as temporary folders supporting popular internet browsers, and compression/decompression programs.
  • Remote Desktop Protocol – Employ best practices for use of RDP, including use of VPN, auditing your network for systems using RDP, closing unused RDP ports, applying two-factor authentication wherever possible, and logging RDP login attempts.
  • Software Whitelisting – Implement application whitelisting. Only allow systems to execute programs known and permitted by security policy. This one takes careful planning.
  • Virtualization – Use virtualized environments to execute operating system environments or specific programs. No physical access to servers makes hacking harder.
  • Network Segmentation – Implement physical and logical separation of networks and data for different organizational units. Keep guest traffic out of your business network.
  • No Saved Passwords – Require users to type information or enter a password when their system communicates with a website. Better yet use a password management tool.

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

Local Church Hit By Ransomware

Got a call a couple weeks ago from a local church:

“we came in and open the computer and we have ransomware on there. We can’t even get to any of our stuff. It’s telling us to email somebody and so that they can free up the computer.”

How does this happen?

Generally these things happen because people click on things they shouldn’t. Whether in an attachment in email from someone they don’t recognize, a link in social media that sounds too good to pass up, or an advertisement for something they can’t live without. Once the user gives permission for something to open or run on their computer the game is over and the hacker wins.

What to do when it happen?

  • Stop using the computer.
  • Leave the computer alone! Do not carry out any further commands, including commands to Save data.
  • Do not close any of the computer’s windows or programs. Leave the computer alone.
  • Leave everything plugged in and do not turn off the computer or peripheral devices.
  • If possible, physically disconnect the computer from networks to which it is attached.
  • Call us immediately. Write down any unusual behavior of the computer (screen messages, unexpected disk access, unusual responses to commands) and the time when they were first noticed.
  • Write down any changes in hardware, software, or usage that preceded the malfunction.
  • Do not attempt to remove a suspected virus! Let the professionals do the dirty work.

How to prevent this from happening?

Layers of protection is the simple answer. A good antivirus installed to stop the bad programs from running, DNS filtering to keep users off of bad sites / advertisements, a good backup of all data to recover when this does happen, and most important of all EDUCATION – teaching users what safe internet usage looks like and having policies in effect to train them can mitigate 60-70% of infections. 

If your company is would like to discuss the layers of security you have in place, then contact us for assistance.

Sophos DNAT – Change Different Port Number

This article came from the need of another local tech company to forward an Exacqvision Web Portal to something other than port 80, as it was already in use. I could not find a detail article on how to accomplish Sophos DNAT while changing the port number:

How to configure Sophos DNAT for an internal server

  1. Navigate to Firewall then click +Add Firewall Rule and select Business Application Policy.
    Sophos DNAT - Add Firewall Rule
  2. Select Application Template and choose DNAT/Full NAT/Load Balancing.
    Sophos DNAT - DNAT Template
  3. Fill out the settings as shown below:
    Sophos DNAT - Firewall Rule Details
    1. Rule Name
    2. Source Zones: WAN (and LAN if needed)
    3. Allowed Client Networks: Any
    4. Destination Host/Network: WAN Interface (#eth0-? whichever one you use)
    5. Services: Either select the service you already created or create a new one for the external port to be used as below
      Sophos DNAT - Service Creation
    6. Protected Servers: Select an existing or create a host entry for the internal server.
    7. Protected Zone: Select the Zone in which the host resides (LAN or DMZ).
    8. Change Destination Port(s): Check this then change the port to the internal port.
  4. Click Save to save the configuration.

If your company is using a Sophos router and is unsure of how to configure it, then contact us for assistance in making the best use of your router.

Where do you keep your passwords?

Farmhouse Networking has had a long standing policy that we do not keep a record of client passwords (except when needed for device administration). That is about to change, but before we talk about our new password policy let’s talk password storage:

Common Password Storage

Here are some popular places where many businesses store their passwords that make them very vulnerable to being stolen.

Passwords written on paper (that are not under lock and key):

  • On your desk under your keyboard (or taped underneath)
  • Under your stapler or desk decorations
  • On sticky notes stuck to your monitor or desk
  • On a scrap of paper on your desk or in a drawer
  • In a notebook or address book
  • In a old-fashioned Rolodex file
  • Paper printouts or photocopies of your passwords

Anyone with access to your office could easily find and steal passwords stored like this.

Passwords stored in your computer (without using encryption):

  • Remembered in your web browser
  • A document called “Passwords” that you’ve created anywhere on your computer, perhaps using Microsoft Word or Excel
  • A document with any other name on your computer (including the password as the name)
  • Email drafts that you’ve created (but not sent) containing password information

Anyone with access to your computer could easily find and steal passwords stored like this, including both a person with physical access to it as well as a virus or hacker gaining access via the internet, or scamming you into granting them access, even once.

Passwords stored in your smartphone or tablet (without using encryption):

  • Electronic “Notes” containing password information
  • Other documents or emails similar to the ones listed in computer storage above

Anyone with access to your device could easily find and steal passwords stored like this.

Passwords sent via regular (insecure) email:

  • Emails that you have sent to yourself containing password information
  • Emails that you have sent to anyone else containing password information

Any information that you send using regular (unencrypted) email puts that information at risk of being stolen. Email is neither private nor secure. Sending an email is like mailing a postcard, and hackers and thieves can easily read the contents. You should never send passwords (or any other confidential or sensitive data) via regular email.

Secure Password Storage

Now for the discussion of Farmhouse Networking’s new password policy. We are partnering with a company to provide a storage of passwords and other client documentation with military grade encryption. This partnership also allows us to address the dangers that common password storage present by offering our clients this same encrypted password storage service. Here are some of the benefits of this service:

  • Unlimited users
  • Unlimited passwords
  • Each user has a personal password vault
  • Shared company password vault
  • Security groups to manage access
  • Auditing & reporting (Compliance)
  • Secure password sharing
  • 1-Click Login Tool (for all major browsers)
  • Mobile Device Access
  • Only $15 per month (Compared to Lastpass Business at $4 per user per month)

If your company is using common password storage of any kind do yourself a security favor and contact us to upgrade to secure password storage.

VPN for the Win

Remote User VPN - Grants Pass, OR

In reviewing compliance documentation, we found it necessary to talk about Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology for both privacy and secure remote access. A VPN is a connection to a private network over the internet through an encrypted tunnel – think smuggling information across a secret passageway between two places.

Why use VPN?

Privacy: There has been a huge buzz lately about using VPN technology to help mask you browsing habits from the likes of the NSA or Google. VPN services offer connections that regularly change your external IP address so that a profile (marketing or otherwise) is harder to build. It also makes hacking of your information harder when these services providers offer anti-virus and anti-spam filtering as part of the VPN service.

What are the trade-offs? These VPN service providers will now be the sole owner of your browsing habits – they can sell targeted profiles to marketing companies – so read those terms of service. There will also be a performance hit to your internet speed, so if you are working from a slow network already this may not be an option. Then there is the added cost of an extra $5 to $15 per month for these services on top of your internet bill each month.

Secure Remote Access: This was the original intent of VPN technology and where it really shines. Either from remote workers using coffee shop wifi or remote offices connecting to the main office, VPN tunnels are used to securely access data, servers, and other network resources. This technology is required by all major compliance agencies so that all data transmitted is encrypted during transport. In the past servers would open ports to the internet to allow access, but it was found that this practice allowed hackers the same opportunity to gain access. With VPN tunnels there is another layer of protection from unexpected access. There is also the benefit that no outside provider gets access to your browsing habits.

What are the trade-offs? This will require a router at the main office that is business grade and capable of handling the traffic. It will then require setup of remote workers laptops or remote offices with similar business grade routers.

If your company is concerned about privacy on the internet or secure remote access, then contact us for assistance.

Archives

Categories

Plant a Seed @ 541-761-9549
233 Rogue River Hwy #873 Grants Pass, OR 97527
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
support@farmhousenetworking.com
© 2016-2025 - Farmhouse Networking. All rights reserved
Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy

Evaluation Signup

Error: Contact form not found.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10