Building Open Source Network Security Tools

Learn how to protect your network with this guide to building complete and fully functional network security tools Although open source network security tools come in all shapes and sizes, a company will eventually discover that these tools are lacking in some area—whether it's additional functionality, a specific feature, or a narrower scope. Written by security expert Mike Schiffman, this comprehensive book will show you how to build your own network security tools that meet the needs of your company. To accomplish this, you'll first learn about the Network Security Tool Paradigm in addition to currently available components including libpcap, libnet, libnids, libsf, libdnet, and OpenSSL. Schiffman offers a detailed discussion of these components, helping you gain a better understanding of the native datatypes and exported functions. Next, you'll find several key techniques that are built from the components as well as easy-to-parse programming examples. The book then ties the model, code, and concepts together, explaining how you can use this information to craft intricate and robust security programs. Schiffman provides you with cost-effective, time-saving guidance on how to build customized network security tools using existing components. He explores: A multilayered model for describing network security tools The ins and outs of several specific security-related components How to combine these components into several useful network security techniques Four different classifications for network security tools: passive reconnaissance, active reconnaissance, attack and penetration, and defensive How to combine techniques to build customized network security tools The companion Web site contains all of the code from the book.

This concise, high-end guide shows experienced administrators how to customize and extend popular open source security tools such as Nikto, Ettercap, and Nessus. It also addresses port scanners, packet injectors, network sniffers, and web assessment tools.

If you're an advanced security professional, then you know that the battle to protect online privacy continues to rage on. Security chat rooms, especially, are resounding with calls for vendors to take more responsibility to release products that are more secure. In fact, with all the information and code that is passed on a daily basis, it's a fight that may never end. Fortunately, there are a number of open source security tools that give you a leg up in the battle.Often a security tool does exactly what you want, right out of the box. More frequently, you need to customize the tool to fit the needs of your network structure. Network Security Tools shows experienced administrators how to modify, customize, and extend popular open source security tools such as Nikto, Ettercap, and Nessus.This concise, high-end guide discusses the common customizations and extensions for these tools, then shows you how to write even more specialized attack and penetration reviews that are suited to your unique network environment. It also explains how tools like port scanners, packet injectors, network sniffers, and web assessment tools function.Some of the topics covered include: Writing your own network sniffers and packet injection tools Writing plugins for Nessus, Ettercap, and Nikto Developing exploits for Metasploit Code analysis for web applications Writing kernel modules for security applications, and understanding rootkits While many books on security are either tediously academic or overly sensational, Network Security Tools takes an even-handed and accessible approach that will let you quickly review the problem and implement new, practical solutions--without reinventing the wheel. In an age when security is critical, Network Security Tools is the resource you want at your side when locking down your network.

The Perfect Reference for the Multitasked SysAdmin This is the perfect guide if network security tools is not your specialty. It is the perfect introduction to managing an infrastructure with freely available, and powerful, Open Source tools. Learn how to test and audit your systems using products like Snort and Wireshark and some of the add-ons available for both. In addition, learn handy techniques for network troubleshooting and protecting the perimeter. * Take Inventory See how taking an inventory of the devices on your network must be repeated regularly to ensure that the inventory remains accurate. * Use Nmap Learn how Nmap has more features and options than any other free scanner. * Implement Firewalls Use netfilter to perform firewall logic and see how SmoothWall can turn a PC into a dedicated firewall appliance that is completely configurable. * Perform Basic Hardening Put an IT security policy in place so that you have a concrete set of standards against which to measure. * Install and Configure Snort and Wireshark Explore the feature set of these powerful tools, as well as their pitfalls and other security considerations. * Explore Snort Add-Ons Use tools like Oinkmaster to automatically keep Snort signature files current. * Troubleshoot Network Problems See how to reporting on bandwidth usage and other metrics and to use data collection methods like sniffing, NetFlow, and SNMP. * Learn Defensive Monitoring Considerations See how to define your wireless network boundaries, and monitor to know if they’re being exceeded and watch for unauthorized traffic on your network. Covers the top 10 most popular open source security tools including Snort, Nessus, Wireshark, Nmap, and Kismet Follows Syngress' proven "How to Cheat" pedagogy providing readers with everything they need and nothing they don't

This book describes open source tools commonly used in network administration. Open source tools are a popular choice for network administration because they are a good fit for many organizations. This volume brings together a collection of these tools in a single reference for the networkadministrator.

-Identifies how to secure local and Internet communications with a VPN.

Network Security, Firewalls, and VPNs, third Edition provides a unique, in-depth look at the major business challenges and threats that are introduced when an organization’s network is connected to the public Internet.