SCIENCE FOR SCIENCE SAKE IS EVIL

IMAGINATION WITHOUT REASON IS A MONSTEROUS THING!

Brand Killer Robots launch - the Webs First Trust Surveillance Toolset

Brand Killer Robots reveal::
Welcome to the RIAM. The Internets first online surveillance system. The RIAM are living autonomous agents that roam the Net testing the integrity of targeted systems. Subscribers use the RIAM to ascertain whether a target device can be trusted prior to engaging the target themselves. The RIAM footprints and scans the target domain name and IP and reports whether the target is trustworthy. There are currently 13 classifications of trusted target.

The RIAM also provides the subscriber with a host of information. The RIAM emails the subscriber with this information. A full list of analysis data will be made available.

The RIAM also offers the subscriber anonymous scanning of the target, via a "cloaking" feature.

Cloaks include:
Don't want the target to know i'm looking = Undercover
Happy for the RIAM to tell who is looking = Open
RIAM to engage the target on my behalf = Promotional

The RIAM costs $99 per year for 1000 scans
Report sent every month

email Stephen at intrench@gmail.com for further information.

Security is best when you are looking from the inside out and the outside in!

Brand Killer Robots reveals::
For those of you who want to gain a structured perspective on the world of computer vulnerabilities, we have added a link to Eric Knight CISSP very good ebook which covers much of the Architecture and Anatomy of Computing Vulnerabilities.

Computer Vulnerabilities written by Eric Knight


Also for those interested in viral art

http://www.sq.ro/projects.php

Is Open Source a Wolf in Sheeps clothing?

Brand Killer Robots reveal::
Some years back the Robots were asked to advise on the nature and colour of technology requirement. There were two competeting technologies. One was from Microsoft and the other the open source operating system, Linux.

Our initial investigation concluded that the Microsoft technology was less secure than the open source equivalent. It was clear that the open source product was better designed and could be 'hot patched' more rapidly than that of Microsoft technology. So on the surface of it we concluded that Linux was a far better offering in terms of security than Microsoft.

But as we got deeper and deeper into the debate we began to change our mind.

It suddenly became clear that many of those "so called" hackers were anti-Microsoft people, so there was clearly an agenda to discredit the Microsoft technology anyway - creating conditions which placed greater scrutiny on Microsoft security. Then it was brought to our attention that much of the code is created by thousands of disperate coders from here to Timbuktu. Many of these people are high calibre programmers, but many we interviewed were pretty ineffcient and those that were not - seemed like crackpots. We wondered how many of the security vulnerabilities in systems were being engineered by these people.

Anyway, the most worrying of all concerns about open source lies at the very heart of its cause. We can only wonder at how so many people have been fooled for so long.

Open Source is in fact only open to a minute number of programmers. It is not open to the general public, business managers or shareholders. It is open to a few software engineers who can understand the language and context of the C programming language and operating system architecture.

For everyone else, open source is no more open than Microsoft technologies.

So we ask, is open source a Wolf in sheeps clothing?

Is it really more secure than Microsoft technology?

Young inventors working with Brand Killer Robots!

Brand Killer Robots reveal::
Blogging is a marvellous form of communication, you never really know which direction your editorial will take, which is of course dependent upon the interests of your readers. Our original thoughts were to be able to develop a resource to educate and inspire senior management to think more creatively about the kinds of risk that they might be susceptible too from numerous influences in the future.

It seems from the response, that we have certainly achieved that objective, but with one interesting twist. It seems that Brand Killer Robots has been just as interesting to students than the long serving investment banker and the like.

One particular line of communication has opened up with a young inventor who wishes us to represent his biometric handwriting product to financial services organisations. His product is apparently one of the first of its kind and we do very much believe the story behind the idea.

If you can tie a signature to a particular person, without doubt they created it - how important would that be in the field of data assurance and forensic analysis? The biometric is patent pending and applications have been developed and now take the form of pen systems and digital writing pads. All that is required is for managers to introduce the technology to field trials on selective projects.

It seems that whilst the concept is compelling and all are in agreement of its potential, there are three primary concerns preventing the uptake of the technology:

1. Extensive testing of the technology and associated output data is a requirement prior to client engagement with the technology.
2. UK Courts to recognise digitally produceble analogue handwriting signature data as a basis of evidence, in support of cases.
3. Clients would expect to engage with the technology with a mature information security provider who would need to licence the technology from the inventor.

So whilst we started out writing a blog, we have become very differently involved with some of our readers and we look forward to extending our services to other interested readers in the future.

Malware Scanners - Good for about 10% of Threats?

Brand Killer Robots reveal::

What would happen if there was no such thing as anti-virus software? What would happen is that the manufacturer who sold you the software that runs the pc’s would have to clean up their act because if they didn’t, we’d all stop buying PC’s and use something else instead.

Brand Killer Robots have conducted an extentive study over many years that reveals that current PC virus and malware scanners guard against only 10% of the potential vulnerabilities on current PC technology. Any team of innovators producing a map of the malware threat architecture and brainstorming around it, would be able to see that the currently mapped malware architecture covers only about 10% of the potential malware threats.

So what consumers think of as an effective deterrent is in fact hardly no deterrent at all.

In reality the main things that stop users from sustaining serious attacks is that they have either never become a target.

British Hacker Cell:: Invent the worlds first totally secure laptop computer!

Brand Killer Robots reveal::

We hear on the wire that a team of British computer scientists have invented the worlds first totally secure laptop computer. Using a variety of technologies, features and techniques the "Proteus Computer" offers consumers an experience that ensures totally safe computing all the time they are online.

Although still on the bench (so to speak), the design has passed concept stage and met all the stringent tests that will be required to meet the requirements. Once complete the laptop will be attached to the Internet and will be marketed as the worlds first totally secure laptop computer.

Chief Scientist "Cibermole" said - the real test will come when the honeypot is activated and the bees come to take a bite. "Bet they won't like the taste of this one".

Proteus is expected to be released one year from today for demonstration to UK Government. The team require funding and support from the Linux community in order to meet the deadline.

If you know of someone who would like a piece of the worlds first totally secure laptop computer, please email sryan@intrench.com.

The hacker race is on to find the most secure computing solution in the world.

Brand Killer Robots reveal::

Ask any security expert and they'll tell you that it cannot be done. "No they say", "there is no such thing as the most securist this or that or they say "security is relative - all you can do is prioritise and mitgate risk against budget". Or they'll say - "there there - you'll come to realise that Utopia is unachievable and some day when you are a big boy - you'll wake up to the reality that this game is flawed". "Why hell! - it isn't meant to be secure anyhow - we wouldn't have a job otherwise!"

Well we say F* YOU - and go and find a legitimate job!

We believe the answer lies in developing a new perspective on security and not following the same line as everybody else. When you can't win the game, you invent a new game. You change the rules. We believe that today's approach to security is ultimately futile. The game is futile.
What is required is a radical rethink. Such a rethink can only come from those involved in "security intelligence (R&D)" vs. where we are 99% of our time "implementing yesterdays futile security measures".

So we ask that you consider joining us in the race to find the most securist computer in the world!

If there were such a thing as "Total Security" - would it really be a good thing?

Brand Killer Robots reveal::

Ok, the time has come to throw out a challenge to all our many loyal readers. We want you to design an unhackable computer. A computer that all company's and all governments could use in the knowledge that they were in total control of their computing experience.

But before you get down to designing the latest microprocessor or coding that software, stop and think for about 20 years. Just how might such a device be designed? What would be required in order to make it work? How would users interact with it?

When you reach that Eureka! moment - if you ever do, then you need to start worrying about what would happen if such a device ever got into the wrong hands.

What would happen if the wrong people ever got hold of such a device?

For more information on the "ultimate computer" email sryan@intrench.com

Video Game Piracy:: Multi-Dimensional Brand-Level Security Strategies Required

Brand Killer Robots reveal::

Anyone who has worked for a video games publisher knows about the impact that piracy is having on the industry. They know that there are a million different ways to prevent the criminals from stealing or forging their wares, all of which have failed to make any significant impact - relatively speaking.

Publishing people also know that unless they remain focused on their core task, that of building great games, the issue of security is largely irrelevant. No game, no publishing business, no need for security!

Analysis, conducted in 2002 and financed by one of the UK's leading publishers concluded that there are three parts to security in the video game publishing industry.

Part 1 being technological solutions to security, Part 2 specifying the use of the power of media communications, in conjuntion with strategic relations with partners, the police and governing bodies with Part 3 offering a product management solution. The analysis concluded that publishers had been more successful combining part 1 and part 2 elements to form security strategies for combating piracy, as opposed to simply implementing part 1 and part 2 strategies separately. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a new dimension that is largely innovation driven, in the sense that if game content was launched in the marketplace at such a time and at such a velocity it could undermine the efforts of pirate organisations.

Furthermore, the analysis concluded that for publishers to stay ahead of the pirate distribution curve, that they must position their production operations "to make more games faster". With more games hitting more windows in the marketplace, the advance of pirates would be dramatically repelled. Furthermore, the analysis concluded that object orientated techniques, agile project management methods, centralised automated compilation and art rendering and design and franchise reusability be implemented in order to proliferate the delivery of products, along with investment in R&D in the area of high-value, low aesthetic content design.

A Trojan program that destroys reputations

Brand Killer Robots reveal ::

Security experts have confirmed the detection of a new form of trojan that targets computers owned by company executives. This new form of virus is designed to open up access to porn, which is then downloaded and left on the executives hard disk drive. Police authorities are alerted to the elicit material via anonymous email. It is thought that the new trojan was designed by black hats and sold to at least one company, who used it to discredit the directors at a major corporation.

Today's Cybercrime and the Crimeware Being Used to Support it

BY SC Magazine

Businesses are under constant threat from crimeware as hackers are using highly sophisticated web-based techniques and methods to exploit the vulnerabilities within the Internet. These web-based threats are being found in common applications that security executives need to monitor and control in order to prevent abuse of their systems.

See the webcast on 10th September 2007 - 16:00 - 16:45 (BST)

for more: http://www.scmagazine.com/uk/events/?fuseaction=XCK.Events.Home

Cyber crime tool kits go on sale

BBC 4th Sept 2007

Malicious hackers are producing easy to use tools that automate attacks to cash in on a boom in hi-tech crime.
On sale, say security experts, are everything from individual viruses to comprehensive kits that let budding cyber thieves craft their own attacks.
The top hacking tools are being offered for prices ranging up to £500.

for more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6976308.stm

German spyware plans trigger row

Reported by BBC, 31.08.2007

German government plans to spy on terror suspects by distributing malicious e-mails have drawn sharp criticism.
The e-mails would contain Trojans - software that secretly installs itself on suspects' computers, allowing agents to search the hard drives.
German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is quoted as saying the spyware would be used only in a few cases and for a limited time.

for more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6973018.stm