Information Security Commons^™

Importance Of Verification And Validation Of Data Sources In Attaining Information Superiority, Gautham Kasinath, Leisa Armstrong

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Information superiority has been defined as a state that is achieved when a competitive advantage is derived from the ability to exploit a superior information position. To achieve such a superior information position enterprises and nations, alike, must not only collect and record correct, accurate, timely and useful information but also ensure that information recorded is not lost to competitors due to lack of comprehensive security and leaks. Further, enterprises that aim to attain information superiority must also ensure mechanisms of validating and verifying information to reduce the chances of mis-information. Although, research has been carried out into ways to …

Analysis Of Pki As A Means Of Securing Odf Documents, Gautham Kasinath, Leisa Armstrong

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) has for the last two decades been a means of securing systems and communication. With the adoption of Open Document Format (ODF) as an ISO standard, the question remains if the unpopular, expensive, complex and unmaintainable PKI can prove to be a viable means of securing ODF documents. This paper analyses the drawbacks of PKI and evaluates the usefulness of PKI in provisioning robust, cheap and maintainable XML security to XML based ODF. This paper also evaluates the existing research on XML security, more specifically fine grained access control.

The Phantasm Of Atm Withdrawal, Nattakant Utakrit

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Despite the stringent legislation and increased enforcement aimed at combating financial crime, fraud using cash machines remains a public concern. The problem of ATM fraud is happening on a global scale and the ramifications have been felt in Australia. This paper highlights the stratagems of financial crime, in particular of ATM fraud. The abuse of ATMs with intelligent methods used by perpetrators will be discussed. At the same time, the paper will present some global cases of ATM fraud. Finally this paper will illustrate countermeasures and security methods, such as biometrics and premises protections of banks, financial institutions and customers, …

A Comprehensive Firewall Testing Methodology, Murray Brand

Australian Information Security Management Conference

This paper proposes an all encompassing test methodology for firewalls. It extends the life cycle model to revisit the major phases of the life cycle after a firewall is in service as foundations for the tests. The focus of the tests is to show that the firewall is, or isn’t, still fit for purpose. It also focuses on the traceability between business requirements through to policy, rule sets, physical design, implementation, egress and ingress testing, monitoring and auditing. The guidelines are provided by a Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP). The methodology is very much process driven and in keeping …

Increasing Security In The Physical Layer Of Wireless Communication, Luke Golygowski

Australian Information Security Management Conference

This paper introduces a concept of increasing securing in the Physical layer (PHY) of wireless communication. It gives a short description of current status of wireless standards and their security. Despite the existence of advanced security protocols such as IEEE 802.11i or WLAN VPNs, wireless networks still remain vulnerable to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks aiming at PHY and Data Link Layers. The new solution challenges the problems with the currently defined PHY and Data Link layers. The concept introduced here, holds a promise of descending with some of the security measures to the lower layers of the TCP/IP and in this …

The Need For An Investigation Into Possible Security Threats Associated With Sql Based Emr Software, Lee Heinke

Australian Information Security Management Conference

An increasing amount of E-health software packages are being bundled with Standard Query Language (SQL) databases as a means of storing Electronic Medical Records (EMR’s). These databases allow medical practitioners to store, change and maintain large volumes of patient information. The software that utilizes these databases pulls data directly from fields within the database based on standardized query statements. These query statements use the same methods as web-based applications to dynamically pull data from the database so it can be manipulated by the Graphical User Interface (GUI). This paper proposes a study for an investigation into the susceptibility of popular …

Securing Voip: A Framework To Mitigate Or Manage Risks, Peter James, Andrew Woodward

Australian Information Security Management Conference

In Australia, the past few years have seen Voice over IP (VoIP) move from a niche communications medium used by organisations with the appropriate infrastructure and capabilities to a technology that is available to any one with a good broadband connection. Driven by low cost and no cost phone calls, easy to use VoIP clients and increasingly reliable connections, VoIP is replacing the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) in a growing number of households. VoIP adoption appears to be following a similar path to early Internet adoption, namely little awareness by users of the security implications. Lack of concern about …

The Need For A Security/Privacy Model For The Health Sector In Ghana, James Tetteh Ami-Narh, Patricia A. Williams

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Many developing countries around the world are faced with the dilemma “brain-drain” as their healthcare professionals seek better economic opportunities in other countries. This problem is compounded by a lack of robust healthcare infrastructure requiring substantive improvements to bring them up to date. This impacts a countries ability to understand morbidity and mortality patterns which impact health care policy and program planning. The lack of IT infrastructure also negatively affects the safety, quality, and efficiency of health care delivery in these countries. Ghana is faced with this precise set of circumstances as it struggles to adopt policies to overcome these …

Medical Identity Theft – Not Feeling Like Yourself?, Darren Webb

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Hospital and general practice healthcare providers today rely heavily on the information and communication technologies they employ to provide access to patient and associated data. The continuing migration to wireless means of data transfer has afforded system users more convenient and timely access to information via the use of 802.11 based wireless network capable devices. Through the increased digital connectivity of these internet and wireless based networks, new avenues of criminal activity such as medical identity theft have been steadily increasing as malicious individuals and organisations seek to abuse the digital ubiquity of the electronic medical record. The increased need …

Managing Analysis, David Shaw

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

The Intelligence profession requires effective management to function properly and professional discourse highlights the changing nature of intelligence work. Highlighted “failures” are linked to organizational structures and ethos, and proposals to address the problems include discussion of human and organizational factors with recommendations that address the issues. However, optimising the intelligence process may not be a simple case of applying management techniques as the work relies substantially on individual endeavour. Innovative management techniques are needed and these should be grounded in recognising the peculiar nature of analysis and the skill set required.

An Approach In Identifying And Tracing Back Spoofed Ip Packets To Their Sources, Krishnun Sansurooah

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

With internet expanding in every aspect of businesses infrastructure, it becomes more and more important to make these businesses infrastructures safe and secure to the numerous attacks perpetrated on them conspicuously when it comes to denial of service (DoS) attacks. A Dos attack can be summarized as an effort carried out by either a person or a group of individual to suppress a particular outline service. This can hence be achieved by using and manipulating packets which are sent out using the IP protocol included into the IP address of the sending party. However, one of the major drawbacks is …

An Overview And Examination Of Digital Pda Devices Under Forensics Toolkits, Krishnun Sansurooah

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

Personal Digital Assistants most commonly known as PDAs are becoming more and more fashionable and affordable in the working environment. With the advent and rapidly increasing technology these handled devices are now targeted by a lot of person with criminal intentions. But unfortunately crime does not choose its technology and nowadays those ultra light handhelds are getting more and more involved in crimes. This therefore become an onerous task for the forensics examiners who needs the proper forensics tools to investigate the information held on these devices. The purpose of this report will browse the current forensics toolkits available and …

The Effectiveness Of Investigative Tools For Secure Digital (Sd) Memory Card Forensics, Haitham Al-Hajri, Patricia Williams

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

There are many freeware based tools that can be downloaded from the World Wide Web. This paper reports the retrieval results of using these tools on digital images which have been deleted from Secure Digital (SD) cards. Since SD cards and USB flash drives are considered solid state technology, the tools selected are specifically for solid state drives. This research helps classify the selection of the most effective freeware tools that could be used to recover lost or deleted images. Further, it includes some of the issues that would face forensic examiners undertaking such investigations. The tools were tested using …

Managing Information Security Complexity, Murray Brand

Australian Information Security Management Conference

This paper examines using a requirements management tool as a common thread to managing the complexity of information security systems. Requirements management provides a mechanism to trace requirements through to design, implementation, operating, monitoring, reviewing, testing, and reporting by creating links to associated, critical artefacts. This is instrumental in managing complex and dynamic systems where change can impact other subsystems and associated documentation. It helps to identify the affected artefacts through many layers. Benefits to this approach would include better project planning and management, improved risk management, superior change management, ease of reuse, enhanced quality control and more effective acceptance …

The Reality Of Risks From Consented Use Of Usb Devices, Marwan Al-Zarouni

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Physical security is considered an integral part of information systems security. The idea that small devices pose a security threat for enterprises is well established. On the other hand, consented and supervised access to USB ports via USB flash drives is sometimes allowed. This paper will highlight the risk associated with this kind of access by devices such as IPods and USB flash drives. It will show a proof of concept USB device that runs automatically once connected to a personal computer and copies files and folders from the victim's computer to its storage and executes potentially harmful code on …

Telemedicine And The Digital Door Doctor, Darren Webb, Patricia A. Williams

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Telemedicine is changing the way medicine can be practiced, and how medical knowledge is communicated, learnt and researched in today’s technologically oriented society. The adoption of internet based communication has significantly expanded the patients’ ability to access a multitude of world class medical information. Research has shown that patients would welcome the ability to consult a doctor using the same computing tools they use to communicate with family, friends and work colleagues. This paper discusses the use of telemedicine today and how it could be used to access medical services from home. Further, it investigates the incentives and barriers to …

Security Issues Of Ieee 802.16 (Wimax), Jamshed Hasan

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is going to be an emerging wireless technology for the future. With the increasing popularity of Broadband internet, wireless networking market is thriving. Wireless network is not fully secure due to rapid release of new technologies, market competition and lack of physical infrastructure. In the IEEE 802.11 technology, security was added later. Iin IEEE 802.16, security has been considered as the main issue during the design of the protocol. However, security mechanism of the IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) still remains a question. WiMAX is relatively a new technology; not deployed widely to justify the evidence …

Risks And Responsibilities In Establishing A Wireless Network For An Educational Institution, Leigh Knights, Matt Fonceca, Georgina Mack, Andrew Woodward

Australian Information Security Management Conference

A wireless network solution is generally implemented when the bounds of walls of buildings and the constraints of wires need to be broken. Wireless technologies provide the potential for freedom of mobility which is undoubtedly a convenience for organisations in today’s market. The security of a wireless network is crucial for data integrity, especially when the data is not secured by the insulation of wires. While data is being transferred across a wireless network, it is vulnerable. There is no room for error, neglect or ignorance from an organisation, as a breech of data integrity can be devastating for both …

An Assessment Of Threats Of The Physical And Mac Address Layers In Wimax/802.16, Krishnun Sansurooah

Australian Information Security Management Conference

This paper investigates the risks and vulnerabilities associated to the security of the WiMAX/802.16 broadband wireless technology. One of the other aspects of this document will be to review all the associated weaknesses to the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and at the physical (PHY) layer. The risks and impacts are assessed according to a systematic approach. The approach or methodology is used is according to the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). These threats are enumerated and classified accordingly to their risk levels.

Mediated Identification, D T. Shaw

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Identity and identification are linked by variable meanings and applications and are essential in many remote transactions. Identification relying on mediation or third party intervention may be modified or withdrawn at will. Creating or reestablishing identity may require time and resources including artefacts such as the identity card usually sourced from a third party. The characteristics of the identification process and artefacts are discussed and the requirements of usermediated identification artefacts are explored. The implicit link between user identity and artefact identity may be broken under certain circumstances.

An Information Operation Model And Classification Scheme, D T. Shaw, S Cikara

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Information systems are used in overt and covert conflict and information operations target an opponent’s ability to manage information in support of operations for political, commercial and military advantage. System level attacks are complicated by logistic problems that require resources, command and control. Node level attacks are practical but of limited value. Collocated equipment comprises a temporary node that may be feasibly attacked. Estimation of IW operation merits may founder on the difficulty of predicting the net benefit for the costs. Starting from with Shannon’s model, a simple costbenefit model is discussed. Existing models are extended by an IW attack …

Security Risk Assessment: Group Approach To A Consensual Outcome, Ben Beard, David J. Brooks

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

AS/NZS4360:2004 suggests that the risk assessment process should not be conducted or information gathered in isolation. This insular method of data collection may lead to inaccurate risk assessment, as stakeholders with vested interests may emphasise their own risks or game the risk assessment process. The study demonstrated how a consensual risk assessment approach may result in a more acceptable risk assessment outcome when compared to individual assessments. The participants were senior managers at a West Australian motel located on the West Coast Highway, Scarborough. The motel consists of four three storey blocks of units, resulting in a total of 75 …

Protecting The Infrastructure: 3rd Australian Information Warfare & Security Conference 2002, William Hutchinson (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The conference is hosted by the We-B Centre (working with a-business) in the School of Management Information System, the School of Computer & Information Sciences at Edith Cowan University. This year's conference is being held at the Sheraton Perth Hotel in Adelaide Terrace, Perth. Papers for this conference have been written by a wide range of academics and industry specialists. We have attracted participation from both national and international authors and organisations.

The papers cover many topics, all within the field of information warfare and its applications, now and into the future.

The papers have been grouped into six streams: …

Working For Excellence In The E-Conomy: 2nd International We-B Conference, Sue Stoney (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

Welcome to Perth, Western Australia, and to the 2nd International We-B Conference 2001 "working for excellence in the e-conomy" hosted by the We-B Centre, School of Management Information Systems at Edith Cowan University.

This is an international conference for academics and industry specialists in e-business, e-government and related fields. The conference has drawn participants from national and international organisations.

All submitted papers were subjected to an anonymous peer review process managed by the Conference Committee.