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Telephone access to computers and other hardware is growing exponentially.
Paralleling this is also the growth in illegal access. The reasons for this
illegal access range from outright piracy to vandalism by current or
ex-employees. Many times simply finding an open modem presents an open
challenge to hacker groups, which often results in the intentional or
unintentional corruption of some files.
The requirement for caller authentication crosses every size of business and
every industry line. Some of the main requirements for caller authentication
in today's world are:
- Access by customers, sales personnel, telecommuters, or anyone requiring
authorized access.
- Securing maintenance ports. This is the fastest growing requirement.
As such, Security is also a part of many CPS remote access products.
- Preventing exposure of the corporate LAN to unauthorized access as well as
to unscrupulous web sites that may be accessed by unknowing or uncaring
employees.
- To add hardware to current password system to meet the requirement of
"Two Factor Authentication".
CPS manufactures a number of different dial security products that are primarily
used to AUTHENTICATE the caller and deny access to unauthorized callers.
These products are based on three primary methods of authentication:
- The Challenge Response Concept
The CHALLENGER FAMILY of hardware security products connect to the analog side
of the operative modems and operate on a LOCK and KEY principle. Any call to a
modem with a LOCK connected to it, is challenged for the presence of the proper
matchbox-sized user KEY connected to the caller's modem. Unauthorized calls and
nuisance calls, without the proper KEY are defeated in less than ½ second.
They are also never recorded as modem answered calls by war dialers or other
monitoring systems. The encrypted challenge changes with each call. It may be
used as a stand-alone authentication system or with current password systems for
"two-factor authentication". It is 100% transparent to the
hardware/software and to the user making it extremely easy to use while being
very effective.
To hear the response to an unauthorized Challenger call, dial (770) 945-7479
between 6:00 PM and 8:00 AM EST.
- The Caller ID Security Concept
Caller ID was not developed for the purpose of providing dial line security, but
with the proper hardware at the receiving end, it can be used for that purpose.
It is not considered to be a high security approach, but is probably adequate
for 90% of the requirements.
It has the cost advantage of not requiring any additional hardware at the
calling locations. All that is required is buying the service from the local
phone company and the appropriate CID recognition hardware at the receiving
location. Its disadvantage is that it is not mobile. Calls must be made from
the same, or a limited number of different locations.
- Touch-Tone Passwords
Touch-Tones are the most economical method of accessing a secure system because
no hardware or other means of identification is required at the caller's end.
But like other passwords, they are the most easily compromised and they place
the greatest burden on the caller (remembering them and missing entries). The
burden increases with the number of digits required.
However, reducing the number of digits increases the risk of being hacked. As
an example, a two digit numeric touch access code yields only 100 different
combinations, four digits yield 10,000 combinations, six digits 1,000,000
combinations, and eight digits 100,000,000 combinations; add the * and the #
sign or other sign on requirements and the numbers increase.
Nevertheless, Touch-Tone passwords do have their place. We recommend them for
"pest control" in applications where they are used to simply screen
out wrong numbers or low-level hacker attempts on relatively unimportant data
or remote AC power or reset control lines. Higher level passwords (more digits)
are normally used in modem applications where the password digits can be appended
to a preset AT dial command.
Some of the products listed below include a combination of methods.
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Computer Peripheral Systems, Inc.
5096 Bristol Industrial Way, Suite B
Buford, GA 30518
Sales
1-800-888-0051
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM EST
Technical Support
(770) 945-0643
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM EST
Fax
(770) 945-9342
E-Mail
sales@cpscom.com
©
Copyright 1996-2009
Computer Peripheral Systems, Inc.
This file last modified June 25, 2009
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- 06/2009
