Relevance of Web Security as Web Based Attacks Proliferate

BY: Nitin Vaghela

The issue of Web Security is a prominent one in the task list of IT department. Web has emerged as the main source for criminals to leverage it for attacks on networks. Criminals push malware, spam spyware, carry out phishing, pharming, intrusions, and more through malicious web sites, web based applications and emails in order to steal data and gain unauthorized access.

Also, today the threats are increasingly complex, designed to appear low in profile and mutate easily to avoid detection and are the handiwork of extremely organized professional cyber criminal groups. This makes web security an important element in any IT security strategy in organizations. According to Web Security analysts, web based attacks are the biggest of all risks that affect the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of information assets on the networks of a business.

How Web based Attackers Compromise Security
The modus operandi of criminals involves altering the backend database in order to retrieve confidential information from the networks, substitute information of the user to gain entry into the networks acting as the authentic user, redirecting user requests from a legitimate site to an illegitimate site and controlling a Web user session to masquerade as the authorized user. All these attack methodologies allow attackers to do anything the user is authorized to do on the network -a dangerous trend indeed that blows away security in a single stroke.

Cyberoam Comprehensive Web security against Web based Threats
Cyberoam offers a comprehensive security cover against web-based threats, including the entry of malware, phishing, pharming, intrusions and unauthorized data uploads. Cyberoam's Check Mark Level 5 certified security features deliver comprehensive network and data security while offering web protection, maintaining employee productivity, meeting regulatory compliance and preventing data leakage.

How Cyberoam Provides granular and Comprehensive Web Security

• Cyberoam provides Wide Security Cover from Web Threats. Its Gateway Anti-Virus Anti-Spyware scan the web, Instant Messaging, HTTPS and FTP traffic, delivering web security against emerging malware. Similarly Cyberoam IPS detects, blocks or drops intrusion attempts by detecting anomalous traffic. The Web Filtering feature detects and blocks third-party proxy and tunneling software, Google cache pages, embedded URLs and 'safe search' over search engines to prevent harmful websites from appearing in search results.
• Cyberoam offers Data Leakage Prevention - Cyberoam Web Filtering blocks file uploads over HTTP, HTTPS and FTP while Instant Messaging and Application Visibility Control block file transfers over IM and P2P applications, ensuring data leakage prevention and meeting HIPAA, CIPA, PCI DSS and other compliance requirements.
• Unique Layer 8 Identity-based Controls in Cyberoam enable application of Cyberoam Web Filtering's Internet access policies based on user, group, work function, web category and duration or time of the day, delivering high flexibility and web security and content security. Coupled with Bandwidth Management, it ensures bandwidth availability and data transfer limit based on duration and schedule of access for specific web categories.
• Layer 8 Identity-based Reporting adds teeth to Cyberoam's web security offering with its on-appliance reporting giving complete visibility into user and system activities, enabling organizations to prevent illegal downloads, unproductive surfing, high bandwidth- consuming downloads and network attacks further putting a lid on web based attacks. Based on the Layer 8 Identity-based visibility, organizations can take instant and preventive action to meet compliance requirements and enhance web content security and productivity.

Image Credit: Jaymis