Author: John Durret

Encrypt and compress files with Secure Archive

Secure Archive is a file encryption, data compression and file wiping utility suitable for individuals and businesses alike, it is simple and easy to use with right click integration and drag and drop, unlike other compression programs with encryption, like WinZip or WinRar, Secure Archive allows for high customization of encryption, you can choose to secure your files with Advanced Encryption System (AES), aka Rijndael, Blowfish, a patent free encryption algorithm, or NASCLL which appeared to be a proprietary encryption cipher of which the help file did not included any information at all, you will be better off using one of first two ciphers as they are tried and tested.

This free file encryption program options allow you to choose by how much data should be compressed (none, low,high), I failed to see its usefulness as I would imagine everyone wants it set at a high compression, the default setting, but no harm in including that. When you encrypt a file Secure Archive will let you know the password key strength in bits as you type together with a message saying if it is an acceptable password or not, in advanced options you can select what metadata should be saved together with the encrypted file, for example, time stamps, file attributes, CRC file integrity, you can choose to wipe the original file after encryption too.

Secure Archive encryption file utility

The only shortcomings I found in Secure Archive is that the help manual failed to mention anything about their NASCLL encryption method, the secure wipe window could not be resized and it did not have a progress bar, it puzzled me that the developers claim that file wiping is being implemented using the standard US Department of Defense 5220. 22-M method which consists of a three wipe pass, but Secure Archive data wiping window indicates a single secure delete pass by default, my wild guess here is that it could mean a 1 time US DoD 5220.22-M data wiping pass but I can’t really be sure.

Secure Archive encrypted file properties

Secure Archive can be a good alternative to AxCrypt, useful for anyone in need of a free program to secure single files before emailing them, the .SAef file extension will confuse the other end, you both will have to be using the same software unless you create an encrypted self-extracting file which Secure Archive can do, data compression appeared to perform well, it managed to reduce my the seize of my WordPerfect document by 70%, I compressed the same file using WinZip .zip method and it compressed it by 71%, pretty much the same result.

If you are afraid that someone can guess your password using a brute force attack, Secure Archive lets you create what they call a HardKey, called keyfile in other software like Truecrypt, you can secure your compressed file with a password and a HardKey needing both to open it, something you know and something you have, but this HardKey can not be anything you like, it needs to have been created with the Secure Archive and anyone coming across it will know what it is for but it can enhance your security when emailing confidential documents if these happen to get intercepted or end up in the wrong inbox.

Visit Secure Archive homepage

6 October, 2011
Free personal firewall Privatefirewall review
Privatefirewall is an all purpose firewall with real time monitoring and intrusion detection, unlike Windows firewall that only monitors incoming connections, PrivateFirewall checks and blocks outgoing malicious trojans, in addition to monitoring computer processes and the registry which Windows firewall also leaves out. Privatefirewall is very easy to install working right out of the box after a computer reboot, it integrates tightly in the Windows Security Center disabling the built-in Windows firewall.

Running two firewalls at once could block some applications inadvertently, it is good practice to only use one, if firewalls rules were to conflict in between them there is no saying on what the network would do, to secure your computer a single firewall and a single antivirus is enough, you could run a hardware and a software firewall but once again, rules could conflict and it would not keep you much safer on the Internet.

Windows firewall alternative Privatefirewall

Privatefirewall allows you to create a list to blacklist or whitelist (trusted) websites, everything that happens is logged in case you want to look up suspicious activities or just learn what certain installed application is connecting to on the Internet, emails are monitored to detect anomalies, like sending 100 emails in under 5 minutes, a strong indication that some kind of bot is doing that, the firewall rules based filtering allows for customization of individual software blocking Internet access to selected programs while letting others through.

Privatefirewall main features
- Packet filtering supports IPv4 and the new IPv6 addresses
- Antihacker protection checks software behavior to identify malware activities
- Email anomaly protection protects against own computer being used for sending spam
- Advanced application management restricts programs rights, like executing code
Privatefirewall has a multilayered approach to computer security, it controls the way applications and processes operate in your computer, it detects Windows registry key value changes and stops untrusted executables being launched by camouflaged malware, popping up an alert when that happens, the firewall is lighter in resources than Comodo and ZoneAlarm, very easy to use for newbies, it comes with three preset profiles (home,work, on the road) with semi advanced control management for experienced users, definitely much better than the built-in Windows firewall and free for personal and commercial use, it seems like a bargain, specially indicated for those wanting a firewall for their tablet or notebook due to the few resources it uses and the “on the road” profile for mobile users.

Visit Privatefirewall homepage
5 October, 2011
HMA VPN user arrested after IP handed over to the FBI

Cody Andrew Kretsinger, a 23 year old from Phoenix, Arizona (USA) is now facing 15 years in prison after being arrested by the FBI, an alleged member of malicious hacker group LulzSec in which he used the moniker “recursion”, he is believed to be involved in the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment servers using a SQL injection to obtain confidential information and post it on the Internet, British based Hide My Ass VPN handed over his home IP on receiving a court order, according to the indictment Cody Kretsinger Hide My Ass VPN username was “recursion“, the same nickname he used in the hacking group, allegedly he also completely wiped clean his computer hard disk after hacking Sony Pictures.

On a side note, for LulzSec to launch a denial of service attack against the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) website and use a British based VPN service does not come across as the kind of idea that the brightest candle in the shop would have.

All VPNs keep connection logs

Anyone believing a VPN can be used for criminal activities and get away with it, is living in cuckoo land, all VPNs keep logs, if they didn’t they would not be in business for long, law enforcement or their dedicated server provider would shut down their business, you need to cover your ass and so do VPN companies, legally VPNs do not have to keep any logs but if a VPN is continuously used to commit crimes and they do not take any action to stop it they could be the ones facing court, HMA can track you down if you break the law.

It is a common misconception that when a VPN claims “we do not keep logs” people assume they can not be tracked down, many users do not realize that there is no need for a VPN to know what sites they visit to track them down, all a VPN needs to protect their own ass is to know the user’s connection and disconnection time, for example if user A has been using IP 1.2.3.4 on Monday 25th Sept. at midnight and a company or LEA claims that IP 1.2.3.4 was used to carry out an illegal action on Monday 25th at midnight, all that the VPN needs to do is to look up who was using the IP at the time, the logs detailing the user bad deeds can be taken by the company owning the server where the hacking/posting occurred.

What a law enforcement agency, aka LEA, can not do is to pursue a VPN company and ask them what websites have been visited by user A, VPNs do not normally keep that data, it is impossible for the FBI to go on a fishing expedition asking for a user Internet activities hoping to find something illegal, if the FBI asks for a VPN company logs, they already have evidence that a crime was committed otherwise no subpoena could be issued.

The next time you see a VPN claiming that they do not keep logs, always assume they are talking about visited websites logs, connection logs, the ones used to track you down, are always created on the VPN otherwise it wouldn’t work, privacy is a matter of how long do they keep connection logs for, in HMA VPN case, this can be found in their tiny terms and conditions, it used to be one week, then they changed it to 30 days (without notifying users of this change), then it changed a second time (without notifying users once again) and now it is at 30 days connections logs but do not be surprised if tomorrow this changes without notifying anyone like it has been done in the past.

28 September, 2011
Test for intrusion detection with Patriot NG

Patriot NG is a real time monitoring tool keeping an eye on changes in your Windows operating system and network, the program warns you of registry changes, new files in the Startup directory, new users being added, new services, changes in Windows host file, new scheduled jobs, Internet Explorer alteration(toolbars,configuration changes), changes in the ARP table (used for man in the middle attacks), opening of ports by new processes and anomalous network traffic.

This is a good tool to catch zero day threats, Patriot NG relies on software behaviour to predict if malware is changing files instead of using signature files like antivirus software without heuristics does.

Patriot NG IDS system

If you suspect your computer has been infected by a trojan the first thing to do should be detaching your router to stop all Internet access, if someone has managed to infect your computer they can disable intrusion detection tools and send you updated malware via the Internet. After you have disconnected your router an antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-rootkit software should be run in the computer until something is found.

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) tool is best used by people with good computer knowledge, newbies might not realise that they are giving access to a trojan horse since malware is normally disguised and named as something else, the user will need to know some basic operating system files (locations&names) to understand what is going on.

Visit Patriot NG homepage

12 September, 2011
Cloud forensics tool OWADE pulls online services data

One of the problems that traditional computer forensics has is that lots of information is stored on the cloud, MSN, Yahoo, Skype, Dropbox, GoogleDocs, Facebook, etc, online data is accessible with a court order but that involves lots of paperwork making the investigation more complex with the physical data still unsecured and in some cases with the server located offshore out of local authorities jurisdiction. OWADE (Offline Windows Analysis and Data Extraction), is an open source cloud forensics tool developed by a Stanford University team and launched at the BlackHat 2011 security conference able to extract information from cloud services that a user has accessed in his computer.

Cloud computer forensics diagram

OWADE can reconstruct Internet activities and search for the online identities that have been used, Encase and FTK (The Forensics ToolKit) can already do this, OWADE advantage is its ability to decrypt files ciphered using the various Microsoft built-in encryption schemes, like Syskey and DPAPI (Data Protection API), OWADE combines its ability to decrypt Microsoft encryption algorithm with traditional data extracting techniques in order to access Skype chat history, decrypt Internet Explorer stored logins & passwords, by cracking the Windows user password, or access historical Wi-Fi location data stored by Windows, providing a list of access points with dates and times.

Traditional computer forensics software has a hard time reconstructing cloud services data stored in the hard disk due to Windows scattering everything across multiple files and encrypting some portions. OWADE does not pull data from the servers, the data was downloaded on the hard disk when the user accessed the service, what OWADE does is to search, decrypt and put together all of the cloud personal accounts, logs, logins and passwords that have been accessed.

This tool is still being developed, an Alpha version (not stable) has been released, and it can only analyse the Windows operating system.

Visit OWADE homepage

10 September, 2011
Jitsi the encrypted chat software with VoIP and video
Jitsi is an instant messenger with VoIP and videochat compatible with any other IM software supporting SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), an application layer protocol for voice over IP, XMMP/Jabber (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), an open standard communications protocol used by Google Talk and most open source instant messengers, MSN/Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Bonjour, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and Facebook chat, one of the few not supported IM is Skype.

Call encryption is implemented with SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol), a protocol with no effect on voice quality providing encryption using the AES cipher as default, authentication and message integrity, together with ZRTP, an open source protocol from Zfone for public key encryption in VoIP chats that can also be found in secure Linux instant messengers like SFLphone.

Jitsi encryption instant messenger

Jitsi IM main features
- Encrypted audio and video calls
- Support for most instant messenger software
- Call recording in SIP and XMPP (MSN in progress)
- File transfer preview, small photo thumbnail preview before accepting file
This secure instant messenger will encrypt video and voice calls across all services, including group chats, besides that, feature wise is pretty basic with little to show other than emoticons, text formatting, file transfer preview and avatars, this is a useful chat software with IPv6 support for those who care about privacy and security in VoIP and video conferences with no interest in playing songs while chatting or changing the IM skin/looks, a great IM for businesses due to its security and lack of bells and whistles that tend to reduce productivity while chatting, the messenger itself can be password protected and passwords are stored encrypted.

Visit Jitsi IM homepage
5 September, 2011
Lock a computer screen with ClearLock

If you have a user password set up in Windows clicking on “Windows key +L” on the keyboard will quickly lock your computer but you will not see what is going on behind the screen lock. Clearlock is a free Windows utility to lock Windows while you are away, using a transparent layer that allows you to see what is going on in the background with just a quick look without the need to unlock the computer, ClearLock has a nice 3D like GUI and there is no need to install it.

ClearLock a transparent computer screen lock

After entering the wrong password three times there will be a five minutes delay before granting another attempt, the number of invalid password entries are logged, you would be aware of them once you come back to your computer. If you forget your password while the screen is unlocked delete the .ini file inside the program folder to reset it, if the screen is locked you will have to reboot your computer.

This screen locker is a low level protector designed to stop low skilled adversaries, like children, from accessing your computer while you are away, determined serious opponents could plug in a USB thumbdrive in your computer and use Windows autorun feature to run a malicious script to pull your RAM memory and your screenlock password with it or even image the whole hard disk without you knowing.

Visit ClearLock homepage

1 September, 2011