When you have smart devices at home, like smart TVs, you might notice that they are bypassing your internal DNS server, by using public internet DNS (like Google DNS).
And if you use a DNS black hole server like PI-Hole, to protect your network against adware, malware, phishing this is not a healthy situation, as these smart devices bypass your security.
Originally, I tried to implement the solution proposed and documented by Scott Helme.
But I ended up with DNS lockdown (and killing my entire internet connection, due to blockage of DNS.)
The solution documented by “Fiction becomes Fact” on this page, did the trick.
Apparently, since the 2018 version, some configuration items like the folder locations have changed…
Important: carefully verify the site folder location mentioned in the posts, to upload the config file. It has changed in newer Ubiquity versions. (Currently : unifi/unifi/data/sites/default/)
Older articles might point to wrong folders (I suppose it has recently changed with new versions of Ubiquiti…)
Just a few more important attention points:
in the newer version (dd oct 2022) of the Ubiquity interface, it looks like the topology does not support upload of maps anymore… so you can’t auto-create the site folder… (to be confirmed). You need to create the folders manually. And set the owner/group permission of the folders and config file yourself.
explicitly verify the owner settings of the newly created folders too
You can of course, apply this approach to other security solutions.
In essence:
all DNS traffic through your firewall must come from your (PiHole) DNS server
DNS traffic from any other device is redirected to the DNS server
DNS server logs and manages and filters (blocks/allow) the DNS requests
CIS (Center for Internet Security) has published an interesting guide on software supply chain security.
Even if you do not build software on your own, it still is useful to to pick the relevant security measures/controls as part of your information security management to protect yourself and your enterprise.
As we all learned from the log4j issue which impacted many generally used platforms, it has become very clear that you need to look beyond the first level of control (your own)…
It’s critical to manage 2nd (your suppliers) and even third level (suppliers of suppliers)
Highlights
In high level overview, the document discusses:
Source code
Code changes
Repository management
Contribution access
Third party
Code risks
Build pipelines
Build environment
Build worker
Pipeline instructions
Dependencies
Third party packages
Validate packages
Artifacts
Verification
Access to artifacts
Package registries
Origin traceability
Deployment
Deployment configuration
Deployment environment
Supply chain guide access (need to register on CIS)
I see more and more phishing exercise fatigue kicking in at my customers…
But it’s more than ever required to be vigilant for new techniques that try to circumvent the typical URL blocking and the other protection layers you put in place.
You’re the best firewall.
What is going on?
You know, these companies that first announce a #phishing test…
which go unnoticed because they are caught by the ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ…
And a few weeks later you get the ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ฑ from the same company.
With ridiculous worse quality than the actual test… but still its in the inbox ready to click (DON’T!).
You assume phase 2 of the phishing test…another round, right? (you think: “yeah, right, not me.”).
Because the new mail comes with ridiculous bad quality (โ ๏ธ1) than the actual test…
Nowadays you expect smart mails from these criminals…
But still it doesn’t feel OK …you start to realize that this might the real stuff…
Checking for some more phishing indicators (โ ๏ธ)
A mail with you in bcc…. (โ ๏ธ2)
Addressed to a very strange (New-Zealand) mail address (โ ๏ธ3)
with a PDF alike icon image embedded (โ ๏ธ4)
via a google drive link (โ ๏ธ5)….
SPOILER: I crippled the link mentioned in previous screenshot to avoid any accidents…
SPOILER 2: DO NOT, EVER CLICK these links…
Still, If you can’t control your curiosity, you might peek into the link via alternative methods (see later).
The display of unrelated content, with payment instructions (โ ๏ธ6), isn’t really what you would expect.
Because if you even dare to click the links you get another link (โ ๏ธ7)… and this time the browser malware detection (Smartscreen filtering) kicks in .. at last… so I’ll stop the curiosity here…
Why is this an issue?
The main issue here is: the phishing links are pointing to well-known (like Google drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox…) for hosting malware, which usually escape or bypass the malware URL detection…
Security tips
Rule nr 1: Don’t click links in unexpected mails
Curiosity kills the cat: Please withstand the urge to click the links to satisfy your curiosity….
If you don’t expect the mail, be very cautions, don’t click the links.
Control your curiosity: test the links in isolated mode
If you can’t control your curiosity, don’t ever click the links on your main computer.
But copy the link and open it
in a Windows sandbox
virtual machines or test machine… not your production machine
mobile device
Use Windows Sandbox
Since Windows 10 (Pro) you can use Windows Sandbox (free), that is a virtual, isolated environment. So you can test some interesting things without damaging your production host machine.
By stopping the Sandbox, the machine forgets all settings and returns to default state, pristine.
Use Microsoft Hyper-V (free) or Oracle Virtual box (free) and install a client OS in the virtual machine. Snapshot the machine before the test, perform the test, return to snapshot to avoid any left overs of malware.
Run the link on a mobile phone
Less secure, but better than running malware on your most important machine, is running the link on a browser on your mobile device. There is lower risk of infection and less impact than loosing your primary working machine, although… be aware, there is still a small risk of infection even for smartphones…
Additional security measures
To permit some stupidity and protect against accidents, please make sure
to implement all the latest OS security updates, patch on a continuous basis
have an anti-malware and anti-virus that is updated continuously
keep the default OS security features enabled including local system firewall and malware detection
consider a paid antivirus subscription, it’s worth the money and keep it up to date every hour
get a mail protection against malware, tracking, phishing and ransomware (like Windows defender for 365) have regular backups (1 online and 1 offline) and test the restores
use cookie/tracking/advertisement blockers
use a DNS blackhole system to protect your network from accessing suspicious URLs (including tracking and phishing websites, advertisements, C&C Command and control malware domains, …)
In interesting set of reference material, that is regularly coming back in data protection, cybersecurity and information security discussions I lately had with peers and colleagues. May you can use it too…
Feel free to provide some feedback yourself, if you know additional pointers I should add.
You know where to find me.
Change history
2022-04-27 14:00: Added EDPB announcement to references section
2022-02: The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security requested an analysis of US legislation in relation to the GDPR and Schrems II by GreenburgTraurig.
Switzerland
In a recent article (In French) by ICT journal, the Canton of Zurich published a
In the midst of the #COVID19 corona pandemic, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has unlocked free reading access to a bunch of relevant standards, including
ISO 22301:2019, Security and resilience โ Business continuity management systems โRequirements
ISO 22316:2017, Security and resilience โ Organizational resilience โ Principles and attributes
ISO 22320:2018, Security and resilience โ Emergency management โ Guidelines for incident management
ISO 13485:2016, Medical devices โ Quality management systems – Requirements for regulatory purposes
The general access page with all online, fully accessible standards can be found here: https://www.iso.org/covid19.
Important note:
these standards are available online, but not downloadable (for legitimate downloads you need to purchase your copy in the ISO shop or with your national standards organisation)
there is no guarantee for continued free access once the Covid pandemic is over, if ever. That’s the sole discretion of the ISO, of course.
Just in case you get into SOC2 and want to know how to map it to existing information security implementation, whatever it may be, GDPR, ISO27001, NIST, … check this page
“ย SOC reports refer to an audit of internal controls to ensure data security, minimal waste, and shareholder confidence; SOX relates to government-issued record keeping and financial information disclosure standards law. In other words, one is about keeping information safe, and the other is about keeping corporations in check.“
The main title of the (ISC)ยฒ article on CCSP vs CCAK is “CCSP Certification vs. CCAK Certificate: What Are the Distinctions?”
That’s exactly what you get. A list of technical differentiators between CCSP and CCAK, but according to (ISC)ยฒ.
But if you hope to get an actual answer to what the right certification is, for you… they forget to ask …you.
What do you think would be the conclusion, if you ask that question to either one of the contestants while you compare 2 certifications? Of course each party will simply draw the conclusion that their own certification is the best choice.
To answer the most important question, the dilemma CCSP or CCAK, is simple: do you need technical or audit skills for cloud security?
The answer
In essence, the answer is simple:
if you need cloud audit skills, dive in to the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and ISACA Certificate CCAK.
if you want to have architect level technical cloud expertise and knowledge, choose CCSP
if you want cloud security knowledge, in basic or advanced hands-on, there are other choices to start with (more about it below)
So, if you ask the question “what is the right certification for you”, you immediately know that there is no right answer, but there are many options. Options for a multi level expertise roadmap in cloud security, based on your current skills and your future goals.
If you like a tough challenge: why not jump into the CCAK or CCSP, CCSP or CCAK, whatever, right away.
But if you would like to boost your chance of success… take a deep breath and better plan smartly.
And don’t start with CCSP/CCAK, but prepare your track towards CCSP/CCAK first.
First some background to plan your roadmap
Setting expectations
Just to set expectations, this article only focuses on the personal education and certification options, offered by (ISC)ยฒ, ISACA and CSA. Including other education provider would lead us too far. There are way more other (cyber)security certifications available, but we focus on the cloud security track, which limits the options…
Feel free to comment with other options for cloud security training. I’ll update the article where relevant.
CSA CCSK
The Cloud Security Alliance launched the CCSK in 2011. And as they explained here, “the CCSK was quite literally the industryโs first examination of cloud security knowledge when it was released back in 2011. “
The CCSK is an easy entry, high level introduction to Cloud Security, and it doesn’t require you to have deep technical cloud security expertise.
But it still is a nice baseline for the cloud security essential knowledge.
(ISC)ยฒ – CCSP
In short: CCSP = CISSP [by (ISC)ยฒ]+ CCSK [by CSA]
You need at least five years of cumulative, paid work experience
CCSP is pretty much the same level of difficulty as CISSP, but has focus on cloud security.
The CCSP was launched in 2015, as a cooperation between (ISC)ยฒ and CSA. (see CSA press release here), a couple years after the CCSK launch in 2011. The CCSP is the bigger brother of the CCSK, more advanced, and as CSA rightfully mentions in there CCSK-CCSP comparison blog, the CCSP is on the level of CISSP with a major cloud flavor.
That’s where the dummy math description comes from…
CCAK (Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge) is cohosted by ISACA and CSA. And then you immediately know the approach is different than the approach of (ISC)ยฒ.
As ISACA mentions on their product page: “The Industry’s First Global Cloud Auditing Credential”.
CISSP
For completeness, I mentioned the CISSP ( Certified Information Systems Security Professional). I don’t think it needs a lot of explanation, it’s pretty much the reference standard for IT Systems security. (ISC)ยฒ references it as “The World’s Premier Cybersecurity Certification”.
It’s a pretty heavy exam, and it does require at least 5 years professional security experience. This is not an entry level exam.
Due to the experience requirements, CISSP might be a tough credential to start with, although you can pass the exam, and continue to build your experience to grab the CISSP title…
If you want the plan your credentials the smart way, or you’re fresh in cyber-, information or IT-security, you better start with SSCP.
You can buy a double-try access ticket for the CCSK online exam (60 questions, 90 minutes), so if you would fail the first attempt, study again and retry the exam.
Then plan your track: only technical (no interest for audit) or audit, or both
Only technical
If you focus on technical expertise in cloud security, CCSP is a reference standard (at least, on of them…) .
As mentioned: CCSP = CISSP + CCSK.
So the track is clear
After passing the CCSK exam,
Take the CISSP exam
then take the CCSP
This is the easier route if you already have 5yr+ experience. It’s not the cheapest route, as you pass the CISSP first, but it’s worth the effort. (you only need to pay 1 yearly fee at (ISC)ยฒ, so after 1 certification, … no extra cost in yearly membership fee) For junior, less experienced, security engineers, start with SSCP before jumping into CISSP, and then CCSP.
Audit
When you target IT security audits, you need to take a different route depending your background. Having the CCSP/CISSP background is extremely useful to boost your career in audit.
But for the CCAK, the core audit baseline is CISA.
Keep in mind, similar to CISSP and CCSP, CISA has the same requirements regards professional experience, 5 years.
But if you’re a ISACA CISA, you can add CCSK to the track and land on the CCAK.
Both?
Then it’s obvious, first tech, then audit, meaning a smart combination of
CCSK
(SSCP > ) CISSP
CCSP
CISA (or alternative)
CCAK
Alternative routes
ISO27001 Implementer & Auditor
And alternative route to the auditing experience is ISO27001 auditing, but you’ll need some implementation experience before you can audit.
CISM
Within the ISACA portfolio, the CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), covers the same areas as most ISO27001 (lead) implementer courses.
Which can be helpful to ramp up for the CISA audit part, to gain some hands-on in IT & Infosec governance.
Visualizing your cloud security education roadmap
Lots of blah for a simple choice?
Allow me to visualize the options…
The difference between “certification” and “certificate”, does it really matter?
In it’s blog post (ISC)ยฒ tries to put CCSP above CCAK by saying “CCSP is a certification; CCAK is a certificate.”
And they continue “A certification recognizes a candidateโs knowledge, skills, and abilities, typically framed by a job role, while a certificateโs scope is narrower and only documents training course completion. A certification often requires continuing professional education (CPE) to stay in front of trends, while a certificateโs body of knowledge does not evolve over time or require CPE credits to maintain.“
And their explanation is at least flawed and cutting corners to benefit CCSP.
There are many explanations and interpretations of “certification”, depending the context. But in essence, “certification” is a process and a certificate is a document (the result).
When you certify for “CCSP” at (ISC)ยฒ, you need to comply with the CCSP condition and then get a document, your CCSP certificate. Idem for CCAK, you need to comply with their conditions.
Both the certification process for CCSP as the process for the CCAK are used by other similar education providers.
Eg, PECB, ISACA, EC-COUNCIL, … and others require to pay a yearly fee, keep CPE/CPD (continous professional education or development). Some yearly fees are cheaper as others.
Like CSA, Microsoft and others ask for a 1 time exam fee, and then update the exam on longer term, not yearly, and do not require a yearly maintenance fee.
It’s a choice of the certificate owner, how the evaluation and exams are done.
Some of them comply to the ISO17024, and education standard. There are huge benefits to comply (like increased credibility, compatibility with other certifications, …). But it’s not mandatory.
(ISC)ยฒ uses an exam, with experience requirement and continuous education once you pass the exam, but you do not need to pass the exam again, unless it’s upgraded to a new build or major version.
But CSA does exactly the same, for example when CCSK was upgraded from v3 to v4, you needed to pass the exam again.
Not on a yearly basis, but the program is updated, the exam is updated… on a regular basis, without yearly fee.
It’s rather a (small) financial effort, not of significance for most companies paying the bill. (Although as an individual, the cost of certification can become a serious burden…)
And it’s certainly not relevant when choosing between CCSP and CCAK. CCAK is cheaper, as referenced in the (ISC)ยฒ comparison chart.
References
(ISC)ยฒ: CCSP Certification vs. CCAK Certificate: What Are the Distinctions?
End 2020 IDG published a study on Security priorities, and it provides important guidelines to the priorities of securing yourself and your company
Protection of confidential and sensitive data
End-user awareness
Corporate resilience
Enhance access control
Understand external threats
Application security
Plan for unexpected risks
This pretty much confirms that your customers, stakeholder’s and staff interest in protecting personal data is driving security from business perspective.
If you see the increase of cyberattacks and ransomware hitting the business, it’s pretty obvious that Business Continuity Management and Disaster recovery must be on top of your priority list. You need to have a tested plan against successful cyberattacks and ransomware, to avoid extended business damage and massive (ransom) costs … afterwards.
To put a plan together, you need to understand who is your adversary and what the current state of cybersecurity is. And this study is a simple but smart guide to define your priorities.
The better you prepare, the less it will cost. But you’ll only be able to tell when it goes wrong.
Identity Underground 
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