Defending the Database

Abstract

Where have all the worms gone? Not too long ago new malware was making its way around the world on a very regular basis. Headlines on technology sites excitedly and incessantly warned us about the wrath of Code Red/Slammer/Sober/Netsky/Nimda/ILoveYou and their equally oddly-named brethren. Happily it's been a while since a worm or virus paralysed systems on a wide scale - unhappily critical data has never been more at risk. Skilled malicious hackers are no longer interested in getting millions of people to open up e-mailed attachments that will then pester everyone listed in an infected machine's e-mail address book. Instead these people are becoming more business-like, concentrating on opening new streams of revenue for themselves by directly targeting and penetrating networks to grab data that they can use, or sell for profit.

Keywords: Database, Security, Encryption, PCI, Regulations