Ethical Hacking

Learn to find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do! Gain real world hands on hacking experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Course designed and taught by expert instructors with years of penetration testing experience. 12 student maximum in every class. Certification attempt included in every package.
Computer Forensics Training at InfoSec Institute

Gain the in-demand skills of a certified computer examiner, learn to recover trace data left behind by fraud, theft, and cybercrime perpetrators. Discover the source of computer crime and abuse at your organization so that it never happens again. All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 12 students or less to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.




Network Security Pen-Test
[Top] [All Lists]

RE: Bank pen test

Subject: RE: Bank pen test
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 19:21:10 +1100

Further to the first point, most financial services legistlation (BASEL II, etc 
etc) calls for Audit and not Pen Tests. By this, this is a legally santioned 
test by legally [liable/ chargeable/ etc] auditors.
 
"A bank or other financial organization will tend to do whatever it can to 
avoid any kind of negative press, especially as it relates to 
integrity/confidentiality breaches, as long as the cure wouldn't bankrupt them 
too."
 
I have to disagree with this. They will look at a risk associated with the cost 
of "spin" - I have worked with banks who have done some *REALLY* stupid things. 
As sad as it is to say there is the risk as percieved by the directors to 
themself (inc share options) and there is the risk to the bank as a whole. If 
the share value is not likely to be impacted in the longer term (and an attack 
will not likely achieve this - see Citibank, NAB etc) than the issue may be 
under valued from a shareholder and client perspective.

Regards
Craig

        -----Original Message----- 
        From: Jon Gucinski [mailto:Jgucinski@midwestbank.com] 
        Sent: Wed 8/03/2006 8:46 AM 
        To: pen-test@securityfocus.com 
        Cc: 
        Subject: RE: Bank pen test
        
        
There's also another thing to consider when dealing with financial
corporations: regulation.  The US Banking sector is one of (if not THE)
most regulated industry on the planet.  We're forced to comply with many
regulations, regardless of cost, in order to do business.  While some
risks may be left open due to cost, i'd wager that the overwhelming
majority are not.  Audit and Compliancy committee's just won't have it,
especially if an outside auditor/pen-test says that its a problem that
has to be fixed.

In terms of media value, its pretty much infinite.  A bank or other
financial organization will tend to do whatever it can to avoid any kind
of negative press, especially as it relates to integrity/confidentiality
breaches, as long as the cure wouldn't bankrupt them too.

-Jon

Regards,

"Craig Wright" <cwright@bdosyd.com.au> 3/6/2006 9:42:53 pm >>>

This is a simple and short answer for once. A good risk assessment will
take the impact from adverse publicity (not to state that all risk


Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 
in respect of matters arising within those States and Territories of Australia 
where such legislation exists.

DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential. If 
you are not the intended recipient, you must not use or disclose the 
information. If you have received this email in error, please inform us 
promptly by reply email or by telephoning +61 2 9286 5555. Please delete the 
email and destroy any printed copy.  

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender. You may 
not rely on this message as advice unless it has been electronically signed by 
a Partner of BDO or it is subsequently confirmed by letter or fax signed by a 
Partner of BDO.

BDO accepts no liability for any damage caused by this email or its attachments 
due to viruses, interference, interception, corruption or unauthorised access.

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>