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SANS InfoSec Reading Room - Security Basics

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Most of the computer security white papers in the Reading Room have been written by students seeking GIAC certification to fulfill part of their certification requirements and are provided by SANS as a resource to benefit the security community at large. SANS attempts to ensure the accuracy of information, but papers are published "as is". Errors or inconsistencies may exist or may be introduced over time as material becomes dated. If you suspect a serious error, please contact webmaster@sans.org.

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Featuring 76 papers as of Aug 29, 2008
Preparing to face new vulnerabilities
Jacelyn Faucher
June 25, 2008
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Firefox VS Windows Internet Explorer
Robert Comella
January 29, 2008
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Computer Security Education – The Tool for Today
Ian Burke
October 25, 2007
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GCFW Practical Assignment Critique
Bart Hubbs
March 9, 2005
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Network Security- A Guide for Small and Mid-sized Businesses
Jim Hietala
January 26, 2005
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Transmission Media Security
Charles Esparza
January 18, 2005
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Introduction to Host Based Cyber Defense
Roy Nielsen
January 17, 2005
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The State of Patching Windows
Rafael Cappas
July 25, 2004
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Information Security For Churches and Small Non-Profit Organizations
Jay Petel
April 8, 2004
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The Use and Administration of Shared Accounts
David Johnson
December 13, 2003
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Implementing/Re-Implementing Change Control Policies
Derek P. Milroy
October 31, 2003
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Hardening Bastion Hosts
Todd Jenkins
October 31, 2003
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Vulnerability Assessment
Susan Cima
October 31, 2003
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Plugging the holes! Your data is leaking OUT!
Robert G Downey
October 31, 2003
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Security for Small and New IT Departments: Get Your Big Rocks In First
Greg Rolling
October 31, 2003
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I Think Our Internet Connection is Down
Raymond Hillen
October 31, 2003
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AS/400 & iSeries: A Comprehensive Guide to Setting System Values to Common Best Practice Securit
Matthew R. Smith
October 31, 2003
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Espionage and the Insider
Steve Kipp
October 31, 2003
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Toward Global Security
Paul Tremer
October 31, 2003
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A User's Guide to Security Threats on the Desktop
Richard D. Hagen
October 31, 2003
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IT Infrastructure Security-Step by Step
Karnail Singh
October 31, 2003
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Facilitating the Qualitative Security Assessment: Overview of the Process of Defining and Delivering
Mike Kleckner
October 31, 2003
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Extranets: The Weakest Link & Security
Slawomir Marcinkowski
October 31, 2003
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Users Wary of Microsoft's .NET
Jeffrey Hudack
October 31, 2003
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Digital Rights Management Overview
Austin Russ
October 31, 2003
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Oh Answer, Where Are Thou? or Gee, There's a Lot to Know
Jim Sherrill
October 31, 2003
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A "Bag of Tricks" Approach to Proactive Security
Mitch Saba
October 31, 2003
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Spyware & Network Security
Lester D. Cheveallier
October 31, 2003
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Ten Days to Network Security
Paul A. Zocco
October 31, 2003
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Jekyll & Hyde in the Boardroom
David A. Nixon
October 31, 2003
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The Weakest Link...This Is Not a Game!
Jack Daniels
October 31, 2003
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Why Small Businesses Need to Secure Their Computers (and How to Do it!)
Bruce Diamond
October 31, 2003
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The Computer Security Threat to Small and Medium Sized Businesses -A Manager';s Primer
Michael A. Regan
October 31, 2003
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Information Security Primer
CraigE. Lindner
October 31, 2003
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Information Security 101: Security for Newbies
Frederick Kim
October 31, 2003
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Manage your Security Initiative as a Project
Rex Robitschek
October 31, 2003
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Organizational IT Security Theory and Practice: And Never the Twain Shall Meet?
John Jenkins
October 31, 2003
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Implementing a Successful Security Assessment Process
Bradley Hart
October 31, 2003
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Securing Network Infrastructure and Switched Networks
Richard Wagner
October 31, 2003
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Implementing an Information Security Program
Kevin L. Nichols
October 31, 2003
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OK, So I Need Security. Where Do I Start?
Lyde Andrews
October 31, 2003
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A Paper on the Promotion of Application Security Awareness
Man-Sau Yi
October 31, 2003
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Network Security Is Like Eating Crab's Legs - Is the Taste Worth the Effort?
Charles F. Romanus
October 31, 2003
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Security from Scratch ... How to Achieve It
Alan Davies
October 31, 2003
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Managing Secure Data Delivery: A Data Roundhouse Model
Jim Farmer
October 31, 2003
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Securing a Wide-Open Computer Network
Mark Andrich
October 31, 2003
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Basic Self-assessment: Go Hack Yourself
Barry Dowell
October 31, 2003
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An Instant War, Just Add Chat: The Growth of Instant Messaging Technology
Jack Schiller
October 31, 2003
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We're Lost, But We're Making Good Time!
Benjamin P. Grubin
October 31, 2003
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Cyberspace Guardians: A Brief Guide to the Recruitment and Training of Security Personnel
Amina Khattak Claassen
October 31, 2003
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Keep Current With Little Time
Robert Taylor
October 31, 2003
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Managing Desktop Security
Amran Bin Munir
October 31, 2003
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Kiosks: The Interactive Media Solution, or is it?
Lisa T. Evans
October 31, 2003
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Enhanced Security During Organizational Transitions
Denis R. Lynch
October 31, 2003
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Keeping the Private Intranet Private
Michael A. Wilson
October 31, 2003
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Making the HelpDesk a Security Asset
Douglas Ridgeway
October 31, 2003
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Defense In Depth
Todd McGuiness
October 31, 2003
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Security Architecture Model Component Overview
Scott M. Angelo
October 31, 2003
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Security Considerations for Extranets
Karen A. Korow-Diks
October 31, 2003
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Information Technology Department Network Security Briefing
Thad Nobuhara
October 31, 2003
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The Password Web Page
Curt Kuper
October 31, 2003
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The Cyber Security Management System: A Conceptual Mapping
John H. Dexter
October 31, 2003
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Security Lifecycle - Managing the Threat
Mark King
October 31, 2003
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Obtaining Better Results from Distributed Environment Security Programs
Rhonda Cram Manter
October 31, 2003
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Protection of Information Assets
Odd Nilsen
October 31, 2003
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The Need for a REAL Defensive Information Operations Capability
Mark J. Ruchie
October 31, 2003
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Implementing Defense in Depth at the University Level
G.Michael Runnels
October 31, 2003
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A Certification and Accreditation Plan for Information Systems Security Programs (Evaluating the Eff
Brenda Dinges
October 31, 2003
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Argentina: Preparing for a Security Violation
Raymond Hoffman
October 31, 2003
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Software Piracy- A challenge to E-world
Sundeep Bhasin
October 31, 2003
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Introducing Security to the Small Business Enterprise
Jeff Herbert
October 31, 2003
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Security - What is Enough?
Victoria England
October 31, 2003
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Change Control Process for Firewalls
Paul Maschak
October 31, 2003
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How To Secure Your Small To Medium Size Microsoft Based Network: A Generic Case Study
Jerry Goodman
October 31, 2003
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Outline for a Successful Security Program
Jeff Norem
October 31, 2003
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The Bugs are Biting
Rishona Phillips
August 8, 2003
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