Who’s Got Your Backups?

By Geoff Duncan July 25, 2005

The nonprofit SANS Institute has released its survey of the top 20 critical security vulnerabilities for the second quarter of 2005, and alongside more than 400 new significant vulnerabilities—including run-of-the-mill entrants like Internet Explorer, Exchange Server, and RealPlayer—are some potentially alarming products: backup software from Computer Associates and Veritas.

Since backup products are used by individuals and companies to safeguard valuable data; as such, they typically have access to the most sensitive and critical data on user’s machines or networks, making them prime targets for attackers seeking personal data, financial information, or other important information. Moreover, the SANS Institute reports that while users and system administrators are gradually responding more quickly to security issues with commonly-vulnerable software like Web browsers and media players, the same people take longer to upgrade or secure backup software and other behind-the-scenes software which hasn’t been commonly exploited in the past.

Information about the vulnerabilities—and how to correct them—is available from the SANS Institute as well as the software vendors.

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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