Database Security
Authentication
Privacy
Compliance
Identity & Access Management
Security Monitoring
Advanced Threats
Insider Threats
Vulnerability Management
Careers & People

Stop Blaming Users. Make Security User-Friendly.

50%
50%

Jelle Niemantsverdriet of Deloitte visits the Dark Reading News Desk at Black Hat to explain how security can be improved if security tools, error messages, and help desk calls educate users and 'put a smile on someone's face.'

Comment  | 
Print  | 
Comments
Newest First  |  Oldest First  |  Threaded View
bboink1
100%
0%
bboink1,
 User Rank: Strategist
9/15/2016 | 10:09:50 AM
Users Still need the Blame
Users are the weakest link.  When the security measures are in place and the user still does the wrong thing because there are no consequences adapting the security to them is a futile effort.  The only fix to that is to hold the users accountable.  Case in point, trying to make cars that keep you in your lane or stop for you is needed because people are not paying attention.  How about when they cause an accident due to texting and driving they get rewarded with license revocation.

As far as taking the empathy approach with the user, it is difficult to build security around the "I am going to do what I am going to do regardless of what I am supposed to do" attitude. No matter how friendly you make the security if it inhibits the user from doing what they want they will ignore and find a way around.

Designing better error messages for the users is a good idea.  It is possible if the error message was informative it would help the tech that has to work on it.  .That being said most of the users do not read the error message so that would not help a user.  Just as they do not read the popup that downloads the cropto-ware on their system.  An example of this is when the help desk gets the call of "It just stopped working," and "I didn't do anything."  Of course the answer of "ummm....I don't know" when asked "What did the error message say?"  Users just click without reading.

The point of rewarding them for doing what they are supposed to do is like giving them a trophy for showing up.  Then they will expect a trophy all of the time and the value of the "incentive" will diminish.  This is what created the situation that we are in with the users not caring now.

I do agree that security must be made to be a bit more user friendly.  I also believe that the users will adapt in a downward direction to put us back in the same situation.  I think accountability is the direction that will produce a bigger bang for the buck.
Register for Dark Reading Newsletters
White Papers
Video
Cartoon Contest
Write a Caption, Win a Starbucks Card! Click Here
Latest Comment: just wondering...Thanx
Current Issue
Security Operations and IT Operations: Finding the Path to Collaboration
A wide gulf has emerged between SOC and NOC teams that's keeping both of them from assuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IT systems. Here's how experts think it should be bridged.
Flash Poll
Surviving the IT Security Skills Shortage
Surviving the IT Security Skills Shortage
Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand -- and short supply. Find out what Dark Reading discovered during their 2017 Security Staffing Survey and get some strategies for getting through the drought. Download the report today!
Slideshows
Twitter Feed
Dark Reading - Bug Report
Bug Report
Enterprise Vulnerabilities
From DHS/US-CERT's National Vulnerability Database
CVE-2017-0290
Published: 2017-05-09
NScript in mpengine in Microsoft Malware Protection Engine with Engine Version before 1.1.13704.0, as used in Windows Defender and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (type confusion and application crash) via crafted JavaScript code within ...

CVE-2016-10369
Published: 2017-05-08
unixsocket.c in lxterminal through 0.3.0 insecurely uses /tmp for a socket file, allowing a local user to cause a denial of service (preventing terminal launch), or possibly have other impact (bypassing terminal access control).

CVE-2016-8202
Published: 2017-05-08
A privilege escalation vulnerability in Brocade Fibre Channel SAN products running Brocade Fabric OS (FOS) releases earlier than v7.4.1d and v8.0.1b could allow an authenticated attacker to elevate the privileges of user accounts accessing the system via command line interface. With affected version...

CVE-2016-8209
Published: 2017-05-08
Improper checks for unusual or exceptional conditions in Brocade NetIron 05.8.00 and later releases up to and including 06.1.00, when the Management Module is continuously scanned on port 22, may allow attackers to cause a denial of service (crash and reload) of the management module.

CVE-2017-0890
Published: 2017-05-08
Nextcloud Server before 11.0.3 is vulnerable to an inadequate escaping leading to a XSS vulnerability in the search module. To be exploitable a user has to write or paste malicious content into the search dialogue.

Dark Reading Radio
Archived Dark Reading Radio
In past years, security researchers have discovered ways to hack cars, medical devices, automated teller machines, and many other targets. Dark Reading Executive Editor Kelly Jackson Higgins hosts researcher Samy Kamkar and Levi Gundert, vice president of threat intelligence at Recorded Future, to discuss some of 2016's most unusual and creative hacks by white hats, and what these new vulnerabilities might mean for the coming year.