Network Attacks and Defenses: A Hands-on Approach

The attacks on computers and business networks are growing daily, and the need for security professionals who understand how malfeasants perform attacks and compromise networks is a growing requirement to counter the threat. Network security education generally lacks appropriate textbooks with detailed, hands-on exercises that include both offensive and defensive techniques. Using step-by-step processes to build and generate attacks using offensive techniques, Network Attacks and Defenses: A Hands-on Approach enables students to implement appropriate network security solutions within a laboratory environment.

Topics covered in the labs include:

• Content Addressable Memory (CAM) table poisoning attacks on network switches
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache poisoning attacks
• The detection and prevention of abnormal ARP traffic
• Network traffic sniffing and the detection of Network Interface Cards (NICs) running in promiscuous mode
• Internet Protocol-Based Denial-of-Service (IP-based DoS) attacks
• Reconnaissance traffic
• Network traffic filtering and inspection
• Common mechanisms used for router security and device hardening
• Internet Protocol Security Virtual Private Network (IPsec VPN) security solution protocols, standards, types, and deployments
• Remote Access IPsec VPN security solution architecture and its design, components, architecture, and implementations

These practical exercises go beyond theory to allow students to better anatomize and elaborate offensive and defensive techniques. Educators can use the model scenarios described in this book to design and implement innovative hands-on security exercises. Students who master the techniques in this book will be well armed to counter a broad range of network security threats.

Zouheir Trabelsi and Kadhim Hayawi are with United Arab Emirates University.