Search:  

 
 
   All ForumsHot TopicsGallery






how-to block ads


 
Forums » New Firefox Extension Thwarts MITM Attacks » Am I missing something?
Uniqs:
58
Share Topic:
RSS topic:
toggle:
flat / full
normal / watch
Post a:
Post a:
« Must have Firefox 3 to try it out  

cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

Am I missing something?

So how does having this "notary" prevent a man in the middle attack? If there is a man in the middle between me and my bank, for instance, why can't that same man be between this notary and my bank?

TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

Re: Am I missing something?

said by cdru See Profile :

So how does having this "notary" prevent a man in the middle attack? If there is a man in the middle between me and my bank, for instance, why can't that same man be between this notary and my bank?
See pages 7 thru 9 of their paper where they discuss the statistical odds against pulling off a MITM attack against the client and also against the MULTIPLE notaries at the same time.
»www.cs.cmu.edu/~perspectives/per···ix08.pdf
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?

knightmb
Everybody Lies

join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
·AT&T DSL Service

said by cdru See Profile :

So how does having this "notary" prevent a man in the middle attack? If there is a man in the middle between me and my bank, for instance, why can't that same man be between this notary and my bank?
It's based on the system of "how have things been" and "how have thing changed".

If your bank has always used the same certificate that doesn't expire for 8 years and one day at a coffee shop, the certificate has completely changed, but still "valid" as a MITM attack would do, it throws up an alert. I won't protect you from a MITM attack on the first ever visit to your banking website, only those afterward.

It's part of the problem computers have that humans tend to be better at. That's complete trust of strangers. If things look fishy, we get suspicious. Computers, they don't care, if 2 > 1, then they are happy. For us, when we see 2 > 1.5 we ask why 1.5 instead 1 like before?
--
Fight NebuAD and the like:
Click Here to pollute their data

Viper007Bond
Premium
join:2002-09-26
Portland, OR

Re: Am I missing something?

Actually, it would protect you on the first connect assuming someone else has connected to the site before. The trusted servers keep a history of known certs over time.
Forums » New Firefox Extension Thwarts MITM Attacks« Must have Firefox 3 to try it out  


Wednesday, 02-Dec 22:30:30 Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo | feedback | contact
over 10 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.
page compression OFF
Most commented news this week
· [161] Comcast Releasing Promised Usage Meter
· [94] Graduate Student Unveils Sprint's GPS Sharing With Feds
· [79] Latest Consumer Reports Survey Not Kind To AT&T
· [70] Baltimore To Ban Lazy Cable Installs
· [62] Broadband Killed The Game Console
· [55] Rogers Unveils The ISP Dream Model
· [46] ACTA: Global Three Strikes
· [41] Rural Carriers Quickly Embracing Fiber
· [39] AT&T, Verizon Drop 3G Ad Dispute
· [38] Charter Exits Chapter 11
Most people now reading
· False positive in Avast! or is it real? [Security]
· [WIN7] When exactly should you flash bios when installing new OS [Microsoft Help]
· Which motor oil shoud i use for a 05 nissan altima. [Canadian Chat]
· Net result of lower upload sync rates with IKNS [Canadian Broadband]
· Experience with NetFlix streaming? [General Questions]
· [video] World's Angriest Fan [NSFW] [56k Lookout (Broadband Heavy)]
· [Poll] Canadian Chat. [Canadian Chat]
· Service Change and (Positive) Billing Experience [Verizon FIOS TV]
· US to European Voltage converter [General Questions]