Trusted Extensions Protects Against Intruders

Trusted Extensions adds features to the Oracle Solaris OS that protect against intruders. Trusted Extensions also relies on some Oracle Solaris features, such as password protection. Trusted Extensions adds a password change GUI for roles. By default, users must be authorized to use a peripheral device, such as a microphone or camera.

Access to the Trusted Computing Base Is Limited

The term trusted computing base (TCB) refers to the part of Trusted Extensions that handles events that are relevant to security. The TCB includes software, hardware, firmware, documentation, and administrative procedures. Utilities and application programs that can access security-related files are all part of the TCB. Your administrator sets limits on all potential interactions that you can have with the TCB. Such interactions include programs that you need to perform your job, files that you are allowed to access, and utilities that can affect security.

Mandatory Access Control Protects Information

If an intruder manages to successfully log in to the system, further obstacles prevent access to information. Files and other resources are protected by access control. As in the Oracle Solaris OS, access control can be set by the owner of the information. In Trusted Extensions, access is also controlled by the system. For details, see Trusted Extensions Provides Discretionary and Mandatory Access Control.

Peripheral Devices Are Protected

In Trusted Extensions, administrators control access to local peripheral devices such as tape drives, CD-ROM drives, USB devices, printers, and microphones. Access can be granted on a user-by-user basis. The software restricts access to peripheral devices as follows:

• By default, devices must be allocated for use.

• You must be authorized to access devices that control removable media.

• Remote users cannot use local devices such as microphones or CD-ROM drives. Only local users can allocate a device.

Programs That Spoof Users Are Prevented

To “spoof” means to imitate. Intruders sometimes spoof login or other legitimate programs to intercept passwords or other sensitive data. Trusted Extensions protects you from hostile spoofing programs by displaying the following trusted symbol, a clearly recognizable, tamper-proof icon at the top of the screen.

Figure 1-1 Trusted Symbol

This symbol is displayed whenever you interact with the trusted computing base (TCB). The presence of the symbol ensures the safety of performing security-related transactions. No visible symbol indicates a potential security breach. Figure 1-1 shows the trusted symbol.