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word to the wise

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    word to the wise

    Since Ransome ware and other Viruses can now follow drive letters right into a server, It is suggested to use direct rather than mapped drives to access the data tables like:
    \\servername\serverapplication\appname.adb
    Dave Mason
    [email protected]
    Skype is dave.mason46

    #2
    Re: word to the wise

    Hi Dave,
    can you elaborate where this replacement might be needed to be used?
    Mike W
    __________________________
    "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

    Comment


      #3
      Re: word to the wise

      Certainly good advice, but the saying goes "You can run, but you cannot hide..."

      Paths / shares are also hit by newer (2-3 years old) crypto attacks. The mapped drive encryption issue was first seen 3 - 4 years ago. Since then, the crypto coders have moved on to scanning the network because people like you were too smart for them.

      I make sure the end users are running up-to-date quality corporate AV, and that backups are disconnected after they run. Regardless, you are right in that you can never have enough protection for data.

      I'll keep your sound advice in mind as I upgrade apps in the future. There are 20 apps I wrote back in 2001 ~ 2010 that are to be upgraded soon. I'll talk to them about this, as there are links hard-coded in massive scripts that will need to be adjusted. An example might be temporary tables, and txt files that are created as well as PDF reports. I wish I knew about this crypto crap 20 years ago.

      I maintain a large accounting office in Manhattan, and there are still so many apps that use mapped drives, like Sage 50 accounting. I see it even with POS software. I guess old habits die hard.

      Thanks Much!

      Comment


        #4
        Re: word to the wise

        Mike,
        When you map a drive, you are setting the mapping to server. You can do the same with alpha instead of using a mapped drive. from runtime, when you connect to the server data, instead of pathing to the mapped drive, map to the server and drive/folder the app is on.
        need more? contact me?
        Dave Mason
        [email protected]
        Skype is dave.mason46

        Comment


          #5
          Re: word to the wise

          Got it Dave. Thanks.
          Mike W
          __________________________
          "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

          Comment


            #6
            Re: word to the wise

            Typically, in your code, or in the database itself, with a mapped drive you would just use drive letter\foldername\tablename.dbf.

            What Dave is saying is to not use a drive letter at all, and as long as the server folder is shared and the users have FULL permission, use \\servername\share name\folder\tablename.dbf

            Tom

            Comment


              #7
              Re: word to the wise

              I don't get it. What about portability? The use of a mapped drive in scripts and operations allows the app to run on different servers.
              Robin

              Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

              Comment


                #8
                Re: word to the wise

                I called Trend Micro a few days ago. One of my accounts has a 45 computer license. The tech said mapped or unmapped doesn't matter since around 2017 and on. All variants since then easily enumerate any shared path on any network server or machine. Logical mapping no longer increases vulnerability.

                He showed me how to use PowerShell to list a servers shared folder in less than a second, even if the shared path is hidden with a $.

                Open PowerShell, and copy the following in replacing SERVER2 with any machine name or IP Address other than the one you are on (Leave the quotes...) :

                Get-WMIObject -ComputerName "SERVER2" -Query "SELECT * FROM Win32_Share" | FL

                (arp -a lists IP Addresses and MAC addresses on the network.)

                I ran it on a DC that has a Group Policy on it to hide all shares from populating as you type, and the computers do not appear under network, even if the client is on the domain.

                PowerShell reported back every share, so my Group Policy is a waste of time, except for keeping the novices out.

                The tech did say if a machine is completely unprotected (No AV), it could conceivably get a virus from, say, 2014 on it, and then the mapped drive would be exploited, but anyone who is not running AV software that is up-to-date is, well, asking for trouble.

                Besides running a corporate AV app, I limit shared folders to essential personnel. (Probably a bad idea to share to "Everyone".)

                Also, run more than one backup every day on a machine no one uses with no shared folders on it. If you can get someone to disconnect and swap backup drives every day, that's a plus, but I have no one onsite who will accept the responsibility.

                So, anyway, I wasn't looking to step on any toes, nor am I saying not to take every precaution. Extreme diligence is the best way to protect your files and network. It's up to each to decide what measures to take.
                Last edited by CraigSchumacker; 03-14-2020, 08:51 PM.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: word to the wise

                  i really appreciate this advice.
                  thank you sir daveM for your professional advice.
                  "Knowledge without application is useless."

                  Comment

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