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Michael Howard's Web Log

Security Sessions at TechEd in Australia and New Zealand

Posted: September 6th, 2009, 3:20pm CDT by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]
I'm heading to TechEd Oz and NZ in a couple of hours to present the following:
SEC312 The "Everything Developers Need to Know About Security" Talk
- Oz: 9/10/2009 15:30-16:45
- NZ: 9/14/2009 14:15-15:30
SEC201 Inside the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle: And how you can use it!
- Oz: 9/10/2009 11:30-12:45
- NZ: 9/15/2009 12:10-13:25
I'm also giving a couple of half-day SDL workshops:
SDL Workshop
- Oz: 9/11/2009 (I'll update once I get the time!)
- NZ: 9/13/2009 10:20 - 13:00
If you cannot make it to TechEd this year, a number of sessions, including SEC201 will be made available through Live Meeting. More info here.
ATL, MS09-035 and the SDL

Posted: July 28th, 2009, 12:43pm CDT by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

[blogs.msdn.com]
Integrating the SDL process into Visual Studio

Posted: May 19th, 2009, 11:53am CDT by michael_HOWARD

Tags: SDL Tools Security [edit]

I’ve been a firm believer of integrating as much security tooling as possible into the development process so developers can get on with developing code and designing solutions rather than having to constantly think about dotting the security “i”s and crossing the security “t”s.

The less security “friction” the better, because the more you can automate the more progress you can make.

Jeremy Dallman has just announced that we have released the Microsoft SDL Process Template for Visual Studio Team System, and yes, it’s free.

I think this is a huge step forward because now software development teams outside of Microsoft can more easily track their adherence to the SDL.
Technorati Tags: SDL,Tools
A Conversation About Threat Modeling

Posted: May 1st, 2009, 9:29am CDT by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

This was fun to write; in fact, other than minor edits I wrote it in a single two hour sitting with my laptop by the pool :)

[msdn.microsoft.com]
Ken Johnson (Skywing) joins Microsoft

Posted: March 24th, 2009, 5:27pm CDT by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

Following close on the heels of security experts Matt Miller, Adam Shostack and Crispin Cowan joining Microsoft, I am pleased to announce that Ken Johnson, AKA Skywing, has joined our group.

Ken brings an enormous amount of reverse engineering and defense-subversion skill to Microsoft. Ken will be working on anything and everything related vulnerabilities, exploits, defenses, bypassing defenses and more. Ken also maintains a blog on debugging, reverse engineering, and security-related topics (along with various personal projects) at: http://www.nynaeve.net.

Welcome, Ken!
Free Download: Writing Secure Code for Windows Vista

Posted: December 30th, 2008, 10:07pm CST by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

"For 25 years, Microsoft Press books have focused on helping you take your skills and knowledge to the next level. Celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a "Free E-Book of the Month" offer! Simply sign up for the Microsoft Press Book Connection Newsletter for notification of offers, register, and download the selection of the month."

[csna01.libredigital.com]

:)
Secure software development practices 'not rocket science'

Posted: December 8th, 2008, 4:09pm CST by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

[searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com]#
A Proactive Approach to Building a Successful Security Development Lifecycle Program

Posted: November 19th, 2008, 7:49pm CST by michael_HOWARD

Tags: [edit]

At this point most of you have heard about the Microsoft SDL and some of activities and deliverables associated with it.

However, I still receive a number of questions, specifically, how and where development organizations can start deploying SDL.

Good news!

One of the new Microsoft SDL Pro Network members, Security Innovation, has invited me to address this and other SDL questions at an upcoming webcast titled “A Proactive Approach to Building a Successful Security Development Lifecycle Program.”

SI also invited Jon Oltsik, an analyst from the Enterprise Strategy Group, to present his point of view on the value of the SDL to development organizations. It should be an interesting event, and will hopefully answer many of the questions I have received from the field. If we don’t address your questions during our presentations, there is going to be Q&A at the end …

If you are interested in attending this live web event, it is going to take place TOMORROW Thursday, November 20th, at 1:00pm ET, and you can register for it here.

Hope you can make it!
Improvements in Office Security

Posted: November 17th, 2008, 10:59pm CST by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]

David LeBlanc has an excellent write-up of the results (so far) of all the security work the Office guys have been doing over the last few years.

Net: about a 50% reduction in vulns!
Volume 5 of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report is out

Posted: November 3rd, 2008, 8:16am CST by michael_HOWARD

Tags: Security [edit]
Volume 5 of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report is now out, highlights include:
- Security vulnerability disclosures - Microsoft and third-party software
- Vulnerability Exploits – Microsoft software
- Browser-based exploits - Microsoft and third-party software
- Security and privacy breaches
- Malicious and potentially unwanted software trends
Volume 5 of the SIR also includes a detailed examination of the threat ecosystem which explains how threats propagate across the internet, how users become infected and the resultant impact on privacy and identity theft.

The one item that stood out for me was the move from successfully attacking Microsoft applications and browser objects to attacking and compromising 3rd-party applictions and browser objects.