Firewall Configuration Issues Lead to 50% Increase in Security Flaws

The number of flaws reported in firewalls have rocketed by nearly 50 per cent over the past four years because IT pros don't know how to configure them. A report by security testing specialist NTA Monitor found that flaws in firewalls . . . The number of flaws reported in firewalls have rocketed by nearly 50 per cent over the past four years because IT pros don't know how to configure them. A report by security testing specialist NTA Monitor found that flaws in firewalls have increased by 45 per cent since 1998. The researchers said the holes, which occur mainly because of poor configuration and sloppy patching, could give hackers a way in to corporate networks.

Companies have not learned how to install their firewalls properly, according to Roy Hills, technical director at NTA Monitor. He said: "Three years ago firewalls were relatively rare, only firms who really needed them had them - coupled with the expertise.

"Nowadays there are so many companies who need firewalls because of the net. But they are not any easier to configure today than they were five years ago."

But he did not put all the blame on users, adding that vendors have not made things easy.

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