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Security Best Practice: Blocking Apple iPhone Browsing

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Check Point Reference: SBP-2011-02
Date Published:
Severity:
Source: IPS Research Center
Protection Provided by: Security Gateway
  • R75
  • R71
  • R70
Who is Vulnerable?
Apple iPhone users
Vulnerability Description
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc. An iPhone functions as a video camera, camera phone with text messaging and visual voicemail, a portable media player, and an Internet client with e-mail, Web browsing, and both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. 
The use of iPhones to surf the Web may circumvent the organizational security policy.
Vulnerability Details
Some organizations prefer to prevent their employees from using Smartphones to browse the Web over HTTP, since these connections can potentially take up a lot of bandwidth - these sessions transmit data, pictures, audio, and video - because of the multi-purpose nature of a Smartphone device like the iPhone.

Protection Overview
This protection will detect and block Apple iPhone browsing over HTTP.

In order for the protection to be activated, update your Security Gateway product to the latest IPS update. For information on how to update IPS, go to SBP-2006-05, Protection tab and select the version of your choice.

To configure the defense, select your product from the list below and follow the related protection steps.

Security Gateway: R75

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS tab, click Protections > By Protocol > IPS Software Blade > Web Intelligence > HTTP Client Protections.
2. In the right pane, double-click the Apple iPhone Browsing protection.
3. In the Protection Details window, click on Edit. Choose the protection's Action (Override IPS Policy with: Prevent/Detect), and apply Additional Settings. 
4. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Web Client Enforcement Violation
Attack Information: Apple iPhone browsing detected

Security Gateway: R70/R71

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS tab, click Protections > By Protocol > Web Intelligence > HTTP Client Protections.
2. In the right pane, double-click the Apple iPhone Browsing protection.
3. In the Protection Details window, click on Edit. Choose the protection's Action (Override IPS Policy with: Prevent/Detect), and apply Additional Settings. 
4. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Web Client Enforcement Violation
Attack Information: Apple iPhone browsing detected