A null session is an anonymous login to a network that allows users to view available resources. It can give hackers access to computers and confidential data, making it a security threat. Disabling null sessions can be done with the help of IT staff.
A null session is a login to a network using an anonymous identity that allows the user to view a list of resources available on the network. It works through a share known as interprocess communication (IPC$) on Windows® computers. Many Windows® operating systems come with null sessions enabled by default, and some allow users to disable this feature if they have security concerns and there is no reason to leave it enabled.
There are several security issues with a null session connection. One is that it can give a hacker read/write access to computers on your network. This can be used to enter malicious code and other materials on computers without a password. The hacker can also take the list of resources and usernames generated and attempt to crack the passwords; even with password protection, if the hacker can figure out the password, it will be possible to do damage during a null session.
On university networks in particular, null sessions can pose a significant security threat and cause problems for the information technology (IT) department. College students may not protect their assets at all, or may use obvious passwords that are easy to guess. After computers are infected with worms, viruses and other materials, they can infect the entire network, creating an epidemic of computer problems. Protected computers that contain confidential data may be connected to the network, so this could lead to the release of private information, such as student records, if a hacker is particularly determined.
Connecting anonymously allows a hacker to spy on activities happening on your network. Information technology (IT) staff members will be able to see the null session if they log in to watch users, and some security systems are set up to warn when someone appears to be scanning a network with such a session. While a null session may have valid and entirely legal uses, these may be limited enough that computers connected to a network can be configured to disallow such connections for security reasons.
Each operating system uses a slightly different process to disable null sessions. Network users may ask IT staff members for help. For example, many college and office network administrators maintain online help on common network tasks, including disabling null sessions. If users are not comfortable doing this, they can ask someone in the IT department to configure their computer to deal with this potential security exploit.
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