(26/N)

3. Actively maintain your devices

1] Package managers are no longer the only source of software for systems. Look into a one-stop upgrading tool like Topgrade that takes care of this, and also handles, e.g., updates of #Flatpak applications.

2] Use unattended / automatic upgrades on #Linux distributions that have a non-rolling release model. Restrict them to security upgrades, only: You want your devices to stay secure, but reduce the risk of things breaking while you are not available for resolving any issues. @fedora has listed the pros and cons of unattended upgrades.

You can find helpful howtos on the web for many distros:
Debian, Fedora, Linux Mint, openSUSE, Ubuntu, …

If you can’t find one, as a last resort, look up the parent distribution of yours and continue your search there.

3] Finally, collect notes how you resolved maintenance issues. Include research results, like helpful links. Copy & paste the history of terminal commands used in the process. Integrate these into your regular note-taking system. Don’t lose the knowledge you have acquired.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(25/N)

2. Bootstrap your workplace

Remove all software packages that you haven't used, ever or since a long time. Whenever you (re)install #Linux on a device, pick the most minimal version of the installer (usually the smallest download for your processor architecture, sometimes still a CD .iso image).

(Re)add only what you need, and when you need it: Wait for it, don't speculate. Our #WFH / #office-centric list of recommended software:

https://tuxwise.net/recommended-software/

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(23/N) Our fifth, and last, asset classification option:

Public

Assets accessible to, or controlled by, anybody who is aware of them. The existence of such assets is usually easily detectable, or even widely known. Note: "public" refers to potential access or control by the general public, regardless whether there is a legal basis for it.

Public makes a bad default class. Pick Intimate instead.

Start classifying assets

If you haven't done so yet, add a "Classification" column to your asset spreadsheet, and assign each asset to a specific class.

Pick "Intimate" as the default class. Assume that you will act according to the respective classifications, starting today, instead of pondering whether it's "too late", for certain assets.

Some classification suggestions that may look appropriate to you (or not):

• For Your Eyes Only (FYEO): Diaries and journals? Private notes?

• Intimate: Family photographs? Bank accounts? ToDo lists?

• None Of Your Business (NOYB): Your smartphones, tablets, desktops? Medical records? Financial assets? Documents related to legal proceedings?

• Shared: Some Personally Identifiable Information #PII (birthdays; place of residence; diploma)? Insurance-related data (lists of valuables; car make and model; flat size)? Travel bookings? Streaming package subscriptions?

• Public: Social media or forum posts? Published articles, zines, or books?

When you're finished, consider splitting the spreadsheet in two, and handling the part containing FYEO assets like a FYEO asset, in itself.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(22/N) Our fourth asset classification option:

Shared

Assets that are accessible to, or controlled by others for a specific purpose, usually under a specific agreement that may also be implicit. Preferably, these assets are kept publicly undetectable and unknown.

Typically, access is granted to persons or entities that are only selectively or partially trusted: coworkers, support groups, suppliers, providers, insurances, payment providers, or communities you belong to.

It is common to minimize sharing of critical assets by having multiple, restricted aliases or proxies stand in for the asset to be protected, e.g., email aliases, or aliased credit cards.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(21/N) Our third asset classification option:

None Of Your Business (NOYB)

Assets that by default aren’t shared, but can be accessed, controlled, or managed by others, with your permission. You grant such permissions mostly for practical reasons, to agents bound by formal agreements (like service or maintenance staff), and usually not reluctantly, like with assets classified as "Intimate".

Preferably, NOYB assets are still kept publicly undetectable and unknown. The #ZeroTrust principle can be fully applied here, often using available access control mechanisms, and automation.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(20/N) Our second asset classification option:

Intimate

Assets that unfortunately can’t stay FYEO, because under certain circumstances, they need to be accessible to, or controlled by, fully trusted persons or entities. Preferably, these assets are kept publicly undetectable and unknown.

Handling of such assets by others requires a considerable amount of #carefulness, #diligence, and #loyalty that exceeds anything that could be pinned down with enough precision in formal documents. Typically, only significant others, some family members, trustees or close friends are entrusted with handling this class of assets.

For most individuals, this class is most likely the best default. Once you have sorted out which assets are actually not Intimate, but FYEO, consider moving them to a separate spreadsheet that is, in itself, classified as FYEO.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(19/N) Let's now turn to the third question of the #ThreatModelingManifesto:

3. What are you going to do about it?

It pays to first establish a few contraints for what you can do, in theory, by #classifying your #assets. Again, for an individual human being, opposed to organizations or companies, it's nearly impossible to impose principles like #ZeroTrust or Need-to-know on personal relationships, the closer they get.

So, avoid recycling terms from popular, but less intuitive schemes: Fanciful intelligence labels like “top secret”, “confidential”, or “unclassified” do not tell you what goes into the respective box, and how to handle access to it.

Add another column to your assets spreadsheet, label it "Classification", and pick a more human-centered approach for its values, like:

• For Your Eyes Only (FYEO)
• Intimate
• None Of Your Business (NOYB)
• Shared
• Public

Let's briefly go through these suggestions:

For Your Eyes Only (FYEO)

Assets that are only accessible to, and controlled by nobody but you, because they need to be resilient, even in the face of the closest of your close people misbehaving. Preferably, these assets are kept publicly undetectable and unknown. When you are gone, these assets will be gone, too. FYEO does not make a good default class, though.

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(17/N) Finally, two threat types that refer to security more than privacy:

#Obstructing

An adversary destroys, withdraws, steals or misappropriates information, access, or resources. The obstruction can be temporary or permanent, partial or total. Obstructing can also occur unintentionally, with the “adversary” being deterioration, malfunction, or disaster.

#Interfering

An adversary deliberately corrupts the integrity or authenticity of information, resources, processes, or interactions. The respective information, resources, processes, or interactions aren’t necessarily controlled or owned by the persons that are affected, and may also be fabricated. Interfering can also occur unintentionally, with the “adversary” being deterioration, malfunction, or disaster.

Start of this thread:
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(16/N) Three more threat types defined:

Data #disclosure

An adversary makes somebody’s confidential data available to unauthorized parties.

Manufacturing cooperation

An adversary hides from somebody the potentially harmful consequences of their own decisions and actions, or denies them the option of avoiding such consequences, even when they are aware of them.

#NonCompliance

Contrary to what somebody expects and trusts in, an adversary does not follow laws, documented policies or contractual obligations; or does not abide by what is perceived as conventions, or unwritten rules, in the respective context.

(to be continued)

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865

(15/N) Two more threat types defined:

Undesirable non-repudiation or repudiation

#Repudiation (plausible denial) of what somebody has said / done / known / possessed becomes impossible because an adversary has managed to collect enough evidence to establish undesirable non-repudiation. In other words: the adversary can prove beyond reasonable doubt that "it" happened.

Alternatively, #NonRepudiation (proof beyond reasonable doubt) cannot be established because an adversary has managed to suppress or destroy enough evidence to gain the option of repudiation (plausible denial). In other words: the adversary can plausibly deny "it" happened.

Detecting

An adversary can check for the presence or absence of specific data items, which are tell-tale indicators for something else.

(to be continued)

Start of this thread:
https://mastodon.de/@tuxwise/113503228291818865