"what is a whitelist" course

by Adan Simonis PhD 10 min read

Full Answer

What is a whitelist?

Whitelists are not one-size-fits-all; administrators tailor-make whitelists based on their unique wants and needs. YouTube, for example, is in the process of releasing a whitelisted YouTube Kids version that goes off of handpicked, age-appropriate videos rather than algorithmic recommendations.

What is the best resource to learn about application whitelisting?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a guide to application whitelisting, and while it's a few years old at this point, it's still a great introduction to the topic. It goes in great depth on a number of topics; we'll touch on the basics here.

What are the benefits of whitelisting?

The most obvious is malware: malicious software payloads like keyloggers or ransomware won't be able to execute if they're not on the whitelist. But that's not the only benefit; whitelisting can also be a tool to fight "shadow IT."

What it means to whitelist?

What is a whitelist (allowlist)? A whitelist (allowlist) is a cybersecurity strategy that approves a list of email addresses, IP addresses, domain names or applications, while denying all others.

What is whitelist and how does it work?

A whitelist (or, less commonly, a passlist or allowlist) is a mechanism which explicitly allows some identified entities to access a particular privilege, service, mobility, or recognition i.e. it is a list of things allowed when everything is denied by default.

What is a whitelist license?

We just released a new feature, the “License Whitelists“. The idea behind this feature is that you put Licenses on a Whitelist and VersionEye notifies you as soon there is a software component in your project which violates your Whitelist. Just navigate to one of your projects on VersionEye, to the License Tab.

How do you become a whitelist?

Here are some strategies to stay 'active' and get yourself on the whitelist:Stay engaged. Most projects offer a whitelist spot to supporters who are genuinely interested in the project and add value. ... Invite people. ... Make fan art. ... Participate in giveaways. ... Get in early.

Why do we need whitelisting?

Much like email whitelists, application whitelists help keep your computer system safe from malware, spam, ransomware, and other threats. Instead of approving email addresses, application whitelists allow only approved apps to run. Anything not whitelisted is considered unsafe and blocked.

What is the difference between whitelisting and blacklisting?

Whitelisting and blacklisting are two methodologies to control access to websites, email, software and IP addresses on networks. Whitelisting denies access to all resources and only the “owner” can allow access. Blacklisting allows access to all with the provision that only certain items are denied.

How much do I charge for whitelisting?

People recommend charging 4% to 5% of what they are spending on the ad, and that will be your whitelisting fee. Example: If the brand is putting $10,000 behind the ad, 4% of that would be $400.

Where did whitelist come from?

Blacklist and whitelist are terms commonly used in computer science and cybersecurity to indicate something is allowed, or not allowed. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which defines the word as “a list of banned or excluded things of disreputable character,” its first known use dates back to 1624.

What is whitelist content?

Influencer whitelisting is the process of influencers and creators granting advertising permissions to brands or partners to use their handles, content, and audience targeting to unlock a new media and acquisition channel.

What does whitelisting mean?

Whitelisting is a cybersecurity strategy under which a user can only take actions on their computer that an administrator has explicitly allowed in advance. Instead of trying to keep one step ahead of cyberattackers to identify and block malicious code, IT staff instead compiles a list ...

What is application whitelisting?

Application whitelisting is a great defender against two different kinds of security threats. The most obvious is malware: malicious software payloads like keyloggers or ransomware won't be able to execute if they're not on the whitelist.

What is a blacklist in antivirus?

A blacklist is a slightly more familiar concept — a list of things that are dangerous and need to be blocked from the machines you're trying to protect. Many antivirus and anti- malware programs are, essentially, blacklists: they include a list of known malicious code, and automatically leap into action when those programs are detected on the protected computer. Blacklists have a fairly obvious disadvantage in that they need to be constantly updated to stay ahead of the latest attacks. By definition, antivirus software can't protect you against a zero-day attack.

How to create a whitelist?

The first is to use a standard list, supplied by your whitelist software vendor, of applications typical for your type of environment, which can then be customized to fit. The other is to have a system that you know is clear of malware and other unwanted software, and scan it to use as a model for a number of other machines. The second method is a good fit for kiosks or other public-facing devices, which run a limited set of applications and don't require much by way of customization.

What does it mean to whitelist an email address?

In these contexts, "whitelisting" generally means taking manual steps to ensure that a certain IP address isn't blocked from accessing your site by some automated security process, or ensuring that email from a particular recipient doesn't go into your spam folder. The latter is of course an obsession of email marketers, who are keen to share instructions on how to whitelist email addresses to make sure that their own email doesn't get deemed spam. The former is a product of overzealous firewalls, which can sometime result in people being unable to access their own websites.

What operating systems have whitelisting?

Most commercial operating systems have some whitelisting functionality built in, including Windows 10 and macOS. App stores, of the sort used to install applications on iOS and Android devices, can be seen as a form of application whitelisting; they ostensibly only allow applications that are certified to be safe. Most mobile management software allows more granular controls.

Is whitelisting good?

Spend time making sure you actually get your whitelist correct. A whitelisting program is only as good as the list itself. Think of it as an opportunity to audit what applications your organization has installed across your IT infrastructure — and which ones it really needs. To figure out what goes on the list, you'll want to come up with a whitelisting policy.

How does whitelisting work?

Whitelisting has advantages in that you control access to the website or virtual resource you want your business to use, however, is less dynamic and more restrictive in terms of ease of use and versatility. This is a control mechanism where you deny access to all resources by default then allow access to resources by name. Think of your home, where only you and your family can get access the front door. Everyone in your family would have a front door key, but some individuals don’t have keys to every door. You may have a shed out back that only you have they key because dangerous chemicals are stored there. The disadvantage is that not everyone in your family has open access to the shed and would have to ask permission to get something out. Now, that may work for a small family, but would be unworkable unless the number of employees requiring access is small. This type of access control is useful for financial or personnel records, where a business might have only 2-5 employees who access these files, software or websites.

Is blacklisting a security risk?

Blacklisting is advantageous in that it allows free and open access to any email, website, IP address or software as long as it’s not a security risk. This is the concept that all web traffic is allowed, and certain items are disallowed by name or circumstance (aka security risk).

What is Application Whitelisting?

Application whitelisting is a cybersecurity practice that entails creating a directory of software applications that are approved to run on your organization’s network. As opposed to how blacklisting only blocks a predetermined tally of apps, whitelisting is a more proactive approach to system protection. Its purpose is to prevent harmful files from executing themselves on your devices.

What does it mean to whitelist an application?

This pretty much means that you decide what software you allow to run on your enterprise network, effectively blocking everything else. You should do this as promptly as possible to further reduce risks. It’s at this point that you should also determine what type of application whitelisting you want to enforce.

What attribute can you use for application whitelisting?

A simple attribute that you can use for application whitelisting within your company’s systems is that of file size. As soon as a cyber attacker messes with a file on any device and injects it with malicious code, its size will change.

What are the five types of whitelisting?

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the five main types rely on: file size, file path, file name, cryptographic hash, or. In the subsections below, I have explained each type of application whitelisting, along with its benefits and drawbacks.

How to stop malicious code from infiltrating your network?

The simplest way to stop malicious code from infiltrating your network is by automatically blocking it before it even enters the system. A straightforward and efficient way to achieve that is through application whitelisting. Sounds pretty easy, right? But how does it work? Let’s find out.

When does a whitelist need to be updated?

In this case, the whitelist needs to be updated only when new software is released or when the published changes its signature key.

Is whitelisting a problem?

For one, it restricts how employees can use their work devices. This is not only frustrating but can also be detrimental to efficiency in the long run as new software has to go through a lengthy approval process to enter the workflow. What is more, establishing the inventory of approved apps is a time-consuming feat that requires constant improvement and monitoring.

What is a blacklist in cybersecurity?

For many years, terms such as “blacklist” and “whitelist” were commonly used within cybersecurity and infosec circles to simply designate what person or application had access to a system or network (and which ones were denied).

What is the term for the use of racist language in discussions concerning predatory publishing?

In 2018, for example, two Irish scholars published a research paper addressing “widespread use of racist language in discussions concerning predatory publishing,” including the terms blacklist and whitelist.

Is Cisco Talos whitelisting?

“While we acknowledge it is a small change, Cisco Talos is moving to replace our use of the terms ‘blacklist’ and ‘whitelist’ with ‘block list’ and ‘allow list,’” according to the Cisco Talos team. “Even though these terms are commonly in use in ...

What is blacklisting?

Blacklisting is one of the oldest algorithms in computer security, and it's used by most antivirus software to block unwanted entities. The process of blacklisting applications involves the creation of a list containing all the applications or executables that might pose a threat to the network, either in the form of malware attacks or simply by hampering its state of productivity. Blacklisting can be considered a threat-centric method.

Why is blacklisting important?

This way users will have access to all the applications they require, reducing the volume of admin tickets raised or essential applications being blocked. Blacklisting is a good approach for enterprises that are keen on taking a more relaxed approach to application control.

What is greylist in security?

Non-employees who try to gain entry, for example, interview candidates, will fall into the greylist, as they don't form a part of the whitelist or the blacklist. The security guard either allows or denies their entry request based on its authenticity. In a network, the admin usually takes up the role of the security guard and has complete control over everything that enters it.

Is whitelisting good for admin?

As advantageous as whitelisting is, it comes with its set of cons. Building a whitelist may seem easy, but one inadvertent move can result in help desk queries piling up on the admin. Inability to access essential applications would put various critical tasks on halt.

Is whitelisting more secure?

Whitelisting takes more of a trust-centric approach and is considered to be more secure . This method of application control can either be based on policies like file name, product, and vendor, or it can be applied on an executable level, where the digital certificate or cryptographic hash of an executable is verified.

Is whitelisting vs blacklisting real?

Truth be told, the widely debated topic "Whitelisting vs Blacklisting" has no real answer. Infact, with the advancement in technology and development of application control tools, there's no need to just choose one. Our comprehensive application control tool comes with built-in options to enable both application whitelisting and blacklisting. Enterprises can use these features hand in hand to meet their unique requirements, and leverage the benefits of both simultaneously.

Is it easier to whitelist?

Additionally, building a whitelist is much easier, as the number of trusted applications would definitely be lower when comparing it to the number of distrusted ones. Enterprises that conform to strict regulatory compliance practices can benefit from whitelisting.

What is Influencer Whitelisting?

Whitelisting, in a nutshell, is when you give advertising permissions to your brand partners .

What happens when you whitelist a brand?

When you whitelist, fewer and fewer brands will ask you to post directly on your page. As a result , there’s less ad-fatigue for your followers and you get to post more of your day-to-day photos, or whatever else is your go-to content that made you fall in love with being a content creator in the first place.

Do brands pay extra to whitelist?

Pro: Brands are often willing to pay an extra dollar for you to whitelist in each and every influencer campaign.

Can you whitelist with Lumanu?

You’ll need to dedicate a good amount of your time to learning the ins and outs of whichever tool you use, be it a manual option or whitelisting with Lumanu.

Can you whitelist a lot of different ways?

The problem is, you can whitelist a lot of different ways. That’s where the confusion normally starts to seep in.

Can you charge extra for whitelisting?

So, you can enjoy charging a few extra dollars (or a few thousand) if you elect to whitelist, and partner with brands to achieve results with influencer ads.

Is whitelisting secure?

Plus, your whitelisting will be more secure. Quick public service announcement: NEVER use a solution that involves sharing passwords or other personal information.

What is an NFT whitelist?

A whitelist is like a VIP list for NFT projects. Very few people are on whitelists, which makes being on a whitelist very attractive to many people. It’s a special position within the NFT world with many benefits.

What are the benefits of whitelists for NFT creators?

The creators of NFT projects benefit from whitelists because they make the project more attractive to consumers, provide additional value to their buyers, and increase brand awareness by word-of-mouth and through whitelist giveaways and competitions.

Is there an alternative to being whitelisted?

There isn’t a more accessible alternative to being whitelisted per se , but there are other ways to make money off of NFTs without being whitelisted.

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Email Whitelists

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With the number of daily business emails estimated to go up to 126 in 2019, email whitelists are life-savers. Already having a pre-approved list of email addresses saves you the trouble and time of hunting down daily emails from clients and business partners in your junk mail. But email whitelists are not just productivity-b…
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IP Whitelists

  • By now, you can probably guess what an IP whitelist is—yes, it is an approved list of IP addresses and/or IP domains that have permission to access your domain(s). Reserved for only trusted users, IP whitelisting is only set and updated by the site administrator.
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Improved Cybersecurity

  • Viruses are multiplying faster than ever, making them harder to track. In 2015, nearly 1 million new malware viruseswere introduced to computer systems every day. Blacklisting each individual virus not only wastes time but leaves the door open for future viruses to wiggle into your network. All hackers need to do is slightly modify malware strains to get around blacklists. Studiesindicate t…
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Increased Productivity

  • (Photo by William Ivenon Unsplash.) Research shows that 53 percent of employeesare more productive when using their phones at work. However, despite increased productivity and convenience, multiple devices on an unsecure network open businesses up to negligent (or accidental) insider attacks. Not to mention more opportunities for distractions; a survey reveale…
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Integration with Other Software

  • When it comes to improving your cybersecurity defenses, diversity is key. That means having a full portfolio of anti-ransomware, anti-malware, and antivirus software, in combination with annual penetration testing (looking for vulnerabilities in your network). Whitelisting fits well into this approach. It runs great alongside antivirus blacklisting software, serving as one more tool in you…
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For Email Whitelists

  1. Build an email whitelist by adding approved email addresses to your contact list
  2. For better email cyber defenses, pair email analysiswith activity and network monitoring, along with routine cybersecurity training
  3. Update whitelists regularly to minimize vulnerability
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For Application Whitelists

  1. Take advantage of the application whitelisting capabilities already built into your system
  2. Follow the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s advice: whitelist in phases to spot pitfalls and bring in new technology
  3. Consider hiring IT professionals to manage and update application whitelists, as these can be more challenging than email whitelists
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For IP Whitelists

  1. Make sure the IP address is static before whitelisting
  2. Consider using a .htaccess file for maximum whitelisting control
  3. Shortcut whitelisting your login page with plugins
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Whitelist Meaning and Defininition

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Whitelisting is a cybersecurity strategy under which a user can only take actions on their computer that an administrator has explicitly allowed in advance. Instead of trying to keep one step ahead of cyberattackers to identify and block malicious code, IT staff instead compiles a list of approved applications that a computer or …
See more on csoonline.com

Whitelist vs. Blacklist

  • A blacklist is a slightly more familiar concept — a list of things that are dangerous and need to be blocked from the machines you're trying to protect. Many antivirus and anti-malware programs are, essentially, blacklists: they include a list of known malicious code, and automatically leap into action when those programs are detected on the protected computer. Blacklists have a fairly ob…
See more on csoonline.com

Application Whitelisting

  • In general, the kind of whitelisting we've been talking about so far is application whitelisting — that is, only allowing a certain set of applications to run on the protected computer. (The term has a somewhat different meaning when it comes to email or IP addresses, which we'll discuss at the end of the article.) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a guide to ap…
See more on csoonline.com

Whitelisting Best Practices

  • How can you make sure to get the most out of whitelisting? Follow these tips: 1. NIST advises that you roll out whitelisting in phases in your organization to make sure you that you don't disrupt enterprise-wise operations if something goes wrong. 2. Spend time making sure you actually get your whitelist correct. A whitelisting program is only as good as the list itself. Think of it as an o…
See more on csoonline.com

Where Whitelisting Fits Into A Security Program

  • Whitelisting isn't a one-size-fits-all tool, and it may not be an ideal endpoint solution for every computer under your purview. Calyptix Security suggests three scenarioswhere application whitelisting makes sense: 1. On centrally managed hosts connected to other computers 2. On computers in a high-risk environment 3. On laptops or kiosks where users do not have administr…
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Best Application Whitelisting Software

  • Most commercial operating systems have some whitelisting functionality built in, including Windows 10 and macOS. App stores, of the sort used to install applications on iOS and Android devices, can be seen as a form of application whitelisting; they ostensibly only allow applications that are certified to be safe. Most mobile management software allows more granular controls. …
See more on csoonline.com

Whitelisting E-Mail and IP Addresses: Variations on The Concept

  • A last note here on two other contexts where you might see the word "whitelist" used in IT security: e-mail and IP addresses. In these areas, whitelisting doesn't have quite the same meaning as it does with application whitelisting: obviously if you only allowed a narrowly defined list of email addresses to contact you, or computers from a specific list of IP addresses to reac…
See more on csoonline.com