Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Security
Security measures to protect TCP communications from cyber threats.
Understanding Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Security
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the core protocols of the Internet, responsible for ensuring reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications. However, TCP is vulnerable to various security threats that can compromise network integrity and availability.
Common TCP Security Threats
TCP SYN Flood Attacks – Attackers send numerous SYN (synchronize) requests to a server without completing the handshake, exhausting resources and causing denial of service (DoS).
Session Hijacking – Cybercriminals intercept and manipulate an active TCP session to gain unauthorized access.
TCP Reset Attacks – Attackers send forged TCP reset (RST) packets to disrupt active connections.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks – Attackers intercept TCP traffic to eavesdrop or modify data.
Data Injection and Manipulation – Exploiting vulnerabilities to insert malicious data into TCP streams.
Best Practices for TCP Security
Enable TCP SYN Cookie Protection – Prevent SYN flood attacks by validating handshake legitimacy.
Use Secure Protocols (TLS/SSL) – Encrypt TCP traffic to prevent eavesdropping and MITM attacks.
Deploy Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) – Monitor and block suspicious TCP activity.
Implement Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) – Ensure firewall rules check for TCP handshake consistency.
Randomize TCP Sequence Numbers – Prevent predictable sequences that can aid attackers.