Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for hardening a communication device, which methods and apparatuses make it possible to identify a use of at least one port, by which port a request is submitted to the communication device by a message, and to output a signal for blocking the at least one port if, after a specifiable time period, either the use of the port in question is detected as low or no use of the port in question is detected. Embodiments can be used to harden communication devices in a production line, in a hospital and/or in a power supply network.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for hardening a communication device, which methods and apparatuses make it possible to identify a use of at least one port, by which port a request is submitted to the communication device by a message, and to output a signal for blocking the at least one port if, after a specifiable time period, either the use of the port in question is detected as low or no use of the port in question is detected. Embodiments can be used to harden communication devices in a production line, in a hospital and/or in a power supply network.

Abstract: A method for protecting a login process of a user to a service provider against brute force attacks is provided. A financial value is transferred from the user to a token provider for a temporary login token. A login attempt is performed by the user on the service provider, wherein the login attempt requires user specific login data and the temporary login token. If the login on the service provider was successful within a predefined number of login attempts, the financial value is transferred back to the user.

Abstract: A method for protecting a login process of a user to a service provider against brute force attacks is provided. A financial value is transferred from the user to a token provider for a temporary login token. A login attempt is performed by the user on the service provider, wherein the login attempt requires user specific login data and the temporary login token. If the login on the service provider was successful within a predefined number of login attempts, the financial value is transferred back to the user.

Abstract: A method for checking network elements in a network is provided. The respective network element can be activated with the aid of a web interface and has a network address. The method includes the steps: calling up the web interfaces with the aid of the network addresses; generating an image record for each web interface called up, the image record including a graphical representation of the web interface on a display device; ordering the web interfaces called up in groups, the graphical representations on the display device of the web interfaces allocated to a respective group having a graphical measure of similarity and the graphical measure of similarity being determined with the aid of the respective image record; and displaying the graphical representations of the web interfaces of at least one of the groups on a screen having a screen surface.