Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity

1. Cyberattacks

   • Hacking
     • Unauthorised access to computer materials.
   • Phishing
     • Sending a fake email/message pretending to be a website which makes users log into a fake web, stealing login details.
   • Malware
     • Malicious software, designed to cause harm.
   • Ransomware
     • Malware that encrypts users files and demands ransom to decrypt them.
   • Botnet
     • A network of computers which contains malware being controlled by a hacker.
   • Keylogger
     • Malware that records every keypress and sends it to a hacker for analysis.

2. Cyberdefences

   • Security software
     • Antivirus software, deals with viruses, scans computers for known malware and removes it. Must be kept up-to-date with the latest malware definitions.
   • White-hat hacking
     • Hacking that is done with authorisation from the company to prevent it from being hacked. The hacker reports all vulnerabilities so the company can fix them.
   • Grey-hat hacking
     • Hacking done without authorisation from the company but without malicious intent. The company will often be informed about how the hacker was able to gain access.
   • Backups
     • Keeping a copy of important data on a different system, so that it can be restored if the original is damaged.

3. Encryption

   • Cipher
     • A method of encrypting text
   • Plaintext
     • The unencrypted data
   • Ciphertext
     • The encrypted data
   • Crack
     • To read encrypted data without being given the key beforehand
   • Key
     • Some information needed to encrypt/decrypt the data
   • Brute Force
     • Crack a cipher by trying every possible key until successful
   • Statistical Attack
     • Crack a cipher by using by using statistics and estimates of the most likely values
   • Caesar Cipher
     • A simple cipher, where each letter is shifted a number of places up the alphabet
   • Substitution Cipher
     • A simple cipher where each letter is replaced by a different letter.