Computer security (improved)

Computer security (improved)

1. Firewall

   • Prevents harmful data entering your computer
   • Used to help protect a computer network from intruders
   • Controls which programs can send and receive data packets
   • A firewall is a 'request for access' 'robot' that controls what data packets are sent or received by programs
   • Used when a program is trying to connect to the internet
   • Controls the flow of data
   • A firewall is used to control the flow of data packets that are sent or received by programs. It lets good and harmless data in and untrusted data out. If you didn't have a firewall any data could pass into your computer as it pleases. A firewall gives some control as to what comes into your computer.

2. Anti-virus

   • Quarantines any programs or files which are harmful
   • Needs updating regularly to make sure that it knows the latest threats
   • Scans the computer periodically
   • Protects against malware
   • An anti-virus doesn't stop viruses from getting into your computer it just gets them out. If you had no ant-virus software, if your computer got a virus, you would be able to do nothing about it. Chances are you wouldn't even know about it until it had done its job.

3. Passwords/Computer security

   • Your password should contain at least 8 characters, a mix of upper and lower case, some numbers and some symbols. It should also be rememberable and unique (your favourite premier league team isn't great as thousands of other people support that club as well)
     • (improved)
   • Never randomly tell someone your password, even if it's a member of family. Only tell them if they actually need it.
   • Likewise, never leave your password lying about randomly, even if you are liable to forgetting it.
   • Poor computer security can affect a buisness's reputation
   • Carefully check URLs
   • Fraud attempts can come in a number of different ways. Any suspicious 'click this link' request or untrusted website you're about to sign up to because it looks legitimate should always be treated with caution, as this is a common phishing attempt. Just by clicking a stray link on an email from the 'bank' can lose you thousands of pounds.
     • (corrected)

4. Encryption

   • Encryption scrambles data packets so they are unreadable to others
   • You encrypt a message with a cipher
   • You decrypt a message with a key
   • We use encrytion when we send something that we don't want any random person seeing
   • Check for https before sending data packets to a server. However if you are not sending data packets then the website will not have https as it doesn't need it.
     • However some untrustworthy websites can get a https so this isn't completely reliable
     • You can tell a website has https if it says and it has a green lock.
   • If a business didn't use encryption, the chance of being hacked would skyrocket, sending reputation and profit down. This is because when data packets are making the journey between various networks, they can be snatched easily out of the datastream if they have no encryption. Encryption makes details which hackers can exploit less accessible to them.
     • (corrected)

5. Viruses

   • Trojan horse
     • A trojan horse disguises itself as an innocent 'free game' or download and uses your details to steal various passwords and money in general
       • Based on the story of the trojan horse in Greek times
   • Zombie
     • A zombie is used to control a computer and also disguises itself but this time as a link.
       • It is also usually disguised as a 'funny video'
     • A zombie can add computers to a botnet without the user even noticing
     • Needs to be connected to the internet by the hacker
   • Worm
     • A worm eats through files and information and can delete or add anything they want to
     • Doesn't need a program to work
   • A virus can be defended with an anti-virus (obviously)