network security threats

network security threats

1. trojen horse

   • gains access to a computer by pretending to be legitimate software. The trojan allows unauthorised backdoor access to a computer without the user being aware.

2. phising

   • Normally an email or text messaging scam where victims are conned into believing that they are being contacted by an authentic organisation (e.g. by their bank) and can give sensitive personal details (such as bank account passwords).

3. worm

   • spread like viruses but do not require human intervention. They attach themselves to network tools to spread automatically around a network very quickly.

4. spyware

   • records the activity on your computer such as your keystrokes, thereby logging your passwords for instance and then sending the data back over the network to the attack instigator. Spyware can also be used to control your webcam and microphone.

5. brute force attack

   • getting access to a network by trying all posible passwords untill they get the right one

6. DDos

   • when a network resource becomes deliberately overloaded (‘flooded’) with unnecessary requests, preventing it from responding normally.

7. virus

   • insert themselves in normal programs. Viruses can replicate themselves and transfer from one computer to another. They are activated by a user often as email attachments and attachment to other files and programs.