Network Security

Network Security

1. Virus

   • A virus is a program written to be harmful to your computer, the effects of certain viruses can be quite bizarre and quite dangerous such as releasing many payloads to utterly kill your device, ransom bitcoins for the safety of your files and generally make your device unusable. Some are Extremely serious and should be treated as such - and some are Created as jokes and can be easily expelled.Not to be confused with a Virus, another word for a biological disease.
   • Malware
     • Most Harmful
       • RansomWare
         • Threatens you or "Ransoms" you using Cryptioviral Extortion to encrypt the users files - making them inaccessible unless the user pays a fee almost always in 'Bitcoins'; a type of Crypto Currency.
       • Trojan
       • Rootkit
       • Scareware
         • This one probably needs explaining, Scareware is a type of Malware that uses Psychological engineering in order to trick the user into a false perception that there is a possible threat in order to make you give money to "Solve" it or trick you into downloading harmful Software - much like a Rogue Security system.
     • Least Harmful
       • Adware
         • Perhaps the least dangerous type of malware, it simply displays ads on your computer... Though Clicking on it could possibly do something worse...
       • Spyware
         • Software that spies on you, tracks your internet activity and either sends advertising to you (See Adware) or is used by something or someone much creepier...
       • Keyloggers
       • Bots
     • Rogue Security Systems
       • Rogue Security Systems are programs advertising that they are an Antivirus or Anti-Malware program but they are the Malware. When it does a "scan" it is actually downloading the Malware into the computer...
       • PC Optimizer Pro
       • Antivirus 2009
       • Antivirus 2008
       • Antivirus 360
       • Your PC Projector
   • Other
     • Bonzi Buddy
     • WannaCry
     • Joke Viruses
       • MEMZ
       • You Are An Idiot
         • You Are An Idiot is a Trojan website on Microsoft Windows.  However, this malware does not delete files, but it acts like a fork bomb. Today, the fork bomb payload does not reach out in the wild like it did in the past due to the code to spam the screen (the JavaScript) being removed from the website.
       • Hurr-Durr
     • ILOVEYOU
     • Zeus
     • 000.exe
     • The Morris Worm
       • In 1998 Robert Morris, a university student, unleashed a worm which affected 10 per cent of all the computers connected to the internet (at the time the net was estimated to consist of 60,000 computers), slowing them down to a halt.
     • The Concept Virus
       • The Concept virus, accidentally shipped on a CD-ROM supplied by Microsoft in 1995, was the first virus to infect Microsoft Word documents. Within days it became the most widespread virus the world had ever seen, taking advantage of the fact that computer users shared documents via email.
     • Melissa
   • Shareware
     • Crippleware
     • Trialware
     • Donationware
     • Nagware
     • Demoware

2. Firewall

   • It is a system designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from a private network as well as controlling the files you send and receive as they could have malware or viruses.
   • Proxys
   • Packet Filters
   • Stateful Inspection

3. Anti-Malware/Anti-Viral Software

   • Quarantines any harmful files or programs. This is designed to prevent the Malware from becoming a threat to your computer, this ensures safety of your desktop and stops your files from becoming corrupted. Some may not be as helpful as they look... (See above for "Virus")
   • McAfee
   • Ad-Aware
   • Reimage

4. Encryption

   • To convert/process data into a code, used normally to prevent unauthorised access... You don't want your personal information, passwords or accounts to be hacked so you Encrypt them. This process is also used in reverse to either Hack or Decipher, this is called Decryption... You could encrypt password by using a memorable phrase or word, you could capitalise some letters in it and remember not to use words straight from the dictionary (There must be a million dictionary run-through hacking programs out there by now) and make the password an alpha numeric mix by perhaps replacing the letters with lookalike characters. Also do not use the same password on every website.
   • Triple DES
   • RSA
   • Blowfish
   • Twofish
   • AES