computing mind map

computing mind map

1. system security

   • to protect computers and networks from cyberattacks
   • to prevent unauthorised access to computers
   • to protect computers against damage caused by malicious software
   • to prevent data from being stolen
   • to protect against the disruption of services running on the computer

2. forms of attack

   • Passive Attack – data is monitored e.g. wiretap
   • Active Attack - data is modified e.g. malware
   • Inside Attack– by someone within the organisation
   • Outside Attack – by an illegitimate, external user

3. System Security Threats

   • Brute-force Attack – when all possible password combinations are systematically tried, with the hope of getting it right.
   • Denial-of-Service Attack (DoS) - when a network resource becomes deliberately overloaded (‘flooded’) with unnecessary requests, preventing it from responding normally.

4. Types of Malware

   • Computer viruses – 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.
   • Trojan 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.
   • 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.